Protests Continue in the Wake of Saddam's Execution

Protests continue in Iraq today over the execution of the former dictator Saddam Hussein. Saddam was hung in the early morning hours on this past Sunday (late night Saturday in the US).

Protests are expected to continue as Iraqis remain divided on the entire Saddam situation. Many Iraqis feel that justice has been served; that there is finally some type of closure to the horrible acts that Saddam has carried out against his fellow Iraqis. However, many people are still loyal to the former dictator, condemning his death and vowing to carry on his bidding.

The demonstration in the Golden Dome, that was demolished ten months ago by a bombing carried out by Sunni extremists, begs the question that many Sunni Arabs may now more actively support the small number of Sunni militants fighting the country's Shiite-dominated government. Sunnis were extremely outraged over the way that their former dictator was executed. Outraged by the fact that his feeble attempt to escape execution by the form of appeals was overturned four days before he hung.

The outlook for Iraq in the near future appears to be grim in the wake of Saddam's death. Protest are very likely to continue and to turn violent as the Sunni community acts out toward a government that it holds partly responsible for the fall of Saddam. Terrorists attacks in heavily Shiite populated areas will probably increase as well as Sunni extremists attempt to retaliate over the loss of what they perceive as their leader.