Bush: Saddam hanging looked like revenge

US President George Bush said the chaotic execution of Saddam Hussein looked like “kind of a revenge killing” and showed that the Iraqi government “has still got some maturation to do".

US President George Bush said the chaotic execution of Saddam Hussein looked like “kind of a revenge killing” and showed that the Iraqi government “has still got some maturation to do".

In his toughest assessment yet of the row over the Iraqi leader’s execution, Bush criticised the circumstances of Saddam’s hanging and the execution of two top aides, including Saddam’s half brother.

“I was disappointed and felt like they fumbled the – particularly the Saddam Hussein execution,” the President said last night in an interview by public television’s Jim Lehrer.

Mr Bush said he had expressed disappointment to Iraq’s prime minister Nouri Maliki about the way Saddam’s execution was handled.

“The message is that it’s a confusing message,” the president said. “It basically says to people... you conducted a trial and gave Saddam justice that he didn’t give to others. But then, when it came to executing him, it looked like it was kind of a revenge killing.”

He said it sent a mixed signal to the American people and people around the world.

“And it just goes to show that this is a government that has still got some maturation to do,” Mr Bush said.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Joe Biden
Barack Obama Former presidents help Joe Biden raise $26m for campaign
Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited