WMDs or not....I say good riddance.

Possibly even scummier now than he was in life.

A rather scummy character who held on to power using whatever means. He managed to hold on to power after the Gulf War by mere sheer will, a combination of elusiveness and political suppression of all opponents. However one only had to look closer to realize that the emperor had no clothes. Saddam never slept in one place the same night out of fear that he would be assassinated. Although he remained in power, he had effectively lost control of his country. The Kurdish north had broken off from Saddam (they had been subjected to chemical weapon attack in 1988 at the close of the Iran-Iraq War, as a means to keep the restive population in check). Allied no fly zones present throughout the country effectively deterred Saddam from further adventurism and most of his weapons caches had been found and captured. Saddam ended the weapons inspections in the late 1990's only because they were being effective and had undercovered a good chunk of his weapons programs. Politically this would have been the kiss of death for Saddam--this would have emboldened his opponents to challenge him for power. Clinton's mistake was not forcing Saddam's hand. Really the Iraq/Saddam situation could have been resolved much easier. He was an elderly dictator who was becoming increasingly detacted to society. The Iraqi people would have overthrown him by themselves had the proper political pressure been applied. Going with the war option has caused us to lose control of the political situation there. Saddam nonetheless was a dictator who ruled by intimidation and brute fear and violence.

Scum bucket who has committed genocide and persecuted the Shiite Muslim citizens of his own country. Raised his sons to be just like him. He will rot in Hell for all the terrible things he has done including making people write regular reports on everyone they knew. Torturer, bastard, Arab Hitler, beret-wearing Stalin...I could go on for a long time like this, but I don't have to because most people what a load this guy really is. I hope that unlike Pol Pot he will not die peacefully in his bed somewhere. Somebody shoot this guy already!

Scumburger

Having your own family members killed to increase your political/economical control over an impoverished country. I don't see anything redeeming about that.