UPDATE — Decemember 29, 2006 — Saddam will swing by Sunday (48 hours from now).

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How about this for a Christmas present?

I wonder if Susan Sarandon has booked her airline ticket yet to sit next to Saddam’s side in his prison cell and give him comfort (and her publicity) like she did for Tookie Williams?

Iraq’s highest appeals court on Tuesday upheld Saddam Hussein’s death sentence and said he must be hanged within 30 days for the killing of 148 Shiites in the central city of Dujail.

The sentence “must be implemented within 30 days,” chief judge Aref Shahin said. “From tomorrow, any day could be the day of implementation.”

Ah…and what a great day it will be, too.

So, it looks like Saddam will never see another February. This ruling is very timely, as noted by AllahPundit at Hot Air, as Saddam would have turned 70-years old in April. And Iraqi law forbids the execution of anybody over that age.

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OTHERS:

• Hindrocket at Power Line: SADDAM TO DIE? — Iraq’s High Tribunal, its highest appellate court …
• Richard Blair at All Spin Zone: Hang ‘em High: Saddam to Swing Within 30 Days?
• Lawhawk at A Blog For All: Iraqi Court Upholds Saddam’s Death Sentence
• Dan at Riehl World View: Hang’em High
• Dr. Steven Taylor at PoliBlog (TM): Saddam Loses his Appeal