The dead ringer!

I wasn't going to mention the execution of Saddam Hussein, but since so many people "celebrate" the Christian New Year, using the term "ring in the new year," it seemed just too irresistible, so I've dubbed him:

The dead ringer!

I hate to be a "kill joy," but I don't think his execution is of any great significance. The factors which brought him to power still exist in Iraq and other countries in the middle east. Saddam Hussein was in hiding before his capture and hadn't been running Iraq. He was just "running," figuratively at least.

It was a major mistake to have him buried in a his family plot, easily accessible for worshippers. Saddam Hussein's grave will become a shrine, for sure.

The execution of Saddam Hussein sent many Palestinians into deep mourning Saturday as they struggled to come to terms with the demise of perhaps their most steadfast ally.

Saddam Hussein's execution will certainly increase the anti-war calls in the United States, since for many, they entered to "get" him, and now he's dead. Most Americans do not like using their own sons to police the world. The only thing limiting their influence is that the sons in Iraq aren't those of the ruling elite. But at some point, and don't forget that 2007 is the main electioneering time for the 2008 presidential elections, and as the hopefuls jostle for votes, they'll quickly realize that the voters want their boys and girls back home already.

I don't celebrate this date as a new year; it's just a time to get used to writing different numbers on checks and various documents. As a Jew, I have Rosh Hashannah, when we reflect on our deeds and pray to G-d to accept our prayers of repentance. It would be a good idea if instead of partying and getting drunk, the world would adopt the Jewish concept of ringing in the new year. It would be better to hear the shofar, than the headaches of a hangover.

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