Wow. I remember him at the United Nations before Bush's invasion into Iraq. He told the truth. No WMD.

He was scared to go back to Iraq.  I think was also scared for the people of Iraq.  

He was stating at the United Nations that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction and that the USA was wrong in their intentions.

The regime was brutal, but, considering what is going on now I can't honestly say it is much different, just different people.

I believe the reason Saddam became who he was and as ruthless as he was had a lot to do with the country's ethnic divide along really specific boundary lines.  Saddam simply oppressed the revolution of the Shia and the Kurds.  

We don't belong in Iraq.  We never did.

...Iraq's  top court (click title to entry - thank you)  last year jailed both Aziz and Saddam henchman and cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid for 15 years for their role in the 1992 execution of 42 Baghdad wholesalers.

Aziz had earlier been acquitted in the first of four trials for alleged crimes against humanity. 

His family, now in Jordan, has repeatedly called for his release from custody, saying the 74-year-old was in poor health suffering from heart and respiratory problems, high blood pressure and diabetes. 

Named foreign minister in 1983 and then deputy premier in 1991, Aziz was believed to have wielded little real power of decision-making. 

But he became one of the regime's best-known figures abroad who matched his US peers in debate.... 

In an Iraq prison, who won't have poor health.  He should be exiled and sent to his family.  I do believe Aziz was a voice of reason with the Saddam government.  I would hate to think such people regardless of the actions of the government would be killed for their 'pleading' role both internationally and domestically within the inner circle.  He has no real power anymore.  The Shia and Kurds have their own governments today.  I don't see his execution as meaningful so much as pathetic.