Chemical Ali Sentenced to Hang

It looks like Iraq's government is functioning at least to some extent.

It's getting business done.

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's presidency endorsed the execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin known as "Chemical Ali," who was sentenced to death for his role in the 1980s scorched-earth campaign against Kurds, a government adviser said Friday.

The backing by Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and two vice presidents is the final step for the approval of Ali Hassan al-Majid's death sentence, which must be carried out within 30 days of the decision.

Al-Majid was one of three former Saddam officials sentenced to hang in June after being convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for their part in the Operation Anfal crackdown that killed nearly 200,000 Kurdish civilians and guerrillas. An appeals court upheld the verdict in September.

Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, 200,000 dead -- That's Chemical Ali's legacy.

That's Saddam's legacy.

Justice is being done, yet some say that it was wrong to depose Saddam and end his reign of terror.

Barack Obama has called the U.S. military action in Iraq a "dumb war."

If not for that "dumb war," Chemical Ali wouldn't be paying for his crimes.

And who knows what other atrocities he would have carried out?

But the adviser said the presidency has not yet approved the death sentences against the other two — Hussein Rashid Mohammed, an ex-deputy director of operations for the Iraqi armed forces, and former defense minister Sultan Hashim al-Taie. The adviser spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

An adviser spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to the media -- Democracy is definitely taking root in Iraq.