Kevin, if you don't think large numbers of Shiites and Kurds are happy with this verdict--and even some Sunnis are--you are deluding yourself. You can criticize the trial if you want--I suspect any trial for crimes against humanity can probably be attacked on procedural grounds -but portraying it as the action of a puppet government--and that seems to be your implication-- is over the top.

And, given his history, it will not be easy to sell Saddam as a martyr.