Today is Wednesday, December 30th, 2020.

On this day in 2006, former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was executed. Welcome to Today in True Crime, a Spotify original from Parcast.

I'm Vanessa Richardson, and today I'm joined by our guest host, Kate Leonard from Daily Quote.

Her show explores a new quote each day from inspiring figures all around the world.

Kate is joining us to discuss some of the historical aspects of today's story while I cover the narrative.

Thanks, Vanessa. I'm excited to be diving into this fascinating story.

Now let's go back to Saturday, December 30th, 2006, around 6 a.m. in Baghdad.

The room was still dark as the sun rose, and yet no one turned on a proper light. Instead,

they clumped together in the dim industrial space,

talking amongst themselves and waiting. There were about two dozen of them there that morning.

For the hanging of a dictator, it was a surprisingly small crowd. Only witnesses, and the executioners

themselves would be allowed the grim privilege of witnessing Saddam Hussein's final moments.

Some were buzzing with anticipation. Others, however, stood in silence.

They all knew the significance of the ground they stood on. It was the former headquarters of Saddam Hussein's

defunct secret police. It was a place that had facilitated the violent interrogation of Hussein's

enemies for years. More than one man standing in the room had been tortured by Saddam's spies in that very building,

and now they were about to watch the man responsible die. Finally, it was happening. The door opened,

and three guards with black ski masks escorted an older, bearded man in a dark overcoat into the room.

There had been whispers that Saddam had put up a struggle when they came to take him from his cell that morning,

but the man in front of them now showed no signs of resistance.

As he stepped inside the dark room, he looked drawn and aged.

Hussein's characteristic pride and fire seemed to have been

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