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Deadline for Saddam

Saddam Hussein went to trial on Wednesday declaring he was still the president of Iraq. A series of odes a decade ago to Hussein's dictatorial days show the tyrant was always out of touch with reality.

Calvin Trillin

October 24, 2005

November 6, 1995

Post-Election Coverage of Saddam Hussein’s 100-0 Victory Over Nobody

Consultants do not offer quotes Interpreting the blocs of votes. He got them all. With such a win There’s hardly any need for spin. For drama, though, you’d think that he’d Have one opponent, to concede.

March 25, 1991

A Short Military Biography of Saddam Hussein

This guy who often said he’d smash us flat in one battle turned out to be what Texans call all hat and no cattle.

July 19, 1993

Saddam Hussein, Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein, Saddam Hussein, Upon whose head our missiles rain. It’s often said that you’re a stain And maybe just a tad insane (You seem to think you’re Charlemagne), And therefore we should not refrain From bombing part of your domain Until it looks like beef chow mein. And yet there is a question whether We’d really like to send you nether. When diplomatic talk turns plain, It’s said there’s value in your reign. You stabilize and you contain. You keep some folks from raising Cain. And we use you to show the pain That those who challenge us obtain- As you use us when under strain: We’re blamed for what you can’t explain. Although we’re birds of different feather. We may be in this thing together.

November 21, 2002

Saddam Hussein’s Election Victory

Unanimous is what the vote count was. He didn’t miss a voter, to our knowledge. The triumph his, he now remains in charge, Unless he lost in the Electoral College.

Calvin TrillinCalvin Trillin is The Nation’s “deadline poet.”


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