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Sam Penrod ReportingSaddam's execution is making headlines all around the world. There have been many soldiers from Utah, from the Utah National Guard, who have been involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Today we talked to two soldiers specifically who had a role in helping to capture Saddam.
Some boots on display at a museum at Fort Douglas are believed to have belonged to former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. Two Utah soldiers of the 141 Military Intelligence Battalion brought them back to Utah after Saddam's capture three years ago. It was intelligence they uncovered that led to Saddam being found in hiding.
We got reaction today from both soldiers about Saddam's execution.
Staff Sgt. Sam Dean, Utah National Guard: "People will see Saddam out of the way for good now, he's not coming back. I think they may open up a little bit. It's the Iraqi government's way of ending the old regime and saying they are going to start something new. The old government has to move aside and this is the Iraqi government's way of doing that."
In the US where condemned prisoners sit on death row for years, many are surprised Saddam has already been executed.
Sgt. Jason Bulkley, Utah National Guard: "To me it shows it is really the Iraqis that are running things. So it shows to me the Iraqi government is starting to stand up on their feet, so to me it definitely shows we are making progress in Iraq."
Kamal Bewar, Iraqi-American: "I lived under his regime and I know how scary it was. It was just a nightmare, you could not really live like a human being."
Kamal Bewar is now a US citizen, but believes Saddam's execution will help the people who suffered under his rule to move on.
Kamal Bewar, Iraqi-American: "It means a lot of the people of Iraq, as a Kurd, it means a lot to the Kurdish people, because probably 80 percent of Iraqi's are happy about what's happened."
Everyone we talked to hopes that Saddam's execution will help democracy become even stronger in Iraq and that it will be a catalyst for peace.
