Ex-Saddam defense minister set to be executed:Why a former CIA officer says he should not be killedSee video to the right - at above link. "U.S. goes to bat for top Saddam aid"
FROM ALLY TO ADVERSARY?"Eight of hearts in U.S. deck of cards .He was sentenced to death in June, convicted as a war criminal.""According to Rick Francona, an NBC News analyst who worked in northern Iraq for a secret CIA task force code named Achilles, Hashim reached out to the CIA in 1996 through the former Kurdish rebel leader Jalal Talabani.
The CIA, Talabani, Ayad Allawi, Gen. Abdullah Shawani and several Iraqi officers were all deeply involved. Their names have been previously published. The plot was called "Achilles" for "Achilles' heel," the weak spot that ultimately brought down the fabled hero. The army officers and insiders, men like Hashim, were meant to be that weak spot, the Achilles' heel.
Now here's the real twist.
According to Iraqi law, as president, Talabani must sign Hashim's death sentence. He must approve the execution of a man with whom he conspired against Saddam, a man he introduced to the CIA."
Talabani refuses to sign it. US is hoping to work out a compromise.