In 2003 a "[[coalition of the willing]]" invaded Iraq to force a change of regime from Saddam's [[Ba'athist]] party to a constitutional liberal democracy. A further aim was to break the alliance between [[al Qaeda]] and Saddam Hussein, though this link has never been proven. <ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/033jgqyi.asp]</ref>.
==Trial and Execution==
Captured by U.S. forces on December 13, 2003, Saddam was brought to trial under the Iraqi interim government set up by U.S.-led forces. On November 5 2006, a tribunal found him and 6 other codefendants guilty of charges related to the executions of 148 Iraqi Shi'ites suspected of planning an assassination attempt against him. He was consequently sentenced to death by hanging. Following the sentence being affirmed on appeal, he was executed on December 30, 2006. Interestingly, the name "Saddam" means "one who confronts".{{fact}}
==References==