Saddam -- the new Janet Jackson?

Above is the real deal - video of Saddam Hussein being hanged. Honestly, is anyone surprised that a video of this leaked out?

I knew it was only a matter of time.

This morning on Today, it was reported that the man who took this video with his cell phone has been arrested. Arrested for what?

Vandra put it best this morning when she said that this video will probably be some sort of watershed moment, much like this one...



...that will bring calls to regulate the Internet. You can bet your tax return that there will be a massive, post-Janet-like movement to regulate the 'Net now - people complaining about invasions of privacy with accompanying complaints about videos like these always find their way to the 'Net.

I can guarantee you one thing -- I will do everything in my power to fight any regulation. The Internet is the final frontier in the mass media where corporate control isn't the norm. Yes, there is a downside to having such a wide-open medium, but the upside is freedom of expression.

This is the same argument that has been raging for decades, but it's not news that you have to take the good with the bad in a society where you have freedom of expression, whether its Baltimore or Baghdad.

A few more thoughts on the Saddam video.

1. Why weren't people who were permitted to view the execution searched for cell phones, if the U.S. Military and the Iraqis were so concerned with video of it getting out? I have to tolerate everything but a Magnum flashlight being shoved up my rear end when boarding an airplane, so the same measures could have been taken during the execution.

2. It also cracks me up that everyone (in our government and the Iraqi government) is so upset about this video hitting the 'Net. If both wanted to keep it so secret and were concerned about video getting out and/or reaction, see #1, and also, don't execute the guy. Throw him in jail for 50 years, and let the homeboys have their way with him.

3. No, my heart's not broken that he's gone. But, that doesn't change my opinion on this dumb and misguided war, and the criminally inept way that it's being fought.

Again, mark it down - don't be surprised if you see a movement to regulate the Internet in some way, some time soon. It's a typical political ploy - the minute news gets out that you don't like, "there must be regulation!" It's only a matter of time, people. If Saddam's hanging doesn't touch off a massive movement to regulate the 'Net, another controversy will.