What do the deaths of Saddam and Ford have in common? They both sweep under the rug unresolved issues and crimes. They are the the willful ANTITHESES of the Truth Commissions seen in South Africa and elswhere. Seemingly derived from the same power and control mentality of mafiosos, they are the historical "cement boots" of society's access to the truth.

Gerald Ford, who set the foxes to guard the hen house, was a set-up puppet much like Saddam Hussein was. Both put in place and supported by powerful energy lobbies. If you pay attention to details, you may recall that Ford, the first UNelected president in the US, achieved his nomination to the White House by stating in hearings that he would NOT pardon Richard Nixon if appointed. A lie which spawned many other Lies. Of course he is their hero.

Much to the contrary of "healing the Nation" as mainstream television and papers would have us believe, Gerald Ford's pardon of Nixon's crimes leave only scars and still-festering wounds. Only those who were the perpetrators actively wounding our nation benefitted from that pardon which effectively was a home-free card for all those who took our Constitution lightly back then.

There is no doubt that those who today further disrespect our democracy and render meaningless our Constitution would take this moment to gloat and to praise the man (and the forces) who paved the way for their hijacking of our society.

Richard Nixon was never tried, and the depths and breadth of his machinations (as well as the full role and identity of co-conspirators) were never uncovered because of that pardon. Let us not forget that it was Gerald Ford who put together the Cheney-Rumsfeld team who worked hard in those days for greater secrecy, as they tried to defeat the Freedom of Information Act and further reduce the public's right to know what goes on in government.

Cheney's closed-door "Energy Policy" meetings which basically was the divvying up of Iraq's oil supply by energy giants, was part of this legacy, and this war its inevitable consequence.

With Saddam publicly swinging on death's noose, we lost any reasonable chance to delve further into the untried larger offenses he was said to have committed. The people of this world have thus been relieved of the opportunity to hear details of how Saddam's regime came to and stayed in power. This is very convenient for the very same people who now laud Gerald Ford's role in the Watergate aftermath.

Let us not forget that the very first act of George Bush as he entered the White House was to seal the records of his father's administration which would have shed light on the misty connections between previous administrations' dealings with both Iraq and Iran. With that information at hand, perhaps we would today understand better the zeal with which this rogue White House has endeavored to "take out" both regimes.

With full and unfettered Watergate and Irangate investigations, many of those now holding power and calling the shots on peace, war, healthcare, laws, the economy, our treasury, and your life would be serving stiff prison sentences instead.