It seems anti-climatic now, and probably is, because we are past the point where it matters. The Bath party has not be a significant part of the insurgency for some time. His death will cause some celebration in Iraq, but it won't garner much support for the government or the US.

For Bush's administration and the Iraqi government there was nothing to gain by holding him around or allowing appeals, and a lot to lose if he managed to delay or stop his execution. Better to get it out of the way quickly, before international pressure could be brought against Iraq.

And his death sets the state for Bush to change course. They can say his death closes that phase of the war and opens the next.

Jay