Saddam has taken up gardening. "In the courtyard by his cell, Mr. Hussein has placed white-painted stones around the plants he tends," says a New York Times report by John F. Burns.  

The former dictator is being well-tended himself, enjoying air-conditioning, good food, a small library, daily exercise, medical attention, and the certainty of many months before his trial. And of course we wouldn't want him to develop a complex from past guilt: "An American general said Mr. Hussein had been offered sessions with American military psychologists, but had refused them, as had all his closest associates."

Mr. Hussein still declares himself the "constitutionally elected president," and shows zero remorse for his sadistic (shall we change the word to 'saddamistic'?) actions as dictator. Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is trying to speed up trial dates for Saddam and his henchmen. If the prosecution is ready, Mr. Hussein's date with the dock could begin as early as next year.

If you can stoop with me to call that early.