Eighteen years ago today, Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, was executed by hanging after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Supreme Court. The event shocked the world, marking the end of the reign of a once-powerful leader who was captured by U.S. forces in December 2003. Footage of the execution circulated globally, showing jubilant celebrations in Baghdad as the Iraqi people reacted to the demise of their longstanding dictator. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S. President George W. Bush commented on the execution as a milestone in the journey towards democratization.