It gets better and better. Now al-Rubaie denies ever having a cell phone in the execution chamber: "I had no camera and no mobile phone with me. I handed my mobile over to my assistant before getting on the American helicopter that took us to the scene."

Speaking of Iraqis who may need asylum in the US, how about Munkith al-Faroun? He's the deputy prosecutor who first ID'd Rubaie as the cell-phone videographer. He was also the one overheard on the tapes appealing for order and an end of the taunting just before the hanging (clearly the guy has no sense o fun). Now he's recanted ...