Jubilant Iraqis celebrated the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime today as U.S. forces toppled a statue of the Iraqi dictator at the heart of Baghdad. But this war isn’t over yet, warned U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who said “difficult and very dangerous days” lay ahead.

Ahmed Al-Rahim, Professor at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, says that today’s events are tremendous, and signify a serious death blow to Saddam Hussein’s regime. He also believes that the jubilant Iraqis seen in the streets of Baghdad today are indeed genuinely happy that Hussein’s regime appears to have finally collapsed.

Click the “Listen” link above to hear more sounds, reports and perspectives from the streets of Baghdad as today’s historic events unfolded.

Guests:

John Diamond, Pentagon correspondent for USA Today

Ahmed Al-Rahim, Professor at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University

Andy Nelson, Photographer for the Christian Science Monitor traveling with the 1st Marine Division

Christopher Dickey, Paris Bureau Chief and Middle East Regional Editor for Newsweek magazine

Bob Nickelsberg, Photographer for Time magazine embedded with the 1st Marine Division.