New York - HBO Productions announced today that controversial radio shock-jock Howard Stern will host the execution of convicted Iraqi war criminals during a pay-per-view special this July 4th. The "Red, White and Blue, Saddam, It's Been Nice Knowing You" special will be broadcast via satellite live from a specially constructed gallows at the site of the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan.

"I'm really excited to be part of this historic event," Stern said during his nationally broadcast radio program. "This should prove once and for all that there's more to Howard Stern than cheesy boob jokes and the Lesbian Dating Game."

The Federal Bureau of prisons also announced today that it will be providing felons to be executed along with the Iraqi war criminals. "We've got an exciting undercard on tap for the Fourth," said Roland Biddlesworth, Associate Attorney General. "We're going to clear the decks of our most notorious traitors-Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, and last, but not least, Michael Moore."

The Nielsen Corporation is predicting a record audience well in excess of the Super Bowl, the World Series and the End of the World combined.