Saddam Husseins Hanging. Your Opinion?

[LJP07]

Apparently, Saddam Husseins appeal was unsuccessful and will be Hanged by January 22nd and possible as early as today!

 

The White House says " It's a milestone in reaching democracy in Iraq "

 

I disagree, Human Rights Campaigners are trying to stop it and rightfully so. Just shove him in a very well protected jail or put him in hiding.

 

What do you think?

[Tormod]

I am opposed to the death penalty in general and this hanging tastes too much of sweet revenge. I do however understand the Iraqi government's desire to get rid of Hussein. It is hard to feel sympathy for the man. He has after all been a dictator for many years and has plenty of blood on his hands.

 

I don't know what the right sentence should be. The death penalty is probably the "easy way out". It doesn't make it right, though.

[Bystander]

"Yes."

 

That said, was it a fair trial? No.

 

Lese majeste? No.

 

Letting him live indicative of a lack of commitment to the new government? Yes.

[C1ay]

What do you think?

 

I think it is and should be the business of the sovereign Iraqi people, so it doesn't and shouldn't matter what I think. It is my opinion that Saddam does not deserve to live but that doesn't necessarily translate to someone else deserving to kill him.

[sanctus]

C1ay, if it is only the business of the iraqi people then why having gone there in the first place? It is the responsibility of the "invaders" to also form an opinion and think of the consequences of their acts.

And how do you judge that someone doesn't deserve to live? Is there a minimum number of people killed on your conscience that makes you to deserve being killed or not?

But i like your conclusion "that doesn't translate ...".

 

 

I completely agree with Tormod. In addition I'm also against this death penalty because it will make the already not very stable government even more unstable, as it gives a reason more to all the saddam-followers to not accept the government and fight it. Ergo killing is contraproductive for democracy and hence the white house, which proudly says "we brought democracy to Iraq", should also be against...but as often is the case they don't seem to see the things which seem obvious to me. Other people other ways of thinking.

[Tormod]

I think Iraq should take a lesson from South Africa and the process of amnesty that happened after Nelson Mandela became president. It was amazing to see him shake hands with his former oppressors.

[eric l]

I think Iraq should take a lesson from South Africa and the process of amnesty that happened after Nelson Mandela became president. It was amazing to see him shake hands with his former oppressors.

Problem is that there are way to few Mandelas in this world, and that even their example will never garantee a non violent and/or just society. Remember what happened in O,doa (or between India and Pakistan) after Ghandi.

Another point is that the execution of Sadam will be only too welcome to many people in power outside Iraq. I mean that new processes that could expose the role of forieign powers in providing weapons and toxic gasses and whatever to the Sadam regime is not exactly what they desire.

[C1ay]

It is the responsibility of the "invaders" to also form an opinion and think of the consequences of their acts.

 

I feel that Iraq was given back their sovereignity. They should now be able to decide what they want with it or it wouldn't be sovereignity....

[Cedars]

I hope they televise this event so Iraqis can lift their glasses of tea in toast to the demise of this particularily cruel man, dance in the streets, giving each other the ^5 equivalent of that region.

 

I seriously do not understand the arguments of the anti-DP side, when faced with the demise of this type of character. I cannot think of any reason to allow the continued existance of someone who has taken so much from so many people, and enjoyed it so fully he passed this tradition on to his own children (oday and whats the other sons name).

 

Theres an episode in West Wing Season 3 where Leo and Fitzwallace are talking about assasination of a sultans brother and Leo is fretting about international law.

 

Fitz said something like "international law?!, The laws of nature dont even apply here! as he referenced the crimes this character had committed/supported against other people.

[Zythryn]

...In addition I'm also against this death penalty because it will make the already not very stable government even more unstable, as it gives a reason more to all the saddam-followers to not accept the government and fight it.

 

I strongly disagree with this specific reason you give. Saddam currently is a figurehead. Just his existance will continue to forment strife. Once he is dead, there will be a surge of violence, and then less violence as people turn to worrying about daily life without the distraction of this mass-murderer.

 

Of course, this is just my opinion just as your statement was your opinion:)

[InfiniteNow]

It's a lose/lose. He stays alive, and he can still exert influence. He's killed, and others use him to exert influence. However, an eye for an eye leaves the globe blind, and I do not feel that satisfying blood lust and desire for revenge serve to make society better.

[somebody]

i really don't think he should be hanged. I really do not like to engage in "eye for an eye" situations and if we were to hang him, then there would be no difference between him and us.

 

 

just put him in jail and announce his death to make people in the U.S and worldwide happy.

[Tormod]

I hope they televise this event so Iraqis can lift their glasses of tea in toast to the demise of this particularily cruel man, dance in the streets, giving each other the ^5 equivalent of that region.

 

Saddam currently is a figurehead. Just his existance will continue to forment strife.

 

[rant]

Long live fundamentalism. I assume then that it is okay to call for the death of the current US president as well? He is responsible for countless civilian deaths in Iraq. His father should be on trial as well - he caused the deaths of even more civilians during the first family outage to the Gulf.

 

But that does not count, does it? Because they are both on your side, so these are not crimes. And the deaths happened far from your doorsteps.

[/rant]

[Zythryn]

just put him in jail and announce his death to make people in the U.S and worldwide happy.

 

Excellent idea somebody:) I actually like that option quite a bit.

[Zythryn]

[rant]

Long live fundamentalism. I assume then that it is okay to call for the death of the current US president as well? He is responsible for countless civilian deaths in Iraq. His father should be on trial as well - he caused the deaths of even more civilians during the first family outage to the Gulf.

 

But that does not count, does it? Because they are both on your side, so these are not crimes. And the deaths happened far from your doorsteps.

[/rant]

 

I concur with you actually.

I feel Bush has been criminal in his behavior in Iraq.

[sebbysteiny]

I think 2 things.

 

1) The trial was fair. Even though, thanks to insurgency, there were imperfections, I seriously doubt these would have made any difference at all given the mountains of evidence against him. I mean, cmon, what's he going to say? "I was just following orders .... oh wait, I was the president ... erm ... I'll get back to you on that".

 

2) The death penalty is morally wrong.

[Boerseun]

So we want to rid the world of murderous tyranny, not?

 

So what do we achieve by stooping to the same levels of that which we're trying to eradicate?:doh: