Saddam Hussein sentenced to death

[Xiahou]

Read about it here.

Anyone surprised by this?

[Ronin]

that was surprising....not

[Rodion Romanovich]

Yes it was surprising that they would be the same as Saddam by handing out death penalty for those they dislike. To me it's lowering themselves to the same level as Saddam. The point of law is to stand as a mediator between the wrath of those who want revenge and those who have committed crimes just as they stand between those who haven't committed crimes and might be innocent, and between those who wish to commit crimes and those who would be their victims. Most criminals see themselves as avengers, not the starters of a conflict, which is the same feeling the judge has. Is then the judge any different from the murderer? I would have thought life sentence in prison would have been the way to judge Saddam - keeping him there for necessity and not for primitive bloodthirst of slaying what you fear and despise.

[Scurvy]

I agree, it was not a fair trial, what kind of example does that set to the rest of the world?

I don'y know what the fair punishment would be (i'm against the death penalty, but in this case can see why many people worldwide would see it as neccessary. ) IMO i think life sentance is better, but thats debatable.

Yes, Saddam did some terrible things, but his trial has been a complete farce, with the verdict never in doubt, and no real evidence given in his defence etc.

Saddam has infact gaine from the trials uselessness (if thats a word) with his outbursts making headlines and generally fuelling the anger and sectarian violence in Iraq.

My other worry is that the US (+ allies) will try to use Saddams death as propoganda ("o' look, we'v killed Saddam, mission success)

[Ronin]

I agree, it was not a fair trial, what kind of example does that set to the rest of the world?

I don'y know what the fair punishment would be (i'm against the death penalty, but in this case can see why many people worldwide would see it as neccessary. ) IMO i think life sentance is better, but thats debatable.

Yes, Saddam did some terrible things, but his trial has been a complete farce, with the verdict never in doubt, and no real evidence given in his defence etc.

Saddam has infact gaine from the trials uselessness (if thats a word) with his outbursts making headlines and generally fuelling the anger and sectarian violence in Iraq.

My other worry is that the US (+ allies) will try to use Saddams death as propoganda ("o' look, we'v killed Saddam, mission success)

wanna bet some money that he gets executed just before the next US presidential election?

[Scurvy]

wanna bet some money that he gets executed just before the next US presidential election?

[Goofball]

wanna bet some money that he gets executed just before the next US presidential election?

From what I understand, that is highly unlikely. According to Iraqi law, a sentence must be carried out within 30 days of being confirmed by the courts. In this case, there is an automatic appeal because it is a death sentence, but the talking head legal analysts on TV this morning estimate that the appeal process should take less than 30 days. So worst case (or best case, depending on your point of view), Saddam should be dead within 60 days.

Now, on to the death penalty question. There have been many comments to the effect of "I'm against the death penalty, but this is not a case I would fight against" in this thread.

I have to disagree with that point of view. If you are against the death penalty on principle, then this is exactly the case you should be speaking out against. It's easy to be against the death penalty for the mentally retarded kid who was sexually abused his whole life before he finally snapped and killed somebody, because at least you can work up an ounce or two of real compassion for him. On the other hand, it's difficult, if not impossible to have any empathy or compassion for Saddam. He is a dirtbag who is almost certainly guilty of everything he has been accused of. Also, just about everybody in the world feels the same way about him, so saying that he should not be put to death will be a decidedly unpopular point of view, opening oneself (as we have already seen in this thread) to scorn and personal attack.

But the thing that makes principles so difficult to stick to is that they can not be allowed to bow to expedience. Otherwise, they're not principles anymore.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

I agree, it was not a fair trial.

My other worry is that the US (+ allies) will try to use Saddams death as propoganda ("o' look, we'v killed Saddam, mission success)

Oh please, was he fair to all the Kurds and villages he destroyed? killing hundreds of people.

And I don't think Saddam matters to America anymore, they're focused more on Osama Bin Laden. I mean Saddam isn't even news anymore.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

I think they should kill him by the way he lived, either gun squad or gas

[Ronin]

Oh please, was he fair to all the Kurds and villages he destroyed? killing hundreds of people.

And I don't think Saddam matters to America anymore, they're focused more on Osama Bin Laden. I mean Saddam isn't even news anymore.

The guy was guilty as hell.....that doesn´t change the fact that what went on was not a fair trial....

as for not mattering to america....I think the US administration will try to make him matter a great much....because then can put him up on the "win" column while Osama is god knows were.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Oh please, was he fair to all the Kurds and villages he destroyed? killing hundreds of people.

And I don't think Saddam matters to America anymore, they're focused more on Osama Bin Laden. I mean Saddam isn't even news anymore.

Nope, the politically awake are focused on Tuesday's elections and the Saddam verdict matters only to the extent that it may/won't influence the polls.

Most of the rest of America is focused on Dancing with the Stars and the end-game in Survivor!

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TrialSaddam.jpg

this cracked me up

[Kralizec]

I had a discussiont today with someone. I felt that while I'm against the death penalty, I didn't feel sorry for the guy and wouldn't pick this case to start a protest march. The other one felt the opposite way, she felt sorry for Hussein and would have marched if there would be a demonstration

[Major Robert Dump]

Tookie Hussein has been framed by overzealous, racist cops. I hope right before the hanging he doesn't poop or pee for like 4 days so it gets all over everybody when they do hang him. He should insist on wearing crotchless pants and not tell anyone why.

[Kralizec]

Tookie Hussein has been framed by overzealous, racist cops. I hope right before the hanging he doesn't poop or pee for like 4 days so it gets all over everybody when they do hang him. He should insist on wearing crotchless pants and not tell anyone why.

Hussein, hurting the Great Satan even after he died

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

He should be Beaten badly then Hanged, some Justice for all of the People He Murderd (not killed, Murdered).

[Ares]

Is it surprising that he got the death sentence? No.

Considering all the innocent people Saddam has tortured and murdered, I think he got off lightly.

[AntiochusIII]

He should be Beaten badly then Hanged, some Justice for all of the People He Murderd (not killed, Murdered).

Ah, I see.

Justice, what an interesting word. So is murder. Lovely primitive instincts, both.

[Ice]

I had a discussiont today with someone. I felt that while I'm against the death penalty, I didn't feel sorry for the guy and wouldn't pick this case to start a protest march. The other one felt the opposite way, she felt sorry for Hussein and would have marched if there would be a demonstration

There are so many things wrong with that, it's quite humorous.