Saddam Hussein's execution: V

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

I like to put it like this:

If two men ride down a street and kill an 8 year old child for no reason, should they get the death penalty?

So if a dictator gasses and kills an entire village because of one assasination attempt, should he be put to death? Remember, these were unarmed civilians, women and children too.

[Vuk]

YAY! It's about time!
No offence to any terrorists here, but I'm really glad this happened. :D

[scooter_the_shooter]

I have a link to the real thing (not the edited one I put in the video thread)


If anyone wants to see it pm me. It'd be pretty terrifying to be in his shoes. It's bad enough they were about to hang him but it seemed like they were chanting at him while doing it.

I don't think they should have leaked it but...if it's out there I figured I might as well watch it.

[KukriKhan]

I have mixed feelings similar (though not identical) to econ21's with capital punishment in general.

But regarding Mr. Hussein: it's not my country, or my court system, or my legislature - so I am entitled to no opinion, in my opinion; rather like I view Texas executions.

That said, the taunting by masked executioners, seems unprofessional in the extreme to these Western eyes.

[Divinus Arma]

Saw it. Thanks SFTS.

[scotchedpommes]

Does professionalism come into it at all? Not in my view. The entire trial itself
was a mockery, and the process [taunting included or not] itself was enough to
add significantly to the hatred felt across that part of the world.

[Brenus]

Yeap, it was a great moment of justice. A court where judges were removed, lawyers killed… And the execution by hooded executioners was just the mirror of the trial. Were they scared or ashamed to participate? Were they obliged or did they volunteer? It wasn’t Nuremberg… It wasn’t even The Hague, the political court. It was a revolutionary trial without the St Just as prosecutor and his sentences (no freedom for the enemies of freedom…). It was a farce where nothing was explained, and brought to the light. Saddam was guilty, and was sentenced and executed for a crime he did commit. But when will we learn about Hallabjah, the war against Iran, the slaughter of the Arab of the swamp? He was executed for the lesser crime, and Chirac, Rumsfeld and all the politicians who sold him weapons and went to shake his hands can now breathe freely. They won’t have to answer difficult questions, even if the chances were even narrower than for Milocevic’s trial…
Well done, and mission accomplished…

[Banquo's Ghost]

I have mixed feelings similar (though not identical) to econ21's with capital punishment in general.

But regarding Mr. Hussein: it's not my country, or my court system, or my legislature - so I am entitled to no opinion, in my opinion; rather like I view Texas executions.

That said, the taunting by masked executioners, seems unprofessional in the extreme to these Western eyes.

The concerns I have from the apparent taunting and the release of the unofficial recording are twofold:

First, the taunts seem to be very sectarian as the name of Moqtadr al-Sadr was prominent. This further enhances the view that this was a simple revenge by the Shia dominated government rather than a judicial execution. Sunnis were already going to be alienated by the sentence, this appears to be extra salt in the sectarian wound. And if al-Sadr is associated with Saddam's execution, this builds his power base evn more among the Shia. (Remeber that this fellow is hardly supportive of the occupation, US influence or indeed the current government).

Second, Saddam actually came off as dignified and somewhat courageous, challenging his tormentors and belying the official government propaganda that he went to his death a cowed and frightened man.

The latter is probably as irrelevant in the long run as his execution, as the insurgency has moved a long way past being the remnants of the old order. The former, sectarian impact will just deepen divisions.

If the execution had to happen (and everyone knows my views, so I'll not go there) it should have been controlled much more professionally. I can fully understand why the US did not want to be involved, but the tawdry spectacle will not have helped their cause.

[Divinus Arma]

I agree that it came across as very unprofessional and primitive. This is exactly how an execution should not be done.

I would have been more satisified with a hospital setting, even for the gallows. White walls, brightly lit, professional uniforms, and total silence except for the presence and speech of a judge or supervisor. The execution should have been delayed by the slightest hint of unprofessionalism.

This only makes the process appear corrupt.

I am very dissapointed.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

So they was Chanting as him when he was getting Excuted? No Big Deal. He Derserved it. If you was him, would you like it? mabye not, but even still.

[Productivity]

So they was Chanting as him when he was getting Excuted? No Big Deal. He Derserved it. If you was him, would you like it? mabye not, but even still.

You have a disturbingly cheap view of the dignity of human life. I find it interesting that even Divinus Arma, one of the posters I would expect to be strongly in favour of the execution (as it seems you are DA), came out criticising the actual process of execution.

This cheer squad of he deserved it who cares let him die without any care for dignity seems to be reducing the act of taking another persons life to mere comedy or entertainment. I have never had to take anothers life, something for which I am thankful, but I have talked to those who have. It has impacted all of them profoundly and they all wish that they never had to do it. Even at executions the roles are split, no one person can fully say I killed the prisoner, no matter how heinous they are, to avoid this enormity.

I wonder Warman, have you ever taken someones life, or is it all just a meld between entertainment and news for you?