Saddam

[opabinia]

I've been meaning to mention that they caught Saddam Hussein in his hidey-hole on Saturday night. I was surprised. Glad. I hope GWB doesn't get re-elected, though.

Part of me hopes they don't execute Hussein. If they lock him up forever, then the world will get to watch his further physical and psychological decline. I think letting him rot in a cell would be greater punishment than death, since he's used to comfort, fearful respect, and luxury.

If I hadn't seen such riches
I could live with being poor

I think it would also be politically wiser to keep him alive and decaying, so that he doesn't become a martyr (I'm so sick of that word.). I figure he'll say enough extra-loopy things between now and his death to alienate even more people. This is more important, in the grand scheme of things, than choosing the correct punishment.

Comments

[xenoglaux]

If he's foudn to be a "war criminal" then he'll go to the Hague right?

[jhimm.livejournal.com]

maybe.
if the iraqi trial stands up to
"international scrutiny"
they probably won't bother to indite at the hague.

[sbazzy.livejournal.com]

i see it as unlikely that they'll put him to death, partially because Britain is opposed to it.

[shnells.livejournal.com]

also i think it very unlikely they'll put him to death no matter how much bush pushes for it because it would just make too many other leaders way too nervous. given how america has shown that if they are crossed they are more than happy to step in and overthrow a regime (calling it many names in the process) and install a government more friendly to their needs. in this case however, they were lucky in that saddam hussein was a bloodthirsty, meglomaniacal despot. still i agree, he should rot in jail and be forgotten. also i tink he's pretty broken already.

[alonewiththemoon]

If he's tried by an Iraqi tribunal, I'm sure there will be a death penalty, given Middle Eastern justice codes in general and the magnitude of his crimes. But it will be interesting to see if the Iraqis are "allowed" to kill him--I think the US is in a damned if we do, damned if we don't situation. If the Iraqis can't give him the sentence in line with their legal code, then it makes a sham of the whole trial. But if the US lets the Iraqis kill him, then everybody else will be pissed off at the US for letting the Iraqis do what they want, even though that's what the US is supposed to be doing.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

if the US lets the Iraqis kill him, then everybody else will be pissed off at the US for letting the Iraqis do what they want, even though that's what the US is supposed to be doing.

Woohaa!! Hopefully this will make Bush look terrible either way, and he won't be re-elected. Oh, the sweet, tasty irony [in the colloquial sense -- Ed.]!! Let's just hope he doesn't get us all blown up before he gets booed out of office.

[bottleimp.livejournal.com]

Dead, he's a martyr. Alive, he's a reason to hold people hostage for his release. That doesn't work, but it still happens.

I doubt that the trial will give him the opportunity to point out what a big buddy of the US he used to be, back when Iran was the bad guy. Too bad; people should be reminded that we created that monster.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Alive, he's a reason to hold people hostage for his release.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. Kill 'im. Just make sure he says lots of loopy things first.

people should be reminded that we created that monster.

We do that shit all the time. I imagine it's easier to predict the outcome on some occasions than on others.

*cough**cough**cough

Stop that.

[bottleimp.livejournal.com]

If you cough about every dictator that the US has created or backed, people will think you've got SARS and lock you up.