AMosely

I never liked living in Virginia, a state with far too many contradictions.

Thus always to tyrants? To which tyrants? And upon whose definition and determination? I would argue the opposite - Saddam's demise, and the factors that brought it about, only serve to hypocritize any belief in this slogan. For this one greedily misguided tyrant, yes. Always? Certainly not. What of the many other potential tyrants among us? What of Bin Laden (Al Qaeda)? Jong-Il (N. Korea)? Bucyibaruta (Rwanda)? Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a tyrant? Is George Bush a tyrant?

Our society would learn a lot more (and perhaps remember it better) if we took a hard look at exactly why (and in how many ways) 'sic semper tyrannis' is untrue.

As for Saddam, all I can say is that I hope his death will serve as a catalyst for the painful changes that are so desperately needed now in Iraq.

AMosely

I'd also want to add, on a different level, that this event, its photo/video evidence and the rapid digestion of that evidence serve as yet another compelling example of the 'connected' world we now live in. Humanity has only had this capability for less than a quarter century, yet it is rapidly becoming an unavoidable part of our existence - our global culture.

leejo

I agree AMosely, that sic semper tyrannis isn't true. There was a lot of discussion by pundits this weekend about that. IMO we need to do a much better job at hanging the tyrants. The majority of the world seems very happy to let these killers live in luxury and die of old age so long as the wolf promises to lurk outside others' doors.

Rick_the_new_guy

Can't argue with your logic. I totally agree that every society man has concieved is filled with contradictions, misconceptions and half-truths. Good eye.

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fighter10101

I agree with my government(Nor),Amnesty International, Human rights watch, the Pope and others that "Saddam Hussein was responsible for massive human rights violations, but that can’t justify giving him the death penalty, which is a cruel and inhuman punishment."[1] and that "It is not a great day for democracy and democrats. Barbarity has to be fought by other means than barbarity"[2]

Justice was not served. S.Hussein should have been taken to the international court in the Haag and prosecuted there. A lot of crimes committed by him and his fellow criminals were ignored. A prosecution of other horrible crimes would have probably helped to find and prosecute other's that were involved, thus leaving the world and Iraq safer. One problem is of course that the US/UK were heavily involved with supporting S.Hussein when the worst crimes were committed.[3] Some high officials are still in power. Even in the trial, US advisors told the translators to not write down the parts that were too "political".[4]

It is important to note that the Iraqi special tribunal was created by the occupants and that "the tribunal shall be an independent entity and not associated with any Iraqi government departments."[5] and that some points in the trial outcome violated the Iraqi constitution. And that Office (RCLO), run by the US Department of Justice, is actively involved in the court’s investigations, the translation of materials.

Hanging Shiro Ishii [6] for killing 10 POW is not justice, he should have been prosecuted for the killing of thousands, for the vivisection of 3000 humans alive, and committing horrible testing on pow's. The people that gave massive founding for his "research" should also be held accountable. That would increase the stability and security in Japan. In this case some the doctors were given amnesty by the US and Ishi worked in Fort Detrick, Maryland for 2 years. "Dr Masaji Kitano led Japan's largest pharmaceutical company, the Green Cross. Others headed U.S.-backed medical schools or worked for the Japanese health ministry."(wikipedia). The Green Cross, purchased HIV-contaminated blood, which they sold to the Japanese hemophiliac population in Japan, resulting in over 3,000 deaths.[7] Letting the US/UK official's who supported S.Hussen with weapons etc. in charge of security and stability of Iraq is like letting the doctors in unit 731 in charge of the public health ministry in Japan. They should have been prosecuted and put in jail, because they endanger our world.

[1]HRW: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/12/30/iraq14950.htm
AI: http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE140432006

[2] Louis Michel, European Union commissioner for development and humanitarian aid.
"Western voices question Saddam Hussein's execution" Saturday, December 30, 2006
http://www.westfargopioneer.com/asap...w&id=D8MB7RB01

see also: "Judging Dujail The First Trial before the Iraqi High Tribunal"
http://hrw.org/reports/2006/iraq1106/

[3] http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/index2.htm

"This Was a Guilty Verdict on America as Well", Robert Fisk". Independent .November 6, 2006
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljust...06usguilty.htm

"Focus", Dilip Hiro. The Observer ,September 1, 2002.

[4] Im still trying to find a written report on this, will post later.

[5] Coalition Provinsial Authority, the statue of the Iraqi special tribunal, part1. art.1 a)

http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljust...aqistatute.pdf

[6] "Factories of death : Japanese biological warfare 1932-45 and the American cover-up". Harris, Sheldon H. London : Routledge , 1999

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiro_Ishii
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731
http://www.deepblacklies.co.uk/unit731-part1.htm

[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV-tai...scandal_(Japan)

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leejo

I don't mind the rough-and-tumble way SH died. That's the way they roll in the middle east. He knew the game, the rules, and the price for losing. It didn't bother him in the least as long as he was on top.

With regard to the morality of killing someone who is responsible for the intentional deaths of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands...well I'm just not interested in that debate. Where the rubber meets the road, that's how it works. I'd have been fine with putting him in the middle of a soccer stadium and letting the good people of Iraq chuck him with pebbles. Whatever. Maybe someday, having ruled a nation under my iron fist, I'll stand on a gallows and think "now THIS is Ironic!" but until then I think it's appropriate for tyrants to meet scuzzy ends whenever possible. My gripe is that it doesn't happen often enough.

Steeler

The problem is the political ramifications of having the Mahdi Army (which we have been trying to eliminate) effectively act as state executioners, and then gloat about it to an already embittered Sunni minority. We have no real political allies to support in Iraq now. The execution is both a symptom and exacerbation of this state of affairs.

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