Assume we catch bin Laden alive. Obviously he would be tried under a court (under what system is an entirely different discussion). Just for the purposes of my question, assume it’s a Federal court, just like McVeigh was, and fast-forward to the assumption that he’s found guilty.
Sentencing comes. Is it:
[list=a]
[li]Death by lethal injection[/li][li]3,000 Life sentences without the possibility of parole[/li][li]Something different[/li][li]A life sentence in solitary confinement, with Yoko Ono blaring into his cell 24/7, and flashing strobes all around him just to piss him off.[/li][/list]
Thoughts?
Tripler
Man, what a victory that’d be though. I hope we do find that rat bastard alive.
Make him listen to video/audiotapes of all of Bush’s “War on terror” speeches. The bits about Iraq and Al Qaeda working together will make him laugh himself to death.
Better yet, make him play the “Nukular” or “WMD” drinking games with all of those speeches in rapid succession. I predict death by alcohol poisoning after three or four
Well shoot, I was honest in my OP. I was wondering if it’s going to be a 50/50 between dispatching him under federal guidelines, or keeping him alive, solely for the intelligence value he has.
Granted we all know he’s a rat bastard, but will whomever captures him execute him for the standpoint-on-policy or keep him alive just to milk him?
Tripler
Honest question. No doubt we’d all personally like our own bayonetting session with him.
And imagine if the history books taught that America, having caught and convicted the man responsible for the most horrific terrorist atrocity ever seen, set an example by not executing him. “If they can forego the death penalty even in that case” say to themselves the less civilised nations of the world , “can we not do so also?”
I seriously doubt he’ll be taken alive, so this is just an intellectual exercise. If the troops hunting for him don’t kill him outright, and if his own bodyguards don’t wack him rather than have him fall into our hands, I figure he’ll most like kill himself…I don’t see him doing a Saddam.
However, if we catch him I’m sure he’ll receive a fair trial (more than he deserves), and eventually he’ll be executed…to the chours of howling from Europe et al. At a guess he’ll get the lethal injection or some other humanitarian death. Personally I’d simply turn him over to the families of the victims of 9/11 and let THEM do what they will…
I don’t see much intellect or even any exercise in this thread.
Anyway, I’m not so sure he’d receive a fair trial. Certainly not even as fair as the military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay and there’s never been anybody throughout history who hasn’t deserved that. Presumably, a truly fair trial would lead to an appropriate sentence so why the urge for vigilantism and lynching?
Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor’s idea of stir frying or Tripler’s idea of milking him are ingenious but more in the Uday style of butchery, humiliation and torture. Y’all still confusing ObL and the old Iraqi regime or what?
No, no, no. I predict Bush will go to the EU, UN, Arab League, and other interested parties and try to build a consensus on what is to be done with him. At least he knows the value of not sinking to the level of a tyrant and the need to demonstrate wisdom with to humility the rest of the world. Thank the Lord he has at least four more years before he needs to amend the constitution to remain in power so he can find this evil doer.
I assume that if bin Laden ever gets caught he’ll be smart enough to realize the jig is up and use his trial as a final opportunity to espouse his views. But if he should choose to do so, does he have any kind of legal defense to make? Saddam and the Nuremberg defendants were able to at least claim that they weren’t violating the laws of their own countries and as government officials could not be held accountable. But bin Laden isn’t a representative of any nation.
Just one problem with this admirable sentiment SentientMeat. It occurs to me that a live captive ObL is a major incentive for a hostage taking incident. Is this example to the world worth a few more innocent American lives?
I’m still against the death penalty, but I’m struggling with this case.
In March 1945 while the allies were thinking through the implications and dangers of trying Hitler if he were caught, Anthony Eden was asked in Parliament if a British soldier met Hitler was it his duty to shoot or capture him. Eden’s not so subtle hint in reply was “I am quite satisfied to leave the decision to the British soldier concerned”.
I hope in similar vein some smart special forces soldier will relieve us of the predicament.
Hmmm…I say strap him down in a movie theater, and make him watch in succession:
Gigli Freddy Got Fingered Manos: the Hands of Fate (the original, not the MST3K version)
Then lock him away for the rest of his life in a glass cell, where everyone can see him. Soundproof it so no sound gets out, but pump nonstop crap-hmmm, Poison, Kenny G, Mariah Carey, William Hung.
Something like that. Remember, “Hell works best when it’s subtle.”-Joel Robinson.
