What’s the big deal? Dude was dead at least as quickly as if things had gone right.
What’s the big deal? He’s in two pieces! Damned unprofessional, if you ask me. Honestly, it’s getting harder and harder to find a competent hangman.
Tuckerfan’s previous thread. Was the same executioner used as for Saddam Hussein? That one, apart from the scenes around the hanging, was textbook. Either it’s different executioners – and this one was a novice – or they were lucky first time around and guessed the body-weight to drop ratio correctly.
More stuff to be talked about by both sides over there, however it happened.
I don’t see the difference either. His head popped off, so what? The death is as sudden as the other. It’s not like it was the difference between a torturous death and a quick death. People always want to nitpick on the minor variations instead of focusing on the large variations.
OK, this is just my cynical, paranoid side thinking here: What if they “accidentally” decapitated him on purpose, in order to send a message? Something along the lines of “OK, you loyalist assholes…you think hanging’s no big deal, eh? How about we accidentally take your fucking heads clean off? It can happen to you, too.” This cynical, paranoid side also thinks maybe they let cell-phone camera dude capture Saddam’s hanging to send a message, as well.
Eh, think I’ll kick back, have a beer, and adjust my tinfoil hat…
What’s the difference?
Ask the guy who has to clean up the place…
Still muttering about this one.
You know, with all the croneyism and powder-puff favorite positions handed out by this administration to Bush loyalists, you’d think that W. – of all people, George W. Bush – would know a competent hangman he could have sent over there to over see what is essentially the most volatile operation we’ve conducted in Iraq to date.
An Arky, I’m with you on this one. I think the Dems are behind this.
I thought the executions were handled by the Iraqis.
I don’t know who you mean by “they” here. Regardless, it’d be ineffective and you’d have to be stupid to try it, believing it would work.
They were.
Sorry–I’m just so completely disgusted with the we’ve handled this whole affair I have a hard time not believing the US’s paw prints are all over everything including the trial, sentencing and execution of the former regime. The Iraqis didn’t hang these guys, our Iraqis–specifically those we knew would execute him–did.
Don’t get me wrong, these were some really vile men. If you’re into the death penalty then these would be your poster children. But these guys were sentenced to hang, and for all the competence displayed by those carrying out the execution, what they got was lynched.
Wikipedia on Hanging/Decapitation
Postcards from the gallows:
Sepia-tone photo from a 1901 postcard of Tom Ketchum’s decapitated body after hanging. Caption reads “Body of Black Jack after the hanging showing head snapped off.”
Send a message?
“wet clean up on aisle three”
Oddly enough, an execution is supposed to be solemn and humane. Most people consider the ripping apart of a body to be a desecration. It is bad form, especially when he was just supposed to be hung.
If you look closely, the postcard reads “Having a great time. The rides at this amusement park are killer!” 