I was just in the bank in the centre of Oxford, and BBC News 24 was on (silently) above the queue for the counters. It showed the entire preamble to the hanging, about 4-5 minutes long, going to black after the noose went round his neck, and he adjusted the rope himself. There were kids and so on in the bank, and everyone was watching morbidly.
What sort of deterrent are you hoping for? That other depots will take this as an example and change their wicked ways? I think it’s unlikely, because just like every criminal on the streets, a despot never believes he’ll be “caught” (or removed from power.)
Secondly, having looked over historical records on this very issue, I see no evidence that the large number of public hangings which happened all throughout history until the modern era had any impact on crime.
Meh, I’ll wait for the director’s cut.
My kids are grown, so that’s not an issue. I’ll watch it gladly.
In fact, it ought to run for the next year on pay-per-view and the proceeds should go towards the families of fallen American troops.
I noticed on the CNN video that the noose was placed at the side of his neck, not the back. Would that mean he got the quick-snap-and-dead death?
Not defiant, for sure. Somewhat blank, actually. It is a poor quality video with no sound. No harm in watching it. The hanging is not shown.
[ Moderator Note ]
There have been some questions raised about permitting links from the SDMB to the complete video when it (inevitably) makes it out onto the internet. Current staff opinion is that we are not going to censor it, given other links we have permitted in the past.
However, if is it used for shock value (e.g., an edited clip that opens at the point of the drop and with no indication in the post as to what is beling shown), we will probably break that link.
Respect you fellow posters. If you find and provide a link, state what the link displays in your post so that they may choose to open or not.
[ /Moderator Note ]
The reporting of any deceased world leader should include a montage of his life’s work. Saddam started his career by executing his political foes (which he had filmed). He was an equal opportunity thug who executed his inlaws if it served his whim. He attacked Iran, Kuwait and his own people. He used rape squades to brutalize people and wood chippers to kill them.
The Lion of the Desert is now lying in the desert and he has nobody to thank for it but himself. He did not deserve the quick death that he got.
Such is the standard. The neck cannot bend “sideways”, the noose is placed just under the ear to maximize the chance for an instant spinal break that severs the spinal column, by maximizing the “leverage”.
There is some skill in calculating the weight of the victim relative to the “drop” (how far he falls before he reaches “the end of his rope”). Too little drop, the neck does not snap, the victim strangles. Too much, the head comes right off.
There’s no nice way to kill people.
For some reason I kept thinking he looked like Sean Connory as I watched it. Definately an “all I can do is wait” expression on his face during most of it.
I’ll watch the video in a minute on another computer, but this account says defiant.
Didn’t the Nuremburg defendants hang and die slowly on piano wire?
No. They were hanged in the usual manner, with a rope. This picture of Wilhelm Frick, taken after his exectution, still shows the rope around his neck:
Here is a detailed description of the Nuremberg executions, with pictures of each of the bodies after execution, several with ropes still around their necks:
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Nazi-Execution-Smith16oct46.htm
You know what bugged me? The ski masks. If you’re going to play executioner, at least wear a proper hood.
When ya think about it… What non-terrorist or, in this one case, political reason would there be to own a black ski mask in Iraq? Its not like they have the Colorado Rockies in their backyard…
I’m sure the one guy with the “ski outfitting” business does well.
For those interested the full video seems to be up on google video(well until it’s taken down that is.
Top link on Digg.
You see the fall but the camera doesn’t stay on him so you don’t see the actual snap.
You do see a close up of him when he’s hanging though.
Now I need a large JD and ice.
Just watched it. Whatever you may think of Saddam, execution in general is so medieval.
Indeed.