# Saddam Sentenced To Die **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 5, 2006, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174 "2006-11-05T10:06:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/21 "2006-11-05T19:08:09Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] You won’t find me mourning Saddam’s death. But what purpose will it serve? Pros: Execution is an accepted form of punishment there. As such, hanging Saddam is lawful. The sentence was passed by an Iranian court. (Whether the court is a puppet of the U.S. is another debate.) [/QUOTE] That’s an interesting typo. While it is my understanding that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won’t mind seeing him dead, I assume you meant an Iraqi court! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/22 "2006-11-05T19:41:12Z")
Yes, I meant to type _Iraqi_ court. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/23 "2006-11-05T19:52:25Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] Just in time for the midterms. [/QUOTE] Pshaw! Certainly, if you go back and check when the trial started you won’t find **anyone** on the SDMB wondering about when the verdict would drop. Or how convenient it would be for the Bushies. -Joe, certainly not me ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/24 "2006-11-05T20:00:54Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] Just in time for the midterms. [/QUOTE] Just in time for the news Monday and Tuesday morning to be full of the resulting civil disorders? It would be such a fitting example of yet another bit of Bush planning blowing up on him. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/25 "2006-11-05T20:14:16Z")
Civil disorders in Iraq? Could things get much worse? It seems to me the Pub’s are spinning this as an exemplar of the burgeoning Iraqi democracy, and the Dems are downplaying its importance, as it won’t make much practical difference on the ground. The Dems clearly have the facts on their side, and the Pubs the symbolism. To the extent that this symbolism carries any weight presently will determine its importance to American politics, but when you consider how long this has been forseen, it’s reasonable to suspect BushCo lacked the foresight to anticipate how little the news might help them, and that this belated October Surprise, if that’s what it is, wouldn’t be quite what they were hoping. There’s no question this news is being politicized, no matter what determined the timing. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/26 "2006-11-05T20:22:45Z")
Hopefully, it will be televised and we can watch it live. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/27 "2006-11-05T21:45:48Z")
[QUOTE=aclubs] I was lurking around the [BBCnews.com](http://BBCnews.com) “Have Your Say” section, and many folks (especially abroad) seem to be of the impression that this was timed for the midterm elections. [/QUOTE] Gee! [I wonder what might have given them **that** idea?!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=393174) ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/28 "2006-11-05T21:52:02Z")
Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/29 "2006-11-05T22:39:05Z")
Well, the traditional arguments RE death penalty for anyone apply here: PRO: It’s an appropriate punishment for some crimes (an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth…) and given sufficient legal safeguards, unlikely to be imposed on the truly innocent. CON: It’s a barbaric, cruel and unusual punishment and can never be justifiably imposed by a civilized society. Then we have the special case arguments applicable only to a Hitler, Stalin or Hussein: PRO: We will never have to worry about another rise to power by this particular person. CON: Any secrets, insight or knowledge by someone who has held positions few have will be forever lost. And in death, his martyrdom may be more powerful than his life was and other, equally evil ones may take his place anyway. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/30 "2006-11-05T22:58:11Z")
It is permissible to kill when no other action is possible, in immediate self-defense, for instance, or to protect the innocent from harm. Outside of such narrow constrictions, killing is barbarism. There are shades of grey even there, depending on the subject. Killing Saddam cannot degrade him, he is beyond such, he is a monster. But it degrades us, lowers us ever so slightly, ever so quietly, that we don’t even notice it has happened. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/31 "2006-11-05T23:11:46Z")
I will shed not a tear, and will bring the rope, if asked. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/32 "2006-11-05T23:19:29Z")
[QUOTE=aclubs] I have my doubts that Republicans would want to remind everyone of Iraq right now. [/QUOTE] You’re working on the mistaken assumption that the Republicans believe the voters to be canny enough to see through such a ploy, instead of viewing them as slack-jawed yokels with the attention span of goldfish. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/33 "2006-11-05T23:39:39Z")
[QUOTE=Clothahump] Hopefully, it will be televised and we can watch it live. [/QUOTE] If only those pantywaist wussies in Iraq weren’t too squeamish for crucifixion! ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/34 "2006-11-06T01:06:41Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] If only those pantywaist wussies in Iraq weren’t too squeamish for crucifixion! [/QUOTE] Or Drawn and Quartered. Now, that’s some good old-fashioned vengefulfilling excitement. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/35 "2006-11-06T13:51:47Z")
Well now for some light relief. Today I went to my local barbershop, run by a Greek Cypriot. There was a new guy there, youngish, none too good English, but chatty. He asked me about Saddam - or more specifically the ‘verdict’. I expressed my views, which are that killing him is pointless and that the whole Iraq thing is a crock of sh/t. I then started explaining the local demographics, especially the Kurdish problem. - at that point he told me that he was a Kurd - apparently he got to the UK from Syria with his family five years ago. Fortunately I got away with a decent haircut. Personally I would develop St Helena, and ostentatiously populate it with retired dictators. When offered graceful retirement, most people will not fight like a rat in a corner. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/36 "2006-11-06T14:28:40Z")
[QUOTE=FRDE] Personally I would develop St Helena, and ostentatiously populate it with retired dictators. [/QUOTE] This would just give some future deposed tyrant an opening to say “ **Mad-ass I was ere I saw Saddam** ”, for which the penalty should be death. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/37 "2006-11-06T14:34:03Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Cons: Martyrdom. There are plenty of people who support Saddam [/QUOTE] This seems to come up anytime someone talks about executing a terrorist leader or some other infamous Muslim. Really, is the whole martyrdom thing an urban legend, or are those that “die for the cause” eventually forgotten? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/38 "2006-11-06T14:41:19Z")
Does he deserve it? Yes. Will it bring back the hundreds of thousands who are dead who wouldn’t be if the invasion had not occured? No. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/39 "2006-11-06T14:42:49Z")
I have a feeling this will not help anything. Best let him rot in a cell rather than become a symbol. Imagine the power of a leaked photo of his hanging body. Remember, so far the current US government is Batting 0 when it comes to anticipating the reactions of the Iraqi people to actions thus far. The United States has screwed it’s image over several times in this region, this is likely only to make it worse Aside from being an act of pure vengence, what will the Death penalty do? Discourage people who are already willing to become suicide bombers? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174/40 "2006-11-06T16:04:13Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Because it makes Saddam a martyr and fuels the insurgency all the more. [/QUOTE] Spot on: [Iraqi Reactions Highlight Ethnic, Religious Divides, Portending More Violence](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/05/AR2006110500135_pf.html) > [@](#): > > A white-haired, gray-robed man in his 50s, who identified himself only as Abbas, walked among them holding up the swaddled bones of his son Hassan. All of Abbas’s sons disappeared in 1991, along with thousands of other Shiites, as Hussein’s forces crushed a Shiite uprising after the Persian Gulf War. > > Only last week, Abbas had recovered the remains of Hassan, who was 4 when he disappeared, after an official’s chance discovery of an old grave holding five bodies. On Sunday, Abbas had been taking his son’s body for burial, but when he saw the demonstration, he stopped his car in the middle of the road. Soon he was jumping up and down among the crowd, holding up Hassan’s bones for all to mourn. > > “Saddam took my sons from me,” Abbas said. He began crying. “What was the crime that my son committed? He was only 4.” > > North of Baghdad, in Hussein’s birthplace of Auja, black-robed women with reddened eyes walked along Saddam Hussein Road to a house belonging to members of Hussein’s extended family, where they joined the women there in a kind of wake. > > “The grief we are going through is unbearable, and we wish we were dead before seeing or hearing this verdict,” said Suad Mohammed, 40, her voice hoarse with tears and shouting. > > \*\*\*“What happened today at the court gives us the resolve and the power to go ahead on the road of holy war,” said Marwan Hakam, a teacher in the city of Tikrit, not far from Auja. “All must now carry arms to fight the Americans.” > > “I have sworn by God that I shall not go home and will detonate this explosives belt on American forces,” said Yahya, the Tikriti shopkeeper.\*\*\* > > Samarra and other predominantly Sunni cities and towns also saw protests, with crowds at times shooting at or setting fire to government buildings. They revived a chant that had dominated their lives during Hussein’s 24-year authoritarian rule: “Our blood and our souls we sacrifice for you, Saddam.” > > Many Shiites and Sunnis, however, said that the sectarian violence since Hussein was toppled by a U.S.-led invasion in 2003 has made life now far grimmer. Bolding and italics mine. Carnage courtesy of the United States. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddam-sentenced-to-die/379174.md?page=3)