Saddam Hussein Sentenced To Hang...
Saddam Hussein, who oversaw the murder of thousands of Iraqis during twenty-four years as their president, was convicted of committing crimes against humanity in the 1982 killings of one hundred forty-eight people in a Shiite Muslim town. Iraq's former leader was sentenced to die by hanging. Saddam refused to stand and face the court when the verdict was read, and had to be hauled to his feet by bailiffs.
As he, his half brother and another senior official in his regime were convicted and sentenced to death by the Iraqi High Tribunal, Saddam yelled out, "Long live the people and death to their enemies. Long live the glorious nation, and death to its enemies!" Later, his lawyer said the former dictator had called on Iraqis to reject sectarian violence and refrain from revenge against U.S. forces.
Saddam and his seven co-defendants were on trial for a wave of revenge killings carried out in the city of Dujail following a 1982 assassination attempt on the former dictator. Al-Maliki's Islamic Dawa party, then an underground opposition, has claimed responsibility for organizing the attempt on Saddam's life.
In the streets of Dujail, a Tigris River city of eighty-four thousand, people celebrated and burned pictures of their former tormentor as the verdict was read.
Saddam may not die by the rope soon. He has an automatic appeal to a nine-judge panel, which can take all the time it wants to review the case, and in the meantime Saddam will stand trial for the massacres of the Kurds during his reign. The appellate panel may choose to allow that entire trial before giving its verdict on the appeal, as Iraq would have to execute Saddam within thirty days of their decision if they uphold the verdict. The Kurds might want Saddam alive for the entirety of this next trial, although security concerns might convince them otherwise.
It's worth noting that Saddam would not ever have faced justice at all had the United States not acted to remove him from power. Kurds and Shi'ites would still wind up in mass graves, face the rape rooms at hospitals and police stations, they would still have their tongues cut out for speaking out against tyranny and face mutilations for any perceived rebelliousness. Instead, Uday and Qusay have gone onto significantly warmer climes than the Iraqi desert and Saddam will stretch a rope after having been tried in a much fairer court than Iraqis ever experienced under his rule.
The trial has been conducted in Iraq and by Iraqis. It's successful conclusion will be a key step in the establishment of the rule of law, for, not only does it exact justice from the dictator, but it shows ordinary people facing their former tormentor in court as equals. It shows the people that they can get justice within a democratic system.
That's justice, and no matter what you think of the war, the verdict is a triumph for humanity and the Iraqi people. A mass murderer has been brought to justice.
posted by Digital Fortress at 11:45
8 Comments:
A major milestone in Iraqi history is reached as its most barbaric and murderous leader receives justice - Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to hang by the neck until dead for his crimes against humanity. Hang 'em high, says I!
I only hope that the sentence will actually be carried out and that he won't get away with committing suicide before his scheduled hanging.
Personally, I think any Iraqi that has had their life or family's life affected by Saddam's brutal reign should get to smack him with a shoe before he is executed.
I was asked if it was all worth it, going to war, the possibility of being injured or killed, loosing friends and all...
Yes, it was worth it. Saddam was an enemy of the US. He committed acts of genocide against his own people, he had in the past developed and used WMD with no indications that he had since forsworn their development and/or use. He had contacts with terrorist organizations. Saddam corrupted the UN in the Oil for Food program, enriching himself and his clan at the expense of the Iraqi people, with estimates of 5,000 Iraqis a month dying due to the sanctions. It needed to be done and I am glad that I was a part of it.
OMG! Iraq has a better judicial system than we do! ;) At least they know what should be done with a killer. I am glad that justice is being served in Iraq and thank all the soldiers that helped it come about!
Was it worth it?
My parents and I came to the United States from a country with an oppressive government and I sure am glad that I was able to give back a little of what this country has given to me to the Iraqi people.
A simple solution just isn't possible, but I believe it’s a worthwhile endeavor and that the Iraqi people are going to be much better off in the long run. I do hope that democracy takes hold in Iraq. It’s better for them and us.
I was just an average soldier. I did what I was told to do, but I'm proud that I was a part of it.
I'd say it was worth it.
He is getting what he deserves.
Digg this....The former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein will be hanged by the end of January, a senior member of Nouri al-Maliki’s Dawa party predicted today as an around-the-clock curfew kept the lid on sectarian violence after the deposed dictator was sentenced to death.
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