Our favorite former Iraqi dictator was found guilty of masterminding a massacre of Shiites in 1982. He'll be getting a death sentence, but he won't visit Ol' Sparky or get a lethal injection; they'll be hanging him. Rough justice for a rough guy. There will be an appellate hearing to confirm things, but that will be a process that will take weeks rather than decades.
I'm not the biggest fan of the death penalty, but this is one case where it seems to be appropriate. He was responsible for tons of deaths on his watch, far beyond the case that he's been convicted of, as one of the baddest actors of the recent past.
This is one where the prudential considerations favor the death penalty. Incarcerating Saddam would mean that his partisans could use him to keep alive their hopes for a Baathist restoration.
Besides, he richly merits the ultimate human punishment.
Posted by: Peter Sean Bradley | November 06, 2006 at 10:39 AM