Thoughts Over Coffee
I went to sleep last night having just learned that a tyrant was finally dead. I slept well and soundly. I awoke early this morning, and since I did not have work, I surfed the web to confirm the news. 
He was dead. Hanged by hooded executioners, refusing a hood himself.
I wondered a bit why it took so long to finally kill this deranged despot after he was captured. Three years. Why did he deserve a trial? His crimes were certainly widely recognized, and even if he was thought innocent of one, there were plently of others. A trial seemed like such a waste of time and resources in a country ravaged by war and strife. Why not simply kill him and feed him to the dogs, I had thought. He deserved nothing more than to burn in hell while his corpse was digested and his memory erased forever.
This morning, I realized why it took so long. The trial had not been for Saddam Hussien. It had been for ourselves.
He was dead. Hanged by hooded executioners, refusing a hood himself. I wondered a bit why it took so long to finally kill this deranged despot after he was captured. Three years. Why did he deserve a trial? His crimes were certainly widely recognized, and even if he was thought innocent of one, there were plently of others. A trial seemed like such a waste of time and resources in a country ravaged by war and strife. Why not simply kill him and feed him to the dogs, I had thought. He deserved nothing more than to burn in hell while his corpse was digested and his memory erased forever.
This morning, I realized why it took so long. The trial had not been for Saddam Hussien. It had been for ourselves.
posted by Xavier at 8:04 AM
11 Comments:
Excellent point. When faced with something like this, I think it's important to remember that some form of due process must be followed, just so it wasn't a kangaroo court. Give him whatever Iraq's laws require, then string him up.
Theoretically, due process prevents us from degenerating to barbarism. They may have killed him, but they were at least civil about it.
You're right: it's to protect the rest of us more so than him.
Nonetheless, good riddance to him.
He got what he, beyond a reasonable doubt deserved, although you point out my biggest beef.
This trial, with the secret witnesses and the USA trained judges that went on whether or not Saddam was allowed to attend was not a fair trial, it was a show trial for the Iraqi people.
As a propaganda tool, let's hope it was worth it, but let's not insult due process by calling it "fair".
I'd have slept better if they had just kicked a fragmentation grenade into his spider hole three years ago when we found him.
The world is full of monsters and if we went searching to destroy all of them we would have perpetual war.
Twenty-five years ago or so, Saddam was our ally and "friend." He was put into power by the CIA, pushed by us to attack Iran, and tricked by us to attach Kuwait. (Before invading Kuwait, he essentially asked our Ambassador for permission and got what he thought was a nod and a wink.) Rumsfeld himself was giving Saddam hugs and handshakes in the 1980s. Interesting how all of this is somehow lost in the memory hole!
That is all well and good Xavier, and I do believe that all the horrors that he has commited have been brought to justice, but how can you stand there, a LAW ABIDING citizen of the USA and DARE say that we should execute somebody without a trial. That goes against a HUGE componant of what we stand for as gun owners, protection of our consitutional rights! We are the ONLY fair country in the world. If we lose this, we lose everything. He is dead, good, but don't say he didn't deserve a trial. Everybody deserves a trial.
But, saying that, I am glad he is dead. Sorry if I got a little hot, I just love our country and don't want to see it degraded in ANY way. I love your blog Xav!!!
-Marc
As I said Marc, the trial was for us, not him. The trial prevented us from becoming like him.
"The trial prevented us from becoming like him." Huh?? The "trial" was a show piece, the verdict and outcome of which was never in doubt. I would wager that more Iraqis have died a violent death as a result of our invasion and occupation than died in the entire period of Saddam's rule. Perhaps Iraq was better off with Saddam than it is with us and continuing sectarian strife/civil war. GSJ
Xavier has made a good point. While it is perfectly natural for us to want immediate justice, it is imperative that there be some sort of order and not just vigilantism.
GSJ- How dare you compare the invasion of Iraq to the rule of a murderous dictator. Even if there were more deaths as a result of our occupation (an assertion you cannot prove), there is no comparison of war casualties to the death of thousands of innocent Iraqis under Saddam's rule. You should be ashamed of yourself.
"Why not simply kill him and feed him to the dogs, I had thought."
A good thought. He should have ended up like Jezebel, completely devoured but for the hands that did such evil and the skull that hatched it. (2 Kings 9)
Keith -- Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of innocent Iraqis have died and will continue to die as a result of our invasion and occupation of their country! Open your eyes to the truth -- this war was, and is, unjustifiable on any moral grounds and both a huge blundering mistake and a tragedy of epic proportion. GSJ
There is so much nonsense floating around, it is unbelievable.
First of all, Saddam was not put into power by the CIA, he seized power himself.
Second, he was never a client of the US. His tanks were T-72s, T-62s, and some Type 69s. They were made in the Soviet Union, not the USA. His jets were MIGs. His advisers spoke Russian.
Third, he was never an ally or a friend. The US government was certainly pleased that Iran and Iraq were fighting, but we did not set up Saddam to go to war with Iran. Remember, it was the "Iran-Contra Scandal" not the "Iraq-Contra Scandal" -- the point of which was to provide Iran, not Iraq, with armaments.
Fourth, the Gulf War of 1991 ended with a ceasefire, not a treaty, and Saddam repeatedly violated the terms of that cease-fire right up to 2003. The renewal of hostilities in 2003 was entirely legal and fully justifiable.
Fifth, the essential war aims of the United States were all accomplished successfully: Saddam was deposed, his regime was destroyed, his ability to support terrorism was ended, and the Iraqis were afforded the opportunity to make a new and democratic future for themselves.
Sixth, Saddam was tried, convicted, and executed by the Iraqis under their laws and norms. The US had nothing to do with it. The only American participant was ex-US Atty Genl Ramsey Clark, who brought further disgrace on his already tattered reputation by serving as a defense counsel.
Seventh, not a single Iraqi is dying because the US deposed Saddam, they are dying because of terrorism, Islamism, and the sectarian and ethnic problems that have bedeviled their benighted country since it became independent.
Eight, Saddam is dead. He was executed by his victims. That's better than you can say about Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler, or most other dictators. And he aint coming back.
Thank you Gandalin. Your post was well formed, well said and very accurate. A step-by-step response to what we hear from the day to day media/moonbat tripe.
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