As the world now knows, Saddam Hussein has been executed. I wish it hadn’t happened. Here’s why:

• I’m opposed to the death penalty on principle. So are most developed nations and human rights organizations.
• If Iraq really wanted to show that they’d moved on from the era of brutal law and murderous retaliation, why would they execute Hussein after what’s been widely mocked as a kangaroo court? Why not send him to the Hague? Why not put him through the public, mocking spectacle of a trial and imprison him to serve as a perpetual reminder of real change in Iraq?
• Executing Saddam Hussein will only make him a martyr.

However, it’s done now and we’ll have to wait for the fallout. Sadly, this will do little to solve the bloody puzzle of Iraq.
[tags]saddam hussein, execution, death penalty, iraq[/tags]