Saddam

[Southern_Brit]

I was watching a programme last night over here in the UK called 'Question Time', a weekly show where Politicians from all parties, journalists, authors, members of various interest groups form a panel to discuss latest events in Politics and take questions from the audience. (They did recently do a few from the US, not sure if they were aired over there?)

Anyway...

They got onto the topic of Saddam's trial and someone asked about what sentence he should be given.

Most of the panel said that they did not think he should be executed as it would make a martyr out of him and as we are trying to stabalise the region and start as we mean to go on, killing him wouldn't help.

Just trying to get your views?

Yes, I know he is a bad bad man - killing him slowly is more than he deserves but I'm trying to look at the bigger picture - does it solve anything and what could the consequences be?

[hit_it]

Life in a gay community as the fuck toy. I'm sure he'd enjoy that.

[Chiron]

However.....

If he is locked up then there would always be that group which strives to free him. Or receives orders from him.

My take is kill him and the martyr will be forgotten within a few years.

[Darksaga]

I think they should hold him until he has been tried on all charges. To do so would be a long a dangerous course especially in light of the recent murder of one of the defense attorney's but he would be held accountable on a world stage for the charges against him. Then excute the bastard.

[Southern_Brit]

I had a look at the programme's webpage on the BBC, these were some of the emails / texts:-

Audience question: Should Saddam get the death penalty if found guilty?

You said:

As a civilised country we should not support Saddam Hussein being executed even if found guilty! Life in prison with no perks will give him time to reflect on his barbaric crimes, death is instant and leaves little time for remorse!!
Mike Hayward, Gosport, Hampshire

How can anyone not say he should not be hanged in public? Did you see his eyes in court? Do the panel think for one minute that such a . should not be hung? Look what he did to all those families.
David, Inverness

Great - a whole panel of Liberals hand wringing over the possible execution of Saddam. Add to that the usual plants from the extreme left making outrageous unchallenged anti-war diatribes. Couldn't we have a variety of opinion occasionally?
Jon, Gravesend

I am appalled at the apparent hypocrisy of the panel in relation to the death penalty for Saddam Hussein. Our Government has allowed a death sentence to fall upon the innocent, yet ordinary, men, women and children of Iraq, as a result of our invasion and described their demise as "collateral damage" and yet we are prepared to afford the privilege of a prison sentence to the creator of this catastrophe.
Mark McConway, Dunfermline

A panellist this evening said that the government of Iraq should enact the views of the people of Iraq. Even if this meant imposing the death penalty on Saddam Hussein. Please ask the panellist why the same does not apply in the UK? Repeatedly when the UK public are questioned on this, the majority show a preference for the reintroduction of the penalty here. Why do our politicians decide that they should not listen to their public? Perhaps this links to the voter apathy issue alluded to within the Tory leadership debate?
Tony Loynes, Cannock

Text: Give Saddam an Asbo.
Sonny, Chesterfield


On the question of Saddam Hussein and execution, I do agree that the regime of horror, tyranny and fear had to be brought to an end, but I also think that the Iraqi people have lived for centuries with the threat of capital punishment, and that it would be an insult to the people and their beliefs if Saddam Hussein was merely imprisoned.
Ann Moore, Sheringham, Norfolk


Text: Saddam controlled a difficult people, do we do any better?
Josh, London

Text: The man should be made to pay. But it is not our right to get involved. Who do we think we are?
Mike, Hull

Text: Make Saddam Hussein suffer as his victims did. Do not execute him.
Simon, Torquay


On considering the execution of Saddam Hussein, people must detach themselves from their emotions on the evils that he has done, and realise the main objective of the war - to help Iraq to become a democracy and a civilised nation.

By putting Saddam through a civilised fair trial, it sets an example of how the new Iraq should work and show how the old dictatorship is no longer.
Casey Olsen, London

Text: The death penalty is the easy way out for him.
N, Sheffield

Text: Saddam made people suffer. Let him suffer for the rest of his life in jail.
Ian, London

Text: "Martyrdom" for Saddam will see us in Iraq for the next 20 years.
Mike, Exmouth

Text: Saddam deserves justice so give him the death penalty.
John, N Yorks


The trial of Saddam must end without the death penalty as his sentence. A break from the past needs to be made, and the first real step to show the people and the world - particularly the Middle East - that they have moved forward and cannot be dragged back.
Palan Suchak, Hornchurch

Text: If politicians listened to Amnesty about Saddam 20 years ago how many lives could have been saved?
Ged, Camden

Text: I thought Question Time was for debating issues and not an Amnesty International publicity show.
PH, London

Text: Executing Saddam would be using brutality to fight brutality.
P Smillie, Leics

Text: Do you also plan to execute Milosevic as well?
LH, Kent

Text: Saddam brutalised his country.
John, Barnsley

Text: What does the panel suggest then for Saddam - community service?!
Royce, Notts

Text: We don't do the death penalty, so we shouldn't enforce it in other countries.
Andy, Croydon

[Darksaga]

As a civilised country we should not support Saddam Hussein being executed even if found guilty! Life in prison with no perks will give him time to reflect on his barbaric crimes, death is instant and leaves little time for remorse!!
Mike Hayward, Gosport, Hampshire

I have heard this POV at work. The problem is Saddam doesn't feel he has committed any crimes and the people in my office can't seem to get their minds around that.

There needs to be a definative closure to Saddam and placing him in jail for the rest of his life moves that closure 15 to 20 years down the line.

[Chiron]

He should be taken out in a public courtyard and have his head chopped off. Then his arms and legs. Each part to be buried in a different part of Iraq without makings. People will forget fast.

[trgrhappyaj]

The DAMN BBC can't even call Terroism for what it is how the fuck do we expect them to make a logical decision on Saddam. Kill the bastard.

[Jim]

Here is the web site for the Special Tribunal in Iraq. Please check the photo section. It's still bare bones (pardon the pun), but should be a good reference:

http://www.iraqispecialtribunal.org/en/home.htm

[Julieanne]

He should be taken out in a public courtyard and have his head chopped off. Then his arms and legs. Each part to be buried in a different part of Iraq without makings. People will forget fast.

I think the head should get lopped off last. No sedation.

[Chiron]

He should be taken out in a public courtyard and have his head chopped off. Then his arms and legs. Each part to be buried in a different part of Iraq without makings. People will forget fast.

I think the head should get lopped off last. No sedation.

I rest my case.

[Southern_Brit]

The DAMN BBC can't even call Terroism for what it is how the fuck do we expect them to make a logical decision on Saddam. Kill the bastard.

Regardless of who aired the show, the panel were a selection of our politicians and the audience made up of the public - aimed at having a balanced debate.

[Darksaga]

He should be taken out in a public courtyard and have his head chopped off. Then his arms and legs. Each part to be buried in a different part of Iraq without makings. People will forget fast.

I think the head should get lopped off last. No sedation.

Cauterize each wound so he survives each amputation.

[rgrpuck]

The DAMN BBC can't even call Terroism for what it is how the fuck do we expect them to make a logical decision on Saddam. Kill the bastard.

STFU!!!!

[Julieanne]

He should be taken out in a public courtyard and have his head chopped off. Then his arms and legs. Each part to be buried in a different part of Iraq without makings. People will forget fast.

I think the head should get lopped off last. No sedation.

Cauterize each wound so he survives each amputation.

Toss the limbs out to the starving dogs, who no doubt will be in the crowd of spectators, waiting for fodder.