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Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty.

-Thomas Jefferson

Quiet and Dignified

There's a bit of complaint from some regarding the manner in which Saddam Hussein was executed. For just one example, BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson:

Far from being a quiet and dignified business, the new video shows that several of the witnesses taunted Saddam during the last seconds of his life, chanted the name of one of his many enemies, and told him he was going to hell.

An incredible complaint, in my view. A quiet and dignified death is usually earned through a quiet and dignified life - not through the dictatorial genocide practiced by this deposed tyrant.

And if I believed in hell, it is exactly where I would want Saddam to go. He hasn't done anything to earn the peace of not having to hear that sort of opinion. That anybody would think otherwise absolutely boggles my mind. Come on, say it with me: To hell with Saddam Hussein!

Mr. Simpson continues:

Altogether, the execution as we now see it is shown to be an ugly, degrading business, which is more reminiscent of a public hanging in the 18th Century than a considered act of 21st Century official justice.

Mr. Simpson could not sound more out of touch. Neither could he sound much more sympathetic of the Butcher of Baghdad:

Saddam is not intimidated by any of this, and repeats Moqtada Sadr's name disdainfully, as if to say he doesn't count for very much.

Then his gruff, rasping voice can be heard saying to the onlookers "Is this manly behaviour?"...

Saddam Hussein scarcely has an instant to collect his thoughts. He starts to mutter a prayer, but just as he speaks the name Muhammad, the chief hangman pulls the lever and the trapdoor opens.

With terrible, shocking force, Saddam's body plunges into the drop.

He deserved a terrible and shocking force. He deserved to be cut off in mid-prayer. Mr. Simpson seem not to understand the principle that how a man lives is more important than how a man dies. Rather than focus on the people being rude as they string up one of the worst mass murderers on Earth, we could focus on how much better it is for Iraq that he has been executed. Rather than fret that Sunni Arabs might be offended at the treatment Saddam received, we might ask ourselves whether those Sunnis who would defend Saddam are worth working with.

There was no behavior that was too rude for Saddam, Mr. Simpson. Again, to hell with Saddam Hussein.

Posted by Wulf on January 1, 2007 at 02:06 PM

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Comments

I disagree. Two points.

First, enforcing a death sentence of one of its citizens is among the gravest of responsibilities for a government. It should not be taken lightly and the way in which the task is handled reflects directly upon that government.

It *did* seem like an 18th century public hanging... vs the deliberate justice of a democracy. There's a reason for our ban of "cruel and unusual punishment."

My second point is regarding your flippant comments about the Sunnis' position on the matter. I'd expect simplistic Us vs Them rhetoric from Rammage, but your position surprises me.

We all know that most of the violence in Iraq is Shite vs Sunni. The Sunnis were already a little upset over Saddam's death sentence... how do you think they'll react to that video footage? Wherein the witnesses were chanting a Shite leader's name (to taunt Saddam).

This is nothing to do with Saddam's personal feelings. It has everything to do with the perceived legitimacy of the Iraqi government and managing the Sunni/Shite divide that threatens civil war, and more violence, in Iraq.

-jib

Posted by: Jib Halyard at January 2, 2007 12:07 PM

To your first point: Of course executions are among the gravest of responsibilities for a government – assuming, for argument, that it is a proper function of government in the first place. But was this Mr. Simpson’s complaint? That the Iraqi government did not provide a suitably grave environment for an execution, in general? I got the impression that Mr. Simpson's complaint was that the Iraqi government owed more gravity not to the citizenry, but to the dignified, prayerful Mr. Hussein.

I will agree with you that the handling of this could have been politically astute. I won’t, however, share Mr. Simpson’s shock at the video. Who are you and Mr. Simpson to declare that 18th century hangings were more immoral than one where observers are quiet? Neither of you spoke of lynchings, mind you. But I am not aware of any inalienable right to a quiet and dignified death. The Iraqi government chose to allow his death to be as political as his life had been. I may find that unwise, but not immoral.

To your second point, I'm not sure where you read Us vs Them rhetoric, because I side with/against neither the Sunni nor the Shia. I specifically mentioned those Sunnis who would defend Saddam, which is certainly not “all Sunnis”.

You say Sunnis were already “a little upset” over Saddam’s death sentence. I have not seen any arguments from Iraqis that all capital punishment is immoral, so I assume those Sunnis to which you refer are those who would in some way defend Saddam. I am perfectly fine with being on the other side of an Us vs Them with those particular Sunnis, even if it comes off as simplistic or flip. Those who would defend Saddam are part of the problem, Jib. The Sunni/Shite divide that threatens civil war, and more violence, in Iraq is not going to go away by placating one side or the other.

Was it politically astute to allow him to be mocked? No. Am I, from the comfort of my Virginia home, going to criticize them and call it shocking and barbarous? No. But if you and Mr. Simpson feel comfortable getting high up on the horse, you are welcome to it. I just don’t think that’s any more dignified or politically astute, myself.

Posted by: Wulf at January 2, 2007 3:07 PM

Wulf:
> I got the impression that Mr. Simpson's complaint was that the Iraqi government owed more gravity not to the citizenry, but to the dignified, prayerful Mr. Hussein.

Well, I wasn't really reacting to Simpson's article; but rather to your overall opinion that seems to be that the circumstances of the execution don't matter because Saddam was a really bad guy. I agree with you that Saddam deserved whatever fate was served him, and share none of Simpson's empathy.

My first point is centered in the perception of the integrity of Iraq's new government. That they should act more like a formal, nationalist government... and less like a group of Shite thugs out for a little payback. Justice != revenge.

On to the second point:

> Those who would defend Saddam are part of the problem, Jib.

I don't think dividing Sunnis into "Saddam supporters" and "non- Saddam supporters" adequately represents the issue.

There are plenty of Sunnis and Shia who simply want to live. They're not interested in power grabs... they just want a secure community where they and their families can exist.

But, how can these Sunnis feel good about a government that is actively anti-Sunni? I'm not saying that is necessarily the case, but it's the perception that is important... especially when both (extremist) sides are spinning the rhetoric to generate as much active support for the violence as possible.

Having footage out there showing a biased execution will only serve to motivate more Sunnis, previously on the fence, to join in the fighting. Of course, perhaps that is the goal all along.