Make no mistake about it. The execution of Saddam Hussein and his siblings is not one to cry about. That this megalomaniac was brutal and guilty of crimes against humanity is hardly controversial. That it brought some fulfillment to his long list of victims should not be under appreciated. As a Palestinian, I can sympathize with those powerless non-citizens who suffer from the brutal whims of unaccountable rulers.
However, that one deserves such a punishment does not mean that anyone has the right to execute. How it is done is important as well. Justice is not an isolated act, it is a system. As a system, a set of rules, it is vital to a society since it represents a backbone institution. It has to have procedural integrity to be legitimate. Coming up with popular outcomes is not enough. Anyone who does not see Saddam’s execution as a direct outgrowth of the American agenda in Iraq is too focused on the outcome, and not enough on the “how.” To execute Saddam under the color of an illegal, immoral military occupation is not just; it is illegitimate.
Can this be anything other than victor’s justice? How can past US administration officials not be tried for their material support, both diplomatic cover and actual arming, during many of Hussein’s most heinous orders? What about American officials who put into place the sanctions regime, which killed literally hundreds of thousands of Iraqis? Why are these not punishable?
With the kinds of bullies in the Iraqi government, whose hands are clean enough to do the judging — especially as they understand the constitutional nature of force in keeping Iraq together? In this way, I am reminded of Hannah Arendt’s description of Adolf Eichmann as “a leaf in the whirlwind of time” — that is, a subject of the time and place (oil-rich Iraq post-Cold War). This is not to excuse Saddam’s excesses, but rather to place him in a context that calls for broader, institutionalized justice; rather than a slap-dash “court” in a country with no functioning legal system.
I would have liked to see a trial at the level of the International Criminal Court, the most credible venue for such a case. It is too bad the United States won’t back it, given the risk to American officials who break international law — even if the principle of the rule of law is the basic element of justice.
On a practical basis, the execution of Saddam Hussein does little for the development of Iraq. It represents vengeance, and not justice — just as Iraqi society is fracturing along avenging factions and parts. It is without foresight, serving the needs of political expedience rather than Iraqi institution-building.
His execution begs this question: who will be held accountable for the Iraqis killed by allied bombings, the contrived civil war, and the occupation?
Filed Under american politics, iraq, war on terror, Will
Hot damn – couldn’t have said it better myself.
Posted by Nadeem | December 30, 2006, 3:12 pmClearly it’s some damn Jew’s fault.
Posted by Abraham Lincoln | December 30, 2006, 4:26 pmGoodnight funnyman.
Posted by Reynaud | December 30, 2006, 4:39 pm“The unofficial video of the execution, filmed on the mobile cell phone of one of the officials present is sure to further inflame sectarianism, because it is clearly a Shia execution. Men are heard talking, one of them is called Ali. As the executioners argue over how to best position the rope on his neck Saddam calls out to god, saying, “ya Allah.” Referring to Shias, one official says “those who pray for Muhamad and the family of Muhamad have won!” Others triumphantly respond in the Shia chant: “Our God prays for Muhamad and the family of Muhamad.” Others then add the part chanted by supporters of Muqtada al Sadr: “And speed his (the Mahdi’s) return! And damn his enemies! And make his son victorious! Muqtada! Muqtada! Muqtada!”
Saddam then smiles and says something mocking about Muqtada. “Muqtada! It is this…” but the rest is blocked by the voices of officials saying “ila jahanam,” or “go to Hell.” Saddam looks down and says “Is this your manhood…?” As the rope is put around Saddam’s neck somebody shouts “long live Muhamad Baqir al Sadr!” referring to an important Shia cleric who founded the Dawa Party and was also Muqtada’s relative. Baqir al Sadr was executed by Saddam in 1980. He is venerated by all three major Shia movements in Iraq, the Dawa, the Sadrists and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. Others insult Saddam. One man asks them to stop: “I beg you, I beg you, the man is being executed!” Saddam then says the Shahada, or testimony, that there is no god but Allah and Muhamad is his prophet. When he tries to say it again the trap door opens and he falls through to be hung. One man then shouts that “the tyranny has ended!” and others call out triumphal Shia chants. Somebody wants to remove the rope from his neck but is told to wait eight minutes. “
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/452/Hijacking_Eid_and_Hanging_Saddam
Posted by أبو سنان | January 1, 2007, 6:40 pmKlingons
Posted by Anonymous | January 2, 2007, 10:06 amI’m sorry he didn’t get to live. And kill more Iraqis. He was way better at it than those posers we have today.
Posted by Noam Eichmann al Landmine | January 2, 2007, 12:10 pmSo the Palis lost a meal ticket. Bummer. Meanwhile in Shia Dearborn, no sadness, just parties. This is almost as cool as Iran vs Iraq!
Posted by Anonymous | January 2, 2007, 2:17 pmPeygamber Efendimiz (sav), Kendi soyundan bir evladı olan Hazreti Mehdi (as)'ın ahir zamanda Deccaliyet'e karşı mücadele ederek İslam Ahlakı'nı dünyaya hakim edeceğini bildirmiştir İnşaAllah
http://www.hzmehdi.com
Posted by Hazreti Mehdi | May 3, 2013, 4:53 am