Culture of Death Rears its Ugly Head

The high court in Iraq has decreed that Saddam Hussein must be executed within 30 days.

Assuming that the Iraqi government has the means and wherewithal to properly secure Saddam from the outside world, which it does by employing internationally based prisons, this is an absolute crock.

Yes, I know, the evidence is overwhelming. Capital punishment is perfect punishment, I get that too. In fact, perhaps Iraq should be praised for employing a swift measure to punish the guilty.

There are two problems with executing Saddam. First, if a country can secure its people safely without capital punishment, it ought to. Second, if the accused is to be sentenced to die, they are owed a fair trial. Saddam’s didn’t come close.

His entire government-appointed defense team was whacked during the trial. Your 2-year old US-implemented Iraqi government was charged with trying him; not an international tribunal (a la the Nazis or Milosevic). There is no requirement that the accused be proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in Iraq (although if anyone has reasonable doubt...). Finally, with multiple political factions arguing over the court’s control, would anyone like to argue as to its impartiality?

I am certain that the Iraqi people could be secured by permanently jailing Saddam outside of Iraq in international prison.

Where the safety of a community can be assured without capital punishment - basically everywhere except for extremely rural, tribal culture – it is wrong.

No, I don’t like Saddam, or any serial criminal. That doesn’t excuse us, though, from our responsibility to promote maximum virtue where possible. If killing is wrong, we shouldn't kill killers.