Saddam Hussein sentenced to death

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Should he have been drawn and quartered? Exposed to mustard gas? I'm not sure there's really a way to make the punishment fit . . .

I didn't mean a torturous death. Rather, that being put to death now just seems like a cop-out. After everything he's done, death by hanging just doesn't seem enough. I feel like there should be more punishment. I don't condone the death penalty personally, but that's just the culture I was raised in.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by centaur532

I didn't mean a torturous death. Rather, that being put to death now just seems like a cop-out. After everything he's done, death by hanging just doesn't seem enough. I feel like there should be more punishment. I don't condone the death penalty personally, but that's just the culture I was raised in.

Yeah, I can somewhat hear you, but I think we can really run this in circles . . . we could call just about any punishment a 'cop-out' or 'not enough' - it's not like we have a vast number of similar cases to fall back on.

I just feel like killing him now does the most toward obviating potential martyrdom . . .

[GeekyPenguin]

Killing people is bad! We're going to kill you to prove that! Now everybody will see that it is bad.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Killing people is bad! We're going to kill you to prove that! Now everybody will see that it is bad.

Do you see what happens when you kill people? You get killed too! This will work as a deterrent, I promise!

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Killing people is bad! We're going to kill you to prove that! Now everybody will see that it is bad.

Originally Posted by centaur532

Do you see what happens when you kill people? You get killed too! This will work as a deterrent, I promise!

I'm not sure the lack of deterrent effect is really an appropriate argument here, considering the vast cultural differences (and extreme differences in what is considered 'appropriate' punishment) - besides this, I would probably have to argue that 'symbolic' punishments are far more appropriate a comparison in this case, since you can't really come up with a commensurate or appropriate punishment/rehabilitation strategy for someone who, y'know, gassed 5000 Kurds.

It's just not a similar system or situation, so I really don't feel comfortable getting all argumentative up in this bitch, GP/centaur.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I'm not sure the lack of deterrent effect is really an appropriate argument here, considering the vast cultural differences (and extreme differences in what is considered 'appropriate' punishment) - besides this, I would probably have to argue that 'symbolic' punishments are far more appropriate a comparison in this case, since you can't really come up with a commensurate or appropriate punishment/rehabilitation strategy for someone who, y'know, gassed 5000 Kurds.

It's just not a similar system or situation, so I really don't feel comfortable getting all argumentative up in this bitch.

I don't like the death penalty ever. I agree that what he did was heinous but I just don't think it is ever okay.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

I don't like the death penalty ever. I agree that what he did was heinous but I just don't think it is ever okay.

Word, and I don't necessarily disagree - but the whole point is that the rationale behind why I don't really get down w/ CapPun doesn't necessarily apply directly here. It seems a little counterproductive, is what I'm getting at.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Word, and I don't necessarily disagree - but the whole point is that the rationale behind why I don't really get down w/ CapPun doesn't necessarily apply directly here. It seems a little counterproductive, is what I'm getting at.

It doesn't really, I just dislike the whole "I love the death penalty" train of thought.

[squirrely girl]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Word, and I don't necessarily disagree - but the whole point is that the rationale behind why I don't really get down w/ CapPun doesn't necessarily apply directly here. It seems a little counterproductive, is what I'm getting at.

ditto on the above - this whole thing is just a crazy convoluted mess

-m

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I'm not sure the lack of deterrent effect is really an appropriate argument here, considering the vast cultural differences (and extreme differences in what is considered 'appropriate' punishment) - besides this, I would probably have to argue that 'symbolic' punishments are far more appropriate a comparison in this case, since you can't really come up with a commensurate or appropriate punishment/rehabilitation strategy for someone who, y'know, gassed 5000 Kurds.

It's just not a similar system or situation, so I really don't feel comfortable getting all argumentative up in this bitch, GP/centaur.

I know it's a different system. However, realize that the only countries in the world other than the USA who use the death penalty are run by a theocracy. Some may argue that the USA is headed towards a theocracy, but that's irrelevant to this discussion. I understand that in the middle east, this is an acceptable form of punishment. However, in the society we live in, I cannot accept it. Therein lies the difference.

[_Opi_]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Rather, that being put to death now just seems like a cop-out. After everything he's done, death by hanging just doesn't seem enough. I feel like there should be more punishment. I don't condone the death penalty personally, but that's just the culture I was raised in.

You literally took the words out of my mouth..err..head..whatever.

I think he should rot in prison for the rest of his life..that is more of a punishment than death penalty. To me, at least.

[macallan25]

I dunno......being executed is pretty harsh punishment. IN MY OPINION (sorry, didn't know if DeltAlum was reading this or not.)

[AlexMack]

Today I saw a good friend of mine who came home from Iraq last week. He was showing me the pictures of Iraq, Fallujah, dead insurgents, one of Saddam's palaces. It made me angry to see the latter, to see how he lived when we know how his people suffered under his tyrannical rule. And it made me feel sick.
My friend told me that he'd laughed when he heard Saddam got the death penalty and that he hoped it was televised. I also saw the video memorial to his fallen comrades and I heard him choke up as he showed me a picture of the remains of a suicide bomber who had taken out a marine who was literally 15 minutes away from leaving Fallujah and catching a flight to Kuwait to come back home here.

Now I don't know what to think. I hate the death penalty but should anyone be allowed to live after taking the life of another? Don't you sacrifice your right to life when you take away another's voluntarily? You've deprived that person of a future. Why should you be allowed yours?
I don't know, I think I'm really conflicted about this now.

[_Opi_]

Originally Posted by centaur532

I hate the death penalty but should anyone be allowed to live after taking the life of another? Don't you sacrifice your right to life when you take away another's voluntarily? You've deprived that person of a future. Why should you be allowed yours?

Let's bring this back home. If I recall correctly, the American government especially our "leader of the free world", has taken lives, innocent lives, deprived people of their future for the sake of their "freedom". What should their punishment be?

I just saw a video of the first innocent victims of operation free iraq, or whatever the name to this operation was. No intended targets hit. All civilians.

Kind of puts things in perspective, don't it?

As an aside, I don't support death penalty. That stance is not going to change anytime soon.

[macallan25]

I think for you to compare this war, or any war for that matter......to the execution of serial killers and murderers through the legal system is rather idiotic.........its a war......innocent people are going to die. Please name me a campaign in which innocent people/civilians didn't get killed.