R.I.P. Saddam Hussein

[Dutch]

I've never seen footage of Saddam executing anybody, but I bet he talked a little shit every once in a while. So I still don't feel sorry for him.

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I've never seen footage of Saddam executing anybody, but I bet he talked a little shit every once in a while. So I still don't feel sorry for him.

Don't feel sorry for him, then. You shouldn't anyway. Feel sorry for a lot of the civilians in Iraq who aren't taking up arms for any side in these battles. They stand to lose the most.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

Don't feel sorry for him, then. You shouldn't anyway. Feel sorry for a lot of the civilians in Iraq who aren't taking up arms for any side in these battles. They stand to lose the most.

In your estimation, would they lose more because Iraqi law executed the higheset profile criminal in the country or if the Iraqi government had bowed to Al Qaeda's demand to not carry out the sentence?

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by duckman

Seeing another human being die is pretty damn bad IMHO.

Its not as bad as you would think, and as was said, it depends entirely on the "human being" being killed.

[duckman]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Its not as bad as you would think, and as was said, it depends entirely on the "human being" being killed.

I better say upfront that I was (and still am) for his execution. There is no doubt that man was a sociopath and a monster. However, it always brings great sadness to me, regardless the individual, to see someone die.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by duckman

I better say upfront that I was (and still am) for his execution. There is no doubt that man was a sociopath and a monster. However, it always brings great sadness to me, regardless the individual, to see someone die.

I don't want to see Saddam, or anyone die either. But I do believe that his death is a stepping stone on the way to stability in the region.

[Surtt]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

My question is important. If he was already captured, then his life doesn't have much to do with them being over there. They got sent over there because the government didn't have a plan to finish what they started. His life was effectively over by the time they got there, as far as it having anything to do with them (unless they were charged with protecting him). They are over there because of what happened after he was removed from power, not because of what happened while he was in power.

I can see your point, but I disagre.
All of this was set in motion when the decision was made to invade. (while he still was in power).

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Dutch

In your estimation, would they lose more because Iraqi law executed the higheset profile criminal in the country or if the Iraqi government had bowed to Al Qaeda's demand to not carry out the sentence?

No. They would've been better off if those carrying out the execution had the sense to keep their mouths shut while they did it.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

Don't feel sorry for him, then. You shouldn't anyway. Feel sorry for a lot of the civilians in Iraq who aren't taking up arms for any side in these battles. They stand to lose the most.

That's an interesting observation. So, if all of the Shiites and Sunnis would take up arms, one side could completely exterminate the other, and they could get this thing over with in five or six years instead of 20 or 30. Of course, the Kurds would still be the wild card, and I'm not too sure how things would shake out for them. Another big question that needs to be answered is how much longer would our troops be deployed as sitting ducks in the crossfire?

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

That's an interesting observation. So, if all of the Shiites and Sunnis would take up arms, one side could completely exterminate the other, and they could get this thing over with in five or six years instead of 20 or 30. Of course, the Kurds would still be the wild card, and I'm not too sure how things would shake out for them. Another big question that needs to be answered is how much longer would our troops be deployed as sitting ducks in the crossfire?

My point was that the real losers are the innocents who aren't interested in spilling anybody's blood over any of this, but are going to be killed anyway. Yelling rhetoric before you execute Saddam will only incite more violence which will surely endanger the lives of more people that don't have anything to do with it.

If the troops are there to keep the peace, I can't see them leaving within a generation. If they do, the void will be filled with a lot of violence and quite possibly collapse into a total civil war with more people dead than Saddam Hussein ever killed.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

If the troops are there to keep the peace, I can't see them leaving within a generation. If they do, the void will be filled with a lot of violence and quite possibly collapse into a total civil war with more people dead than Saddam Hussein ever killed.

And the true shame of it all is that it looks like Dubya won't have a chance to dress up and play soldier again in another photo op.

[Dutch]

I wonder if the internets will provide any cool shots like that involving President Hillary?