Some American officials are having
second thoughts about the swiftness -- and clumsiness -- of the execution of Saddam Hussein.
American officials in Iraq have been reluctant to say much publicly about the pell-mell nature of the hanging, apparently fearful of provoking recriminations in Washington, where the Bush administration adopted a hands-off posture, saying the timing of the execution was Iraq’s to decide.
While privately incensed at the dead-of-night rush to the gallows, the Americans here have been caught in the double bind that has ensnared them over much else about the Maliki government — frustrated at what they call the government’s failure to recognize its destructive behavior, but reluctant to speak out, or sometimes to act, for fear of undermining Mr. Maliki and worsening the situation.
[...]
None of the Iraqi officials were able to explain why Mr. Maliki had been unwilling to allow the execution to wait. Nor would any explain why those who conducted it had allowed it to deteriorate into a sectarian free-for-all that had the effect, on the video recordings, of making Mr. Hussein, a mass murderer, appear dignified and restrained, and his executioners, representing Shiites who were his principal victims, seem like bullying street thugs.
So much for closure. As one
conservative commentator noted, citing
my posting on the execution of Saddam Hussein and my opposition to the death penalty:
True, the bloodshed and violence may not be avenged by the hanging of Saddam Hussein, but isn't it a step forward for the Iraqis? They have taken charge of the trial of Saddam as well as the execution of Saddam. Isn't this telling their country they can be trusted to run their own government? Isn't this setting an example for insurgents and future potential dictators?
No, I don't think so. It will be seen as an act of vengeance, which will be avenged, and then that will be avenged, and so on and so on, and in a manner that makes the "orderly" death of Saddam Hussein look like an ice cream social. Dictators are not deterred by threats of execution; they deal with it every day; it's part of the gig along with a riding crop, aviator sunglasses, and fawning lackeys, and insurgents think all late-model Toyotas come with bombs in the trunk. No one is giving second thoughts to death and destruction because Saddam Hussein is dead. Just the opposite seems to be the case.
