Arbiter of Dignity?
So the lawmakers are coming out in their usual gutsy way and criticizing the videos of Hussein's execution ("Lawmakers Criticize Video of Hussein's Final Moments," NYT, 1/05/07)
Especially noteworthy is GWB, who wished the execution "had been done in a more dignified way." I don't know that he can serve as the arbiter of what constitutes dignity.
President Grover Cleveland, when he was sheriff of Erie County, New York, personally carried out at least two hangings of condemned criminals. He refused to delegate the unpleasant task to others, stating that he wished to take the responsibility for the executions himself and not pass it along to subordinates. I know a sitting President is not a hangman, but that ethos of somber responsibility seems woefully lacking at the moment.
One State Department official was quoted as saying, "of all the people in that room, Saddam was the one who looked like he had the most dignity." Saddam went out with dignity; this war should do the same.
Especially noteworthy is GWB, who wished the execution "had been done in a more dignified way." I don't know that he can serve as the arbiter of what constitutes dignity.
President Grover Cleveland, when he was sheriff of Erie County, New York, personally carried out at least two hangings of condemned criminals. He refused to delegate the unpleasant task to others, stating that he wished to take the responsibility for the executions himself and not pass it along to subordinates. I know a sitting President is not a hangman, but that ethos of somber responsibility seems woefully lacking at the moment.
One State Department official was quoted as saying, "of all the people in that room, Saddam was the one who looked like he had the most dignity." Saddam went out with dignity; this war should do the same.
posted by rangeragainstwar at 12:42 PM
2 Comments:
The old fox got the last point. I especially liked the syndicated related story by his US Army "nurse" who described how he fed the birds and remembered being a farmer. Frans of Assissi, my arse. I really wonder who staged that whole psy-op adventure. Mustta been one of his own old friends.
Lol, would be funny if this was actually an escape, where one of his famous "doubles" (remember them, the six-seven Saddam lookalikes?) sacrificed his life for the man, but I seriously doubt it. As I doubt that there were no US observators present. As I doubt that the whole act wasnt just part of preparing for the crackdown on Baghdad they are trying for now, exchanging Saddam to the Sadristsagainst the right to engage certain neighbourhoods in Baghdad without nation-wide retaliation. Iraq is a clan country, things happen according to many deep lines.
Martin,
I, like you, don't think it was an escape or a double--the Shiites would never allow it, and we know that they're calling the tune.
Jim
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