Personally I was appalled to hear of the verdict in Hussein's trial. I was wondering what others thought of the sentence.
I'm fundamentally opposed to the death sentence in any circumstance, but even apart from that, doesn't it seem likely that, if carried out, this will make a martyr of him? Won't it make the situation much worse?
Plus it would appear that the trial was far from fair:
It amazes me that Britain seems to condone the trial and the verdict. I'm not surprised at all about the comments from Bush and his administration. The EU presidency opposes the death sentence, there are similar views from other European countries.
I'm fundamentally opposed to the death sentence in any circumstance, but even apart from that, doesn't it seem likely that, if carried out, this will make a martyr of him? Won't it make the situation much worse?
Plus it would appear that the trial was far from fair:
One of Saddams lawyers was assassinated the day after the trials opening session last year. Two more were later assassinated and a fourth fled the country.
In January, chief judge Rizgar Amin, a Kurd, resigned after complaints by Shiite politicians that he had failed to keep control of court proceedings. He, in turn, complained of political interference in the trial. Abdul-Rahman, another Kurd,
replaced Amin.
Hearings were frequently disrupted by outbursts from Saddam and Ibrahim, with the two raging against what they said was the illegitimacy of the court, their ill treatment in the U.S.-run facility where they are being held and the lack of protection for their lawyers.
The defense lawyers contributed to the chaos in the courtroom by staging several boycotts.
It amazes me that Britain seems to condone the trial and the verdict. I'm not surprised at all about the comments from Bush and his administration. The EU presidency opposes the death sentence, there are similar views from other European countries.