Well, this will get 2007 off to a good start

[dc]

It would be difficult to argue that the world is not a better place for no longer having Saddam Hussein in it, but it is probably a much worse place for his having been executed. The death penalty is barbaric in any case, but when applied to someone like Saddam Hussein it is simply stupid, too, risking creating a martyr of a monster. All that would be true if he had had something remotely resembling a fair trial, which he did not. To make matters even worse, the execution was carried out on a date which could have been designed to inflame sectarian tension in Iraq. I am going to stop here, it is too... there should be a word for a combination of profoundly depressing and thoroughly infuriating. Much more (and much more eloquent) comment can be found elsewhere. As often is the case, the LJs of nhw and autopope are good starting points.

Comments

[sheonamcc.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on the topic of execution. I believe Tony Blair found himself in a bit of a corner with this one. During a press conference, he maintained that the death penalty was wrong, but then couldn't go on to answer why he was supporting the sentence given to Saddam Hussein. He ended up telling the reporter to shut up!

[tanngrisnir.livejournal.com]

Yes I saw that. It is so good to have a leader of such moral integrity, isn't it?

[wibbble]

I'd love to see a clip of that - do you happen to know when/where the press conference was?

[tanngrisnir.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it Downing Street? Can't remember when.

[psychochicken.livejournal.com]

I'd rather think of it as something better done in 2006, which frankly is so full of shit that pissing in it further won't have any impact, than polluting the initially clean waters of 2007 with.

As for Mr Bliar, well he could tell me the sky was blue and I'd check.

[tanngrisnir.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I think it may pollute the waters of 2007 (dead right about 2006, though).

If the Bliar told me I was a big guy with a beard, I would immediately seek out a mirror to make damn sure I was not a wee lass with a smooth, hairless chin. As I have said before, I suspect, he has no benefit of the doubt left.