The New York Times is editorializing today about the gruesome way that Saddam Hussein was executed—and what that means for both the U.S.’ reputation and the Iraqi people:
Saddam Hussein deserves no one’s pity. But as anyone who has seen the graphic cellphone video of his hanging can testify, his execution bore little resemblance to dispassionate, state-administered justice. The condemned dictator appeared to have been delivered from United States military custody into the hands of a Shiite lynch mob.
For the Bush administration, which insists it went to war in Iraq to implant democracy and justice, those globally viewed images were a shaming embarrassment. Unfortunately, all Americans will be blamed, while the Iraqi people are now likely to suffer still more. What should have been a symbolic passage out of Iraq’s darkest era will instead fuel a grim new era of spiraling sectarian vengeance.
The ugly episode shows why Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is never likely to produce the national unity government that Washington keeps demanding and that Iraq so desperately needs.
Mr. Maliki is now scrambling to extricate himself from the public relations disaster. Yesterday, his office announced the arrest of a guard who allegedly took the unauthorized video. But the fundamental blame belongs to Mr. Maliki, who personally orchestrated the timing and circumstances of last Saturday’s execution.
Previous Comments
Yes, it was ugly. Very ugly. I haven’t watched the whole cellphone video (nor will I), but I’ve seen enough to agree with that statement.
#109755 | Author: GLB | Date: Jan 4 2007
glb…I did..it kinda looks like “Blair Witch Project” footage. Bad lighting bad grainy texture. But it was a hangin no doubt about that……
#109756 | Author: ATLExile | Date: Jan 4 2007
I don’t think letting the US do the work would have appeased anyone, either. As for the “lynch mob” feel of it, that’s up to the Iraqi’s. I think of all those Kurds he gassed, et al, and can’t really work up any sympathy for the guy. Do I like the death penalty? No, but it’s the punishment for breaking the law, so…
#109757 | Author: Ironghost | Date: Jan 5 2007
Yes, Ironghost. If we aren’t going to have a puppet regime there, then they are going do things in ways we don’t like. But that doesn’t make it any less ugly.
#109758 | Author: GLB | Date: Jan 5 2007
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