Let's see. His sentence was handed down 2 days before our elections, and there are predictions he will be hanged before the end of January. The reason: to stop people who commit violence from thinking there is any hope of his return.

Now, considering that he was convicted of "crimes against humanity" in his own country and not the Hague, it just seems to me that this whole thing will be considered for decades to come. And what if the whole thing was bogus, e.g., that the 140+ people were duly executed following a trial for treason?

I'm not sympathetic to Saddam, but I am sympathetic to what's right. We overthrow this man, and we influence their courts, and the death sentence seems like "victor's justice."

How does this help our cause in the world?

Especially when you consider that the rest of the western world doesn't even impose the death penalty?

Honestly, would it not be better to let Saddam live, if for no other reason than to allow an opposing view to our campaign have a voice? If not, it seem that history will damn us, and we will be dealing with this for the next 50 years.