Reply #7: I, too, would love for Iraq to swear off its barbaric ways ....

[jarab]

despite all the errors of 43 and in spite of the fact that his legacy would be enhanced. I would like to see some democratic form, whatever might be compatible with their culture. Ours won't work for everyone the way it does for us; it would have to be tailored in each instance.
But here's the DU thinking, if I may:

Why Iraq when there are other despots (remember the axis of evil for starters?)? We cheer Castro's dire illness, but we've never brought him around to western style democracy.
Is theirs (Iraq) even a fledgling democracy? I would suspect any country could have negotiated that voter turnout with three American GIs manning each voting booth and entire companies making the roadways to the voting stations safe.

Is that sentencing court independent, or are they doing the will of GWB? You do know we said we were turning over this and that to the Iraqis over the past year, yet when push came to shove there were our own comrades front and center.
If there is any manipulation by the U.S. in any area of this sentencing or appeal process, then it's all rotten.

We couldn't even turn over Saddam to the new democracy because we feared his escape. A justified fear, imo.

Is it our place to police the world of evil, and do we get to say which continent begins our enforcement?
It may not be a Christian thing to do (it truly isn't), but when one lies the way this administration has done for six years it's nor putting on tinfoil to suspect their every move. It's not being excessively judgmental when one calls a spade a spade. It's being honest.
Trust is earned, and once earned, even then it might be squandered again.

This administration hates Saddam so much - the reasons are guessed at - I think we should have had an independent body do this trial ...and I agree it had to be done. Generally, if there's proven bias in a trial there are other recourses.
I personally "think" he would have been found guilty in a fair trial, but my thinking doesn't count when someone's life is on the line.

Iraq hasn't done ONE successful thing independent of the U.S. since we invaded (the proper word); why would we think they "independently" gave Saddam justice? And, one would have to admit it was their justice to dish out to their own former dictator.

All this back and forth is aimless at this juncture because the plans are in motion, and he may be already hanged before I hit "post message".
jmo, as always -

...O...