Was Saddam a fool not to surrender to the British? (or other EU nation)

[BellTry]

What do you think?

Personally if I was Saddam I would have found the quickest and safest way to the EU to surrender.

The US has no reservations concerning tortue/death.

Then again if I was in his postion I might want to die too...

But anyway - an EU nation would have been far more humane. I don't see why he didn't.

(disclaimer: I opposed the Iraq war, but I see little problem with Saddam being jailed in a civil manner (no tortue/death) if convicted of horrible crimes, as with any human)

[cirej2000]

1. Is britain an EU nation?

I know that they've rebelled against it.

They're the Colony of the US now...

[BellTry]

3. They are EU

They have not accepted the Euro (etc) but they are considered to be part of the EU. And they are most certainly EEA. No question in that respect.

[pinkpops]

2. blair wouda

just handed him over to bush.
nice doggie

[BellTry]

5. So he would disobey UK/EU law/precedent?

I doubt it... Handing a person over to another nation to be executed is not looked on well in western Europe. Of course if he REALLY is just aching to loose his job I suppose he could add fuel to the fire...

[pinkpops]

9. I think the Brits have already done this with other captives

haven't they?
The whole issue of following international law, treaties, norms, etc.
seems to be spun out of control. Ther are not prisoners of war because this is a war unlike any other war etc etc

[BellTry]

10. No, they don't

The whole concept of not extraditing prisoners to nations that will execute them is NOT (entirely) based on international law, treaty, etc, but rather internal policy.

[NoMoreRedInk]

4. He could have retired to Syria with $1B in US cash, if he'd have...

just done so 10 months ago. He could have lived a life that we can't even dream about with complete amnesty.

He should have shot himself in that hole. It's all downhill from here.

[Djinn]

7. should have taken exile

which is what he'll probably get anyway after agreeing to a statement saying that dubya was right all along

Idi Amin's place in Saudi is free

Blair would absolutely have handed him over - so would most European countries - what elese could they do, he can't be tried at the Hague without the agreement of the Iraqi government which wont exist for some time (if at all)

[thebigidea]

8. he WAS willing to... Dick Perle nixed it

[DemCam]

6. Saddam just a cowardly fool

Likes to likes to you know who

[arewethereyet]

11. yes but he thought we would go away like before

the guy is no Einstein.