Should Hussein Hang?

Last week, a U.S.-appointed Court sentenced former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein sentenced to hang. Saddam could be executed publicly as soon as January.

“Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq predicted in a televised interview that former President Saddam Hussein would be hanged by the end of the year. Court officials said, however, that the prime minister’s prediction on Wednesday was unrealistic, considering the timing of the appeals process and the sheer volume of evidence that the appellate judges would have to review. It was far more likely, they said, that the hanging would not take place until January at the earliest, and probably later.”

TheStateOf . . . Hussein. Hanging Saddam would be a huge mistake for the United States. Many Iraqis already see the Court as a U.S. proxy. Even though Saddam is a terrible person, (and, if such a person is deserving of hanging, it is him)–many Iraqi Sunnis identify with him. He is an Arab; he is a Muslim. If he is publicly hung, it will be an embarassment to large amounts of Muslims, and could escalate the violence in Iraq. I (J) do not support his execution.