saddam's hanging

Just viewed the video of Saddam's hanging--the full hanging, from life to death. What a sordid, chaotic affair it was. As brutal as the man's life.

To what end this execution? To teach others not to be dictators? Something tells me the deterrence effect somewhat lacking . To teach our children that Justice will be done? Should the video of the hanging be played in grade school classrooms? How edifying!

Let's call it what it is, what it always is: revenge. Blood for blood. The animal satisfaction derived from the snapped neck, the upturned face, the glassy eyes. The very scene that an advanced system of justice is designed to eliminate. To break the bloody cycle of vengeance, that is the point and end of modern jurisprudence.

Does anyone believe that this execution accomplishes anything at all in terms of solving the problem(s) of Iraq? That it will hasten the return home of our troops? The effect I predict is further inflamation of the Sunni insurgency, which will result in even more deaths among American soldiers, particularly if we decide to "surge" their numbers.

Who, then, benefits most from Saddam's execution? The Grim Reaper rubs his bony palms together in gleeful anticipation.

Read Robert Fisk's lucid take on the hanging at http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16086.htm