Saddam Dead – Yay? « Incompetence Inc.

Saddam Dead – Yay?

31 December, 2006 at 2:43 pm | In Incompetence Exposed | 34 Comments

Well finally, after a more than fair trial (remember – “Fair trials were unimaginable under Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical rule”*) and a lengthy 15 minute appeal process, the people can celebrate with the hanging of the brutal, psychopathic dictator Saddam Hussein.

Woo!

Isn’t it a great feeling to finally know that some completely irrelevant guy is now dead, and he won’t be escaping from his maximum security prison and going after your family?

Finally we can all relax and know that the Allied Forces have done a great job, and that its finally over because “it is an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy
that can govern, sustain, and defend itself, and be an ally in the war
on terror”*.

Because, obviously, killing off an old hack who has been in US custody for some time, and who is unable to so much as move, yet is obviously capable of using his imaginary WMDs to blow up things, is such a great achievement in this war on terror.

The war in Iraq is going swell, so this could not have been some clever ploy to draw our attention away from the bloodshed, and towards the way we joyfully kill bad people.

And how many people actually feel this way?

Between his sentencing and the execution yesterday, too many people have been hailing it as a great conquest, hailing “good riddance” to the brutal dictator. Completely irrelevant was the fact that he had been “rid” back in 2003, where he became a fugitive, with absolutely no influence, and no possible way to commit more crimes. He was then again “rid”, when they captured him in late 2003. And yesterday, as if he were still some incredibly dangerous man, he was executed, ridding him for the third and final time, all three instances timed impeccably well. So well, even, that had George Bush not stated otherwise, it would seem that this was the workings of a President who could offer the people nothing – not peace, not victory – but the killing of a frivolous, downtrodden man.

Yet no less troubling is the fervour with which people, including most Western governments are celebrating the execution of Mr. Hussein. It is deeply disturbing, yet not in the least surprising, that the Commonwealth Government of Australia has itself fully supported the hanging, even praising America and Iraq, with Prime Minister Howard saying: “I believe there is something quite heroic about a country that is going through the pain and the suffering that Iraq is going through, yet still extends due process to somebody who was a tyrant and brutal suppressor and murderer of his people”.

The irony being, that Australia seemingly is quite opposed to Capital Punishment, except, of course, in the case of murderous dictators. And while several members of the EU have mentioned that they did not support the execution, Australia has not so much as made a peep about condemning the hanging.

And this hypocritical nature and “moral flexibility” is making Australia look futile in efforts to fight for human right around the globe.

Supposedly justice has been done here, because, admittedly he was tried, and sentenced according to the law in Iraq. However, relativism would also suggest, that if we cannot criticise the Iraqi law, then who are we to condemn the absurdity of Sharia law, and of stoning women because they allowed themselves to get raped? Or for that matter, who were we to remove Saddam from power in the first place?

Nevertheless, the issue at stake here is not doing “justice”, if it is indeed that, and not a revenge killing: Saddam has been influentially incapacitated for quite some time now.
The issue is about not compromising one’s moral stance because before them comes a “global villain”, an undoubtedly “bad” person, infamous worldwide. It does not matter that it is Saddam Hussein. What matters is that he is a person, captured by the supposedly “ethical” Western world. And if and when, one such person is found guilty, after a FAIR trial, he should rot in jail, not be barbarically executed.

* All quotes provided by Mr. G. W. Bush, unless otherwise specified

Technorati Tags: Saddam Hussein, execution, Australia, Howard, Bush, America, death penalty

Vote on Reddit

Shout on Shoutwire

34 Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Revenge killing indeed. Good piece and good to see at least one blogger (we are out there) not allow good sense and insight to be taken over by rah-rah bloodlust and empty triumphalism. I’m linking.

Comment by peoplesgeography — 31 December, 2006 #
That’s some nice writing

One among the very few Saddam-related blog posts that actually speaks some sense instead of the usual spoon feeding done by the media.

Keep it up.

Happy New Year.

Comment by LaSh — 31 December, 2006 #
Thanks to both for the kind words, and for the link.

Happy New Year to all!

Comment by junaman — 31 December, 2006 #
Nice writing and good points, Junaman. Keep it up.

Comment by Dockwats — 31 December, 2006 #
Thanks for your post. I find myself actually agreeing with you. The zealous support going on in the media right now is turning my stomach. How can we even dare to proclaim “God bless America” now seems like blasphemy to me.

Comment by dragonmommie — 31 December, 2006 #
now all we need is that dickhead bush outta office & we’ll be set..

Comment by the rat — 1 January, 2007 #
Whilst I agree that it is disturbing to celebrate the death of someone I also find it disturbing to see these type of blogs twisting truth and adding superfluous and frivolous quotes and suggestions.

Whilst I am not a US resisdent or have any ties to the US it seems as though you are placing the hanging on Bush’s head as if he had ordered it (in the grand scheme of conspiracy theories this may be true). Bush merely handed him to Iraq where Saddam’s prosecution was deeply necessary for the country to resolve past issues and gain some sort of closure on the tyranny of Saddam’s dictatorship.

As for being rid of Saddam as a fugitive what, we should have left him out there to perhaps meet up with Osama or othere extremeists to plan a World War 3 against the ‘Western’ world as revenge?

In the long run the execution, whilst brutal is a good cost saving. How much would it cost to keep Saddam locked up? If you think about the security within and outside of his confinement and the risk of extremeists attempting to ‘liberate’ him (and possible ramifications if succeeded) we’re talking big figures here…millions.

Comment by NotApplicable — 1 January, 2007 #
“Bush merely handed him to Iraq”

The Iraq government being a puppet of Bush’s, what exactly is the difference?

Bush started the war, removed from power, caught and then fully supported, all actions leading up to the execution. If you think otherwise, you are deeply mistaken…

“How much would it cost to keep Saddam locked up?”

Now ask yourself that same question with the number of detainees the US keeps in their secret, undoubtedly well funded torture camps around the world, in the name of Homeland Security?
Do you propose we kill all of them without a fair trial?
Do you also believe we should kill all convicts incarcerated in prisons because they’re taking up taxpayer funding?
And how can you justify the taking of a life for the sake of economic gain.

“If you think about the security within and outside of his confinement and the risk of extremeists attempting to ‘liberate’ him (and possible ramifications if succeeded) we’re talking big figures here…millions.”

Someone trying to liberate Saddam is just as absurd as a ticking-time bomb scenario. Although the latter is used to justify torture, so really that shouldn’t stop the USA…

Oh, and “millions”, isn’t really all that much. Considering Bush just asked for, what, $99 Billion, to increase the defence budget…

Comment by junaman — 1 January, 2007 #
I am an Australian.

I was shocked – mortified – to hear that they had actually gone through with it, watched the mobile phone video footage on spikedhumour (nice! funny – and correct me if i am wrong but a very american attitude?).

I feel my government is wrong in its stance, and i know for sure that the majority of people in Australia feel the same way. We are against corporal punishment, and that very nature goes to the heart of our peaceful people. Make no mistake, Howard will not be returning come next election. We are a primarily quiet people, but we are angered. And not many people will stand up and shout about it, but the horror goes to the core. We are sick of a leader whom sucks up the arse of what is, and will remain, Australia least liked – but omfg sucked up to – ally, the murderous yanks.

DO NOT ET ME WRONG .. i do not, in any way, condone the acts of violence and the attrocities that were in fact, time and time again, committed by/onbehalf of/sanctioned by the regeim of saddam hussein.. a mad man on a missioin – at times. But for heavens sake, Australia, America, England .. list goes on , are supposedly comprised up of a people that are primarily Christian in nature – irrespective of orientations. WE DO NOT SUPPORT IN ANY WAY THE MURDER OF ANY INDIVIDUAL. And our laws reflect that. We do not party in the streets, we sit silently and reflect, over a beer, and a chat at the local. Understand this is us.

I am saddened that your president, Bush, has no conscience. No remorse. Bomb happy. Did you know that when we deplot with your troops that you go one way, we go the other? Do you know of the statistics of our losses in combat, per capita, compared to yours? Have you even taken the time to think why? Your people have no respect. Why do you think we, per capita, dont like you? Not as individuals, but as a whole. Im disgusted in you, your people. You truley are very unlike us. Your country, the spoiled brat of the world, needs a hiding, needs the strap. No more blood guys.

I am disgusted to know that there were small numbers of people in our combined communities actually regoicing at the death of an old man. He swung, tightened by the collective, dirty and blood stained hand of the Americans, the english .. all of us. Do Two wrongs make it right? Is that good? know what i mean? Too far guys. I say enoughs enough. No more.

I wish my gran-mar *grand-mother were here still. Shed put put you all over her knee, and America wouldnt sit down for a month!!

Are you people following me? Do you understand? I do not blame you as individuals, but all of us as a whole. Your the biggest bully out there, yet the self-righteous justification of ‘behind the tuckshop at lunchtime’ just doesnt cut it anymore.

We have blood on our hands. And i am sad for you, your country .. and my country. We used to be a likable people. Now, we are as bad as those whom fly planes into buildings. We can justify it to ourselves easier than to just turn the other cheek, the way our cultures would/should/have taught us to do.

Sad, sad times.

Comment by daGedSTA — 1 January, 2007 #
u guys know that saddam had many look alikes that he forced to have plastic surgery to look just like him right??

Comment by eryon — 1 January, 2007 #
okay this guy had a fair trial, but if you come to think of it saddam isn’t the real monster, the total no. of people that saddam killed isn’t even close to one third the number of people george bush killed during the war in iraq. Again i totally agree that saddam was a crazy, but in the same time the american president and his followers (e.g. Rice) are even much more worse than saddam. They keep saying that the entered Iraq to help the Iraqi citizens, what iraqi citizens when they’re killing them as we speak… where is the truth… George Bush entered Iraqi for only one reason and that is Oil, don’t tell me because he wants to help Iraq to get rid of its president… Another thing that happened that is really bad is that they killed Saddam and broadcasted it live to the world on the day of the islamic eid (it’s like christams but for muslims), the whole world protested against what happened… George Bush should be hanged for this, or what do you think?
Honestly, i am starting to think that america is starting to become the country which is ruled by a group of terrorists…
If you have any comments on what i just wrote tell me cause i would be really interested in seeing what you have to say just send it on “tassmanian@gmail.com” subject “Junaman Saddam”…

Comment by Yahya El Sherif — 1 January, 2007 #
ahh and morething i forgot to say it looks like the bush adminstration wants to be remembered as the conqueres who invaded Iraq, from the evil Iraq, its just another history story… :S

Comment by Yahya El Sherif — 1 January, 2007 #
I totally agree. As a muslim, and all of the same we believe the the eid is a sacred day where no bad things should be done, and no killing should be done. I read that an anonimous minister of Iraq declared it to the press, but didn’t give his name nor info. Why ? He’s from governement, he has freedom of speech? No he can’t talk because he’ll get fired as soon as Bush knows. Now let’s talk about Saddam’s accusation. Crimes again humanity 143 human schiites life taken. 1st Hes a military?!! what is he supposed to do when he’s in war eat potatoes, eventhough i dont agree his acts. and second of all BUSHE’S father, i dont know the number exact but the victims he did in IRAN was so so so much bigger. Then why do we pend that son of a bitch, and his son also!? why because they’re first power of the wordl. I hope China grows fast so they can bomb USA!!

Comment by ~ExTrEmE~ — 1 January, 2007 #
Jail wouldn’t be a good punishment to this dictator. Seeming his condition he would get out faster then you can spell the alfabet.

And Extreme, are you serious about that? As a military you come in a land to keep peace in there, not to murder 148 people. I agree with you on the Bush’s father thing, but why his son? I know he is a bad president, but his son didnt bomb those people in Iran, his father did. It’s like your father shoots someone and you have to hang because of that.

Comment by Lijpeeijpe — 2 January, 2007 #
Eryon, do you think it was a fake Saddam? I think they took DNA samples first… or something like that, because you think you are the only one that knows that?

Comment by Lijpeeijpe — 2 January, 2007 #
excellent post. i had been thinking on this since it happened and I am sad to say that I watched the un cut tape of his hanging. I truly wish I hadn’t. It made me so sad. We went there illegally and unjustly and thus is capture, trial and execution were a farce. if what he did (because lets keep in mind he did what he thought was the right thing by his belief system, just a g-dub has done) was so wrong, then where were we when he did it? where was our moral compass then?the whole thing was a farce from the get go. It was not condoned by Congress and the UN-cause like it or not we are a part of the UN-did not sanction this int he first place.
Also why does every other war criminal get turned over to international courts, but we turn Saddam over to the people that hate him?
The whole thing does not bode well wit hme and I honestly cannot believe there isn’t more outrage than this over everything from the war to his capture to his now execution.
Great post and very refreshing to see something other than “Saddam is Dead, party on 2007 (while we send more US troops and countless Iraqi civilians to their deaths int his mess we started so carelessly-but shush, don’t acknowledge any wrong doing.” like that song says, when they own the information they can bend it all they want.

Comment by gaiarose — 2 January, 2007 #
nice posting, glad to see actual thoughts put into words instead of the usual typo infested literary garbage some people dare consider as “opinions”. one sentence did catch my eye “and of stoning women because they allowed themselves to get raped?”, Iraqi law may have allowed for certain “Government Actions” to take place when they shouldn’t have, but such a thing was never allowed in Iraq, not then and certainly not now…could you please elaborate on this point for me please?

Comment by Ramy — 2 January, 2007 #
Good post indeed, junaman. Sadly, it seems more and more like this is what the so-called “war on terror” is all about: the US and their allies becoming the very beast they are trying to catch. Even if the US didn’t actually kill Saddam, their puppets in Iraq did. How on earth can we expect the Iraqis to show criminals (and Saddam really was a major one) any mercy when their American teachers don’t?

@ NotApplicable: “As for being rid of Saddam as a fugitive what, we should have left him out there to perhaps meet up with Osama or othere extremeists to plan a World War 3 against the ‘Western’ world as revenge?” Do you seriously believe that this would ever have happened?

@ ExTrEmE: “I hope China grows fast so they can bomb USA!!” PLEASE tell me you are kidding!

Comment by sungame — 2 January, 2007 #
one sentence did catch my eye “and of stoning women because they allowed themselves to get raped?”, Iraqi law may have allowed for certain “Government Actions” to take place when they shouldn’t have, but such a thing was never allowed in Iraq, not then and certainly not now…could you please elaborate on this point for me please?

I was referring to the fact that if we do not condemn Saddam’s hanging because it is in line with Iraq’s legal system and Iraqi justice, then what right do we have to oppose and condemn other radical laws which breach human rights, such as the stoning of women, which is prevalent in some African countries.

Our Foreign Minister stated, for example, that while he opposes capital punishment, he feels that killing Saddam was alright, because that’s what Iraqi law says.

This complicity makes him a hypocrite when he is trying to oppose capital punishment carried out on Australian citizens in Indonesia, and gives him little credibility on the matter.
Moral relativity such as this is not only unethical, it is also dangerous.

I linked to http://www.grods.com/post/919/ in the blog post, as there is a more detailed post there.

Comment by junaman — 2 January, 2007 #
The whole thing has been a debacle. From the invasion to Bush’s declared victory a month later through to the trial, the Iraqi elections, the deaths of countless Iraqi citizens and now the hanging of Saddam. What’s changed now? Apart from some people feeling the joys of revenge, nothing. We’re in a worse place than when this all started and Bin Laden’s laughing his head off. When and how can it end?

Hey junaman, sorry I’ve been away for so long. Just been catching up on your great site. Thanks for the link on your blogroll. You’ve also been added to mine.

Comment by paralleldivergence — 2 January, 2007 #
WTF M8! Even if the us Aussies did speak up like you friggen American Presedentay would fuckin’ listern to us.
Well Said daGedSTA

Ohh yeah…… MAKE POVERTY HISTORY!

Comment by I An Aussie Too! — 2 January, 2007 #
You all are right. We should have left him in power.

Have any of you “armchair quarterbacks” ever been to the Middle-east or Iraq?

If you have not been to Iraq, then don’t pretend to know what’s going on.

People who watch the “news” and consider themselves “informed” are unaware of the true situation on the ground.

We entered Iraq for oil? Really? I guess that explains why gas prices are high here in the U.S….get a clue people.

Oh, and keep up the U.S. bashing. The U.S. sucks, that’s why more people are trying to get into the country than get out…

I really don’t give a shit what other countries have to say about the war on terror.

Let’s trust in the UN guys, they will get us through the war on terror.

vr
Big Ugly American

Comment by Derek — 2 January, 2007 #
Derek, whatch out, Al-CIA-duh are gonna get you! Take up and smell the concocted War of Terror, er sorry War ‘on’ Terror (not). Are you so gullible? Has the corporate American mass media dumbed some of the population down so much?

And yes I have been to Iraq, once the cradle of civilization, have you? And how many Iraqis or Muslims, do you know?

Oil WAS a reason for going in and the reason the price of petrol is so high in the US is because EXXOrbitant and the other petrol giants are squeezing you for profits.

And try indicting your own pathetic thief-in-chief for war crimes and crimes against democracy while you still have enough civil liberties to do so, and take Cheney with him.

Comment by Aussie 3 — 2 January, 2007 #
Oh, and the reason migrants are trying to get in to the US is because once upon a time the US used to be a haven and a place to admire.

Its material riches are however largely the fruits of Empire, and the more it stupidly bomb other countries, the more people are going to be driven and seek a better life in any of the more stable countries, Europe, Australia, Canada, USA, wherever. Its a boomerang effect.

The USA could be a more benign force in the world and not hog all the resources, instead its a misguided missile which is bringing us all down rather than embodying a rising tide that lifts all boats.

Comment by Aussie 3 — 2 January, 2007 #
the one thing i agree with about the story is that this whole trial was a joke. saddam should have been drug into the street and had a bullet in his head the moment he was caught. think of all the money THAT would have saved. every criminal sentenced to life in prison should be put down immediately, no ifs ands or buts about it. the reason the prisoners in these so-called “secret” prisons arent killed is because theyre lives obviously are of some importance to someone. why else would the govt waste money keeping these “victims” alive? I suppose if Adolf Hitler was captured alive he should have been kept alive in a “secret prison” somewhere treated like a king, and any leader who wouldve wanted him dead would have been labeled a murderer. while i am 100% behind the war in Afghanistan, I didnt fully support the inital invasion of Iraq, but the fact of the matter is that my country is at war, and war means bad things WILL happen wheter you like it or not. What a bunch of hypocrites you all are.

Comment by walter — 2 January, 2007 #
Walter: If you are being ironic, you are not funny. If you are serious, you quite clearly have some serious issues of your own.

What exactly is the difference between giving Saddam a bullet in the head the moment he was caught, and the very behaviour that made Saddam a dictator and a war criminal?

Yes, bad things happen in wars. That doesn’t make them less bad.

Comment by sungame — 2 January, 2007 #
Here’s an interesting article:

“How Saddam Killed the Death Penalty…”

http://paralleldivergence.com/2007/01/05/how-saddam-killed-the-death-penalty

Comment by paralleldivergence — 6 January, 2007 #
Although I am not sure whether Blair supported the trial process, it is good to see him standing up for his principals in opposing the execution of Saddam.

Comment by porcelainmonkey — 12 January, 2007 #
Two of Saddam’s aides were executed today, and one of them apparently had his head ripped from his body during the execution.
Barbarity…

Comment by junaman — 16 January, 2007 #
I have to start reading your blog regularly again… pwnage article.

Comment by Pox — 17 January, 2007 #
Great entry and I have to start coming back to this site again after a long time away. Whether justified or not, Saddam was accused of killing a few hundred Kurds at a time when the US called Saddam friend and they let the massacre happen, decades ago. In the interim, the US has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Iraqis.

Comment by enzedder — 22 January, 2007 #
Would i prefer there be no Iraq war? Yes

I would prefer there was no Iraq to begin with. Filthy natives

Comment by Leon Degrelle — 22 January, 2007 #
Filthy comment I’d say, moronic guttersnipe.

Comment by peoplesgeography — 22 January, 2007 #
I’d just like to thank you for taking the time to create this internet website. It has been extremely helpful

Comment by Ohio — 2 March, 2007 #