Posted on 01/03/2007 5:43:18 PM PST by cricket
It's a pinch myself day when the lead news story is about recriminations and regrets that Saddam Hussein, a man who incarnates evil, was not treated more decently at his belated hanging. And the editorial hand-wringing is that this was revenge not justice. As though being nice to someone who put human beings in plastic shredders -- head first -- and boiled even his relatives in oil, would make us more civilized rather than less.
Revenge is justice. Saddam should have been drawn and quartered. The best thing about his execution was the presence of Shi'ia muslims taunting him with the memory of one of his Shi'ia victims.
The shamless left and shameless liberals who would have kept this monster in power and are now shedding tears over the fact that he was killed should have the decency to let the Iraqis have their moment of revenge, pitiful as it is compared to the crimes this monster committed.
Thankfully, at least one liberal -- the editor of the New Republic Marty Peretz -- has had some sensible things to say on this subject in today's Wall Street Journal.
The brouha(ha) here; I think is deliberately contrived for any number of self-serving political causes. . .
Despite all the justification for revenge that might be applicable here, it wasn't revenge--it was lawful justice that brought Saddam to his imposed sentence. Enough said. Except to congratulate the young Iraqi nation on its fortitude in difficult circumstances.
Ya think? I think you may be on to something!
ALL justice is retributive. The only thing Saddam had to repay his debt to the world was his life. And that was paltry enough restitution.
Where were these cry babies when Americans were tortured in Iraq and had their heads sawed off. They were no where to be found and had no comments. Typical Liberal mindless garbage. Liberals have no idea what true evil is. Liberals are anti-American cowards through and through.
Yes. . .and surely; he will pay up the rest of his debt; post haste at his next stop. . .
Japan hung four people on Christmas day( 2 in their seventies)NO outcry, how come?
There's an old saying and I think Churchill repeated it at one time. When you're leading someone to the gallows, it pays to be polite.
The executioners blew it. They lost their cool and Saddam knew it.
I can give an example. If anyone had watched the movie, "The Green Mile", look for the professionalism of Tom Hanks versus the little twerp who was the legislator's nephew.
Vengeance:
1 : with great force or vehemence; 2 : to an extreme or excessive degree
English, from Anglo-French revenger, revengier, from re- + venger to avenge
REVENGE:
1: to avenge (as oneself) usually by retaliating in kind or degree 2: to inflict injury in return for - re·veng·er noun
It appears than 'revenge' can be Just as it appeals to 'balance'; while vengence is, by definition, in the extreme; and out of balance. . .(and therefore cannot be fair or morally just or legitimate)
Whereas; a 'Just revenge' - a moral revenge if you will. .. is just that. . .
( Balance is the key. . .along with the 'moral legal authority' when it comes to the Law.)
Those who shouted at Saddam did so with some vengeance; but it was hardly extreme vengeance given the man himself; and his crimesinflicted upon these people; it is understandable that a slight eruption of emotion occurred. . .and YES. . .
. . .ALL said, Iraq should be congratulated for it's fortitude and I hope they will not let Justice be denied to Saddams 'helpers'; for all the vengeful criticism they have received since Saddam's demise.
. . .and for what seems 'splitting hairs'. . .when it comes to debates such as this; I think it helps to be as informed as possible; makes it easier to 'disarm' those Libs when they start their rants!. . .For sure.
And Horowitz by his editorial; enlarges the debate by his fair analysis and criticism of the critics. . .
hmmmm; story not included in Shepard's Smith's 'round the world in sixty seconds' on 'Fox'. . .guess he missed that one.
There is something sickening and infuriating about all this nit picking about form and symbol. It was real life, not a literature class.
A member of a forum I'm on had this to say about Saddam's execution:
"This is my opinion:
-Saddam was too buddy-buddy with Bush to have perished like that.
-The person that was hung was probably a doppelganger.
-There might be another excuse to continue the war. Maybe somewhere else.
-Your history of war will not end until Bush leaves the power."
She had this to say about the death of Agusto Pinochet:
"One of the biggest criminals on Earth, Augusto Pinochet, has passed away! Just in case you didn't have the "pleasure" to know him, he was the son of a bitch who ruled Chile for years, killed its president and anointed himself as it, killed anyone who opposed him and was proud to be "the one who destroyed communism", helped the English in massacring our troops at Malvinas, and many more things. Unfortunately, he died before paying for any of his crimes. But I'm sure he will in the other world. Thank you Satan! Give him what he deserves!"
Typical liberal illogic.
I had heard feet first which prolongs the agony (not that it matters ultimately). What gets me is the left refuses to put things in perspective. To even be discussing taunting when dealing with a man who tortured and executed innocent humans is bizarre.
Excuse me, but that is pure BS. This monster committed mass murder of hundreds of thousands. He put people through human shredders and gassed women and children. Pray tell, what does showing a little emotion have to do with the meting out of justice? Historically, what happened in Iraq has been the norm, not the exception.
We forced the Iraqis to go through this kabuki dance of a protracted trial because we valued process over justice. We wanted to use the Western model of justice similar to what was done at Nuremberg. It gave Saddam an opportunity to use the trial as a platform for three years since his capture on Dec 15, 2003. Did these same critics criticize the Italians for meting out justice to Mussolini or the Romanians for executing Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena who were shot by a firing squad after a secret military tribunal found them both guilty of crimes against the state?
Saddam received justice. His trial was not supposed to be a cathartic exercise for the victims or an education process for the Iraqi people. They knew who he was and what he did. We found the mass graves containing hundreds of thousands of victims. We have the videotapes of people being put through human shredders.
The trial and process went on too long. Innocent people such as lawyers, judges, and their family members were assassinated because they participated in the process. We wanted a show trial, but it became a circus weakening the Iraqi public's perception of the authority and power of their own government. Now that Saddam is dead along with his two sons, the people know that he will never return to power. That's good enough for me.
Based on the video, I thought the government showed remarkable restraint. Certainly better than the mobs that strung up Mussolini and his girl friend. I find the critics of the execution such as yourself to be disconnected from reality. Such criticism is easy from the safety of your home and no personal connection with the crimes committed over 25 years by the Saddam regime. A few shouts during the minutes prior to his execution does not constitute "blowing it." Saddam was given far more consideration and humane treatment for three years, much better than his victims received or he deserved.
No doubt; there is authenticity in the power of restraint (as per the turn the other cheek references the unseen power, we can choose to draw on) and we have only to look at the qualities that define a 'GENTLEman to appreciate the power; one cannot see. . ..
Of course, 'Gentlemen were not in attendance here, conducting this execution. These people have all lived in a hell for over thirty years. . .and all directrly or indirectly are victims of Saddam. . .
I think we 'should get over it'. . .
And while YES, we expect more from those who are chosen to act on a 'community's behalf'. . .as we give them our collective assent to act on our behalf as our representatives - as our 'moral, legal authority'. . .
Those involved in this trial and execution showed remarkable restraint; given the situation. . .the 'man' and his crimes. Given they were acting on behalf of the 'million(s) dead; should make us even more appreciative of their efforts to bring Saddam to Justice.
I choose to see the 'few shouts/jeers' while not showing absolute restraint; nonetheless; a 'fair shout-off'; spoken on behalf of the majority of Iraq citizens. . .past and present. . .dead and alive.
These people deserve some time here and some understanding. . .it is we that should be restrained in our criticism; as these scarred people, move forward.
It is just incredible what passes for 'intelligent' analysis, criticism or anything else. . .that comes from a Liberal.
There is simply nowhere to go with their dead-end logic; so totally detached from anything authentic, true as per 'moral debate' whatsoever. . .
Listened to a few nice people a few days ago. ..Libs. ..educated; offering that Obama was, so far; the only candidate they could support.
Only good news was in this; is that they hated Hillary. But they will change on their 'own dime' when push. . .comes to shove, no doubt.
That said; it is harder to know which is more painful observing/listening to; an educated Lib; confusing their ignorance with 'wisdom'. . .or like the quote you shared. . .seeing/hearing and uneducated (or just stoned) Lib; do the same.
What they both miss, it seems; is a simple core of truth from which to start from; one that goes beyond the 'frames' of educated or not; but holds to a genuine wisdom that is authentically 'owned'.
I had heard the same; and think most likely Horowitz meant to say just that.
THAT said. . .no doubt, some were luckier than others by 'virtue' of a kind-hearted shredder operator; who may have given the victim a break. .. 'head first'. . .
Hard to wrap one's mind around the very idea of 'atrocity'. But the left does not even try. . .they rather see the atrocity as the Justice served. . .and as 'fair' as it was. . .no; they wanted it MORE fair. . .
As to the heart of the pain suffered here; no; they don't 'go there'. . .it does challenge their 'end; justifies any means, idiology; and they know where that slippery slope takes them. . .as it has throughout history.
But bottom line; these people are NEVER on the side of Reason; NEVER on the side of GOOD. . .their reality is inverted and perverted. . .plain. ..simple.
Agree; and am sick of the media 'feeding the animals' on this one.
As though being nice to someone who put human beings in plastic shredders -- head first -- and boiled even his relatives in oil, would make us more civilized rather than less.
I only regret that he had but one life to give for his crimes. His execution was revenge because justice would demand a far worse death.
It is impossible to imagine a real Justice for Saddam in this world. . .limited as we are. Do assume; that he will get the 'rest of the story' as only can be delivered in his next life.
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