Many of history’s most evil rulers have died peacefully in their beds. But tyranny is becoming a more risky occupation — witness Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who was yesterday sentenced to death by hanging.
There’s no question that Saddam deserves to die. And if he were an active inspiration for the Iraqi insurgency, then his permanent removal might make sense – as it did, for example, for
John Howard maintained this morning that Saddam’s trial was “a sign of democratic hope”. But when it comes to the death penalty, the reverse is true. Limitation and abolition of the death penalty has been a sign of democratic process throughout the world for more than 200 years. The willingness of Howard and his
Like so many other countries emerging from tyranny,
Saddam’s victims will not see it in these terms, but it may be that a conspicuous gesture of mercy to the fallen tyrant would have given his troubled country more reason for hope.
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