random late-night tangential thoughts
I just spent a little time on the terrific site NewsDesigner.com checking out the very interesting selection of of newspaper cover treatments of the Saddam Hussein execution (make sure you see both collections, mostly North American papers and international papers), and couldn’t help wondering about the executioner guys in their black ski masks. What’s the rest of your day like after getting up and hanging a guy at dawn? Are you pissed that you had to set your alarm and get up before dawn to, you know, go hang a guy? Do you bicker with the other ski-mask guys over who gets to tie the noose or pull the lever? What do you order for breakfast after work, and does it taste different?
L_Santa | January 3rd, 2007 at 8:56 am
I have to admit that I’ve been open to the death penalty before this. Is this really going to act as a deterrent for other ruthless dictators? Is there really no chance that Saddam would’ve had some bit of useful information at some point down the road that could’ve helped save someone’s life? Are black bags over the heads of executioners really the iconic symbol of the new Democratic Iraq that we wanted to show the world? It seems pointless and hugely counter productive.
Rob | January 3rd, 2007 at 10:24 am
Yeah, I wondered about that angle too. This had a lot of elements of a mob retribution hit.
Barb | January 5th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I assumed that the masks were to prevent insurgents from knowing who the executioners were, to prevent retribution killings. But the feel was very gangster and a little unprofessional. I’ve only heard about the whole camera-phone video with taunting, and while I admit to having no tears to shed for Hussein, it’s a shame that it happened in that way.
As to whether he might have had information – I suppose it’s possible. Given his ranting nature, though, I’m guessing he was beyond useful in that sense.
Rob | January 5th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Yeah, he ranted and raved pretty well through the trial, but with an ego like his, I suspect that given enough time sitting alone and ignored in some dank hole, soon enough he’d just be begging to spill his guts just to have someone listening to him. Who knows, though, maybe he’d be able to stonewall for the rest of his life in prison, since he managed to retain power of Iraq as long as he did.
John | January 12th, 2007 at 12:06 am
Hmm, good thoughts all. I think it was well they gave him the “noose”. Given how close to anarchy that country is, the longer he was in prison the more likely he would escape. Even we lose ’em from time to time.
On hanging it self: We should take a page out of their book. The process is quick, sure, painless (?) – somebody needs to check on that and get back to me – and cheap.