Saddam shouldn't hang

[ck4829]

Until we try him for war crimes in the Iraq-Iran War.

I wonder why Maliki (R-Iraq) is saying "Hang him! Hang him!"

[MrModerate]

1. They don't want a permanent trial . . .

They want to get past the Saddam era and move on to other things.

While those "other things" may be full scale civil war, it's true fact that they can't move forward until they put Saddam firmly in the past. His execution would also facilitate a "truth commission" approach which could, a la South Africa, allow national airing and venting of crimes and a step toward the future.

Myself, I think they're doomed -- the situation is irredeemable, IMO -- but I understand why Maliki wants to attempt this.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I hope they keep him around long enough for him to spill the beans

about his CIA involvement and how he was "our" man during the Raygun administration. And just exactly where he got whatever WMDs and nuclear research he ever had in the first place. I bet there's a lot of pressure coming from the Bushies to get the Iraqi court to hang Saddam's ass before he sings...

[mmonk]

3. Isn't all this why the US wouldn't accept

surrender before the start? Show trials and control of Iraq?