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Isaac Henderson
Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: Campus News
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The U.S. set up Iraqi high court three years ago. After being captured for more than two years, Saddam was recently convicted for killing over 148 people mainly in the Shia town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on him in 1982. Hussein has been sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against humanity.
Bush acknowledged the verdict as a "milestone in the Iraqi people's effort to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law."
However, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said his country opposed the death penalty "whether it was Saddam or anyone else," according to CNN.com.
Alton Braddock, assistant professor of criminal justice said he feels the outcome of the case is parallel.
"With the severity of what he was doing the death penalty was not harsh in the way of which the Islamic law operates," Braddock said. Derrick Stephen, Bastrop CIS freshman, believes that Saddam should not be sentenced to death.
"Everyone who is like this has to get what they have coming for them," Stephen said. "But I do not think the death penalty is the way."
Ankita Patel, Boston sociology senior said she feels a decoy fooled the courts.
"I don't think that it is the real Saddam because in the past we have had so many look-alikes," Patel said. "He has a lot of money and resources."
Patel said the DNA matches announced at the time of Saddam's capture does not change her mind.
"I am not buying it," Patel said. "The only reason we have him in my opinion is to show that going into war with Iraq paid off.
"It does not change the reason we went there in the first place."
John Sutherlin, government professor said the mix feelings about Saddam stems from feelings about the war.
"In the overall scheme of things the sentencing of Saddam is substantially less important as most Americans' dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq," he said.
However, Sutherlin said he feels it is ultimately up to Iraq.
"At some point how the Iraqis choose to administer sentencing against Saddam is their decision," Sutherlin said. "The U.S. should avoid even the appearance of influencing that decision."
In addition, Sutherlin said one concern could be whether Saddam's death is seen as sacrificial.
"His death could turn him into a martyr," Sutherlin said. "Unfortunately like death in many situations there is no easy answer to this."
Rob Carroll, Pittsburg government senior and SGA president, said he feels the sentencing is the first step towards progression.
"From the American perspective, there is no next
step unless we clean house," Carroll said. "From there the next phase towards change in the Middle East can begin."
Defense lawyers in his convicted Dujail case have less than 30 days to make submissions to the appeals court, which then reviews the documents in the case and makes its decision.
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