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Saddam's death won't solve all
The Voice of the Observer
Issue date: 11/4/06 Section: Observations
- Page 1 of 1
We bid adieu to the one man who was able to hold the three major ethnic groups living within Iraq under a single government.
The verdict for the trial against former President Saddam Hussein was announced to the world Sunday. Death by hanging.
Hussein's brother-in-law and head of Iraq's former Revolutionary Court were also sentenced to death. All three were convicted of crimes against humanity for their role in the 1982 reprisal killings of 148 Shia Muslims in the town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on Hussein.
While some Sunnis mourn the impending death of the man who once brought this minority group to the top of the Iraqi government, Kurds and Shias rejoiced. Many around the world, too, see Hussein as an evil tyrant responsible for the deaths of countless people. For a man of his caliber, removal from society only seems appropriate.
But does this verdict do any good for the Iraqi nation as a whole?
Absolutely not.
As the former leader of Iraq is led to the gallows, one can only see further misery in store for its people.
Coming Soon! The continued struggle for power amongst the various militias and factions! The unchecked power of the majority (Shia) rule against the minorities (Sunnis and Kurds) and the death squads that will follow! The strong separatist movement of the Kurds! The neighboring nations (Turkey, Syria and Iran) who are strongly against the Kurdish separation! And much more!
One solution to end the violence would be the dissolution of the state of Iraq. The past three years have proved that the three groups cannot live together in harmony without the iron of a Saddam-like character.
As the minority group, the Sunnis are now feeling threatened by the dominance of the Shias, who are now looking to monopolize on power. Feeling that they are being pushed out by the political process, the Sunnis are starting to support militias against the Shias, who are attacking Shia holy sites and killing political and religious leaders. And with the verdict announced, the Sunnis only see this as continuing repression
But aside from deepening the rifts already dividing the nation, the sham trial that Hussein went through seems to be a sign of things to come. The completely unprofessional nature of the trial, which included shouting competitions, death threats, and decisions founded upon emotion more than rule of law, has simply set a poor model for how the judicial system of the new nation-state will function.
The Iraqi courts were also refused assistance with the proceedings from the EU after they put the death penalty on the board, an archaic punishment that many in the civilized world see as troublesome.
The country of Iraq will greatly suffer once Hussein is put to death - but the rest of the world can rest easy because he deserved it, right?
The Voice of the Observer is the officials opinion of the Observer's Editorial Board.
The verdict for the trial against former President Saddam Hussein was announced to the world Sunday. Death by hanging.
Hussein's brother-in-law and head of Iraq's former Revolutionary Court were also sentenced to death. All three were convicted of crimes against humanity for their role in the 1982 reprisal killings of 148 Shia Muslims in the town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on Hussein.
While some Sunnis mourn the impending death of the man who once brought this minority group to the top of the Iraqi government, Kurds and Shias rejoiced. Many around the world, too, see Hussein as an evil tyrant responsible for the deaths of countless people. For a man of his caliber, removal from society only seems appropriate.
But does this verdict do any good for the Iraqi nation as a whole?
Absolutely not.
As the former leader of Iraq is led to the gallows, one can only see further misery in store for its people.
Coming Soon! The continued struggle for power amongst the various militias and factions! The unchecked power of the majority (Shia) rule against the minorities (Sunnis and Kurds) and the death squads that will follow! The strong separatist movement of the Kurds! The neighboring nations (Turkey, Syria and Iran) who are strongly against the Kurdish separation! And much more!
One solution to end the violence would be the dissolution of the state of Iraq. The past three years have proved that the three groups cannot live together in harmony without the iron of a Saddam-like character.
As the minority group, the Sunnis are now feeling threatened by the dominance of the Shias, who are now looking to monopolize on power. Feeling that they are being pushed out by the political process, the Sunnis are starting to support militias against the Shias, who are attacking Shia holy sites and killing political and religious leaders. And with the verdict announced, the Sunnis only see this as continuing repression
But aside from deepening the rifts already dividing the nation, the sham trial that Hussein went through seems to be a sign of things to come. The completely unprofessional nature of the trial, which included shouting competitions, death threats, and decisions founded upon emotion more than rule of law, has simply set a poor model for how the judicial system of the new nation-state will function.
The Iraqi courts were also refused assistance with the proceedings from the EU after they put the death penalty on the board, an archaic punishment that many in the civilized world see as troublesome.
The country of Iraq will greatly suffer once Hussein is put to death - but the rest of the world can rest easy because he deserved it, right?
The Voice of the Observer is the officials opinion of the Observer's Editorial Board.
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