Russell's Blog

The news says that Saddam will be hanged pretty much any minute now. I'm opposed to the death penalty on principle, but I think that there are extraordinary cases where it may be justified. Genocidal leaders are one of the few categories of humans who I think should face the death penalty.

However, I think it is a huge mistake to execute Saddam, especially now. Once deposed, genocidal leaders can serve humanity in the critically important function of providing a focal point for the investigation and historical elucidation of genocide and conflict. Saddam is much more valuable to Iraqis alive than dead.

Furthermore, the country is still occupied by a foreign army (ours), the courts are neither trustworthy nor independent, and a sectarian civil war is still raging. Clearly he is guilty of the crimes for which he has been sentenced, and if any crime is bad enough to merit execution, his certainly do. Nevertheless, I hope his execution is postponed. He has a lot to answer for, and he should be made to answer for it in a working court system.