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December 29, 2006The Execution of Saddam Hussein - UPDATES!I’ve never been able to rest easy on the question of the death penalty in the US - or the matter of state-sanctioned execution. As a pro-life Catholic, I have issues with it…but on the other hand, I know that there are times it can be considered the better choice. I basically subscribe to JPII’s idea, that one misses a chance for conversion when one’s life is taken unnaturally…but on the other hand, if you know you’re going to die, you do have a chance to convert your heart and mind and ask forgiveness, too. I don’t like execution…then again, as long as Saddam lives, there is risk of escape, a renewed effort to regroup…that matters, too. Yeah, I swing back and forth on this issue, and no, that’s not meant to be a grotesque pun. Stephen Bainbridge does a good job of mulling over Saddam’s execution from a Catholic perspective. While I can see his conclusions - the rationality behind them…I am not happy that this is taking place in the Octave of Christmas. I know for the secular world “Christmas is over,” but for us it is not. I wish the timing were different. There are things visible and invisible and if a murderous leader of Islamofascists is to be executed during a Christian holy time…just before an Islamic holiday (of which I do not pretend to know much about)…I wonder how it all reverberates in the invisible part. Saddam may be largely a secularist…but many who share his goals are not. Battles rage all about. There is always more going on than we realize. Saddam is clearly an evil man. But evil men have - throughout history - been turned, “converted” by the Holy Spirit. I know John Paul II preferred we err on the side of mercy and assume God’s not done working on anyone of us. I cannot say I am sad that Saddam will die. I only wonder what it means in the higher realms of heaven, and here on earth, for us. My wonderings on all of this are not conclusive - there are merely wonderings. These are big questions. UPDATE I: I’m getting lots of interesting and thoughtful or thought-provoking emails on this, and also some people asking me whether I am “sad” that Saddam will die. (Assuming his last legal maneuver fails.) No, I am not sad that he will die. But I think we should never enter these things without wondering what it does to us, too, and to our souls. If we stop thinking about that, if we lose sight of the spiritual aspect of everything we do…well, then it will be easy to lose sight of ourselves. In a sense, I am sad for our human condition. Someone wrote to me that they think the greatest sin is for an evil man to be allowed to live. But the question then is - who gets to decide what is evil? Can we trust “our” interpretation of evil to be honored by others? I can say Saddam is evil and should be put to death. Someone like oh, Jacques Chirac - or Sean Penn - can say George W. Bush is “evil” and therefore feel justified in working for and celebrating his assassination. Then what? When we start making these broad declarations, and they become acceptable modes of reason, then who do we go to when someone comes into power who thinks that you are “evil,” or I am “evil” (in truth, there are plenty who think that, already - they write me about it often) and that we must be put down? Like I said…I think Saddam probably should die - for what are apparently hundreds of thousands of reasons. But that doesn’t mean we don’t recognise the gravity of what we endorse. And that’s all the public ruminating I will do about it. At Evening Prayer, I’ll pray for all of us - left and right, good and bad, monster and victims, savage and sweet - mostly I’ll pray for Iraq, (will it ever be Eden, again?) and for the Iraqis and for our soldiers there. And for America and the American President. And this is why I should never be in any sort of leadership position. I’m the ruminator in the back of the room. Maybe my next blog will be called “Back Room Ruminator.” In the end the world moves forward, for better or worse, because of the decisive people. I’m clearly not one of them. But as my dear Li’l Bro Thom would tell you…I’m also a Libra! Heh. Related: Saddam, Bush and Eden, Again Curt at Flopping Aces is running a live thread and showing graphic reminders - you’re warned. Confederate Yankee has a source who says execution is within hours. Ed Morrissey has little patience for those (like the NY Times) who decry this action as a “rush” to execute. One DOES have to wonder - if a President Clinton (or Gore, or Kerry) had captured Saddam, seen him tried, etc, would the NY Times be of the same mind? Or would they be carrying on about the justness of this particular execution? Yes, one DOES have to wonder. Kim at Wizbang has been following with frequent updates. So is Michelle Malkin. Jules Crittenden talks about what it means for some. Rick at Brutally Honest is praying for justice. Blue Crab is blogging updates. Gateway finds some Saddam “save”iors Rick Moran calls it surveys the various reactions from left and right and includes a link to my dithering, here! Iraq the Model is following closely. Carol Platt Liebau wonders why Europe cries more for Saddam than for his rape rooms. Pajamas Media has the running round up. Also: http://theanchoressonline.com/2006/12/29/the-execution-of-saddam-hussein/trackback/ 23 Responses to “The Execution of Saddam Hussein - UPDATES!” |
December 29th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
Why wait?
As a pro-life Catholic, The Anchoress wrestles with the problem.
December 29th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
I appreciate those who disapprove of the death penalty or think it wrong–but this is between the Iraqis now. Yes the U.S. could stop it if it wished, but really why should we? Maybe locking Saddam in a cell forever is more punishment than death–but that is up to the Iraqi people to decide.
Saddam was tried in front of an Iraqi court, Iraqi prosecutors brought the charges, and a verdict was entered pursuant to Iraqi law. Saddam had an appeal and that did not overturn the conviction. Probably 85% of that country is all for seeing Saddam get executed. It may seem quick to us (used to jury trials, presumptions of innocence, reasonable doubt, and appeals taking many years) but the evidence of Saddam’s guilt was overwhelming, the Iraqi courts use an French/Continental European type civil system, and this hardly looks like a miscarriage of justice.
December 29th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
Re: The death penalty of Saddam
I agree with a lot of what you say Anchoress, except, I’m not so sure “outside of God’s time”, every soul has the grace to “convert.” That’s why I am totally against it, except for extenuating circumstances where there is still a risk to society. I wonder how many Christians will pray for his salvation? After all, God wishes EVERY soul saved, even the ones who, like Saddam, failed to “live up to their human nature.” I sometimes wonder if cases like this aren’t a test for all of us when it comes to mercy. I feel quite sure I am more wretched in God’s eyes by my sins then Saddam is to me in my “human eyes.” It’s near the 3 pm Friday hour of mercy here in CA; think I will pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet for a man I loath. I do so for only one reason; God’s will. I trust God to the “justice” end of it, which somehow I think actually is one in the same with the mercy, but that’s a meditation for another time. Besides, I always try and tell myself when I pray for folks I don’t like, or don’t think “deserve” it (like who DOES deserve any of God’s mercy?). Even the worst, even the “unhuman ones”, if saved by God’s mercy, will be beautiful beyond words in their purified and glorified bodies when God finally does get done with them.
Kia
December 29th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
evil men have - throughout history - been turned, “converted”
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They have also tried to convince others, saying “I can change,” only to change back to evil later. I’m content to let God decide for Himself the state of Saddam’s heart. I’m also content to let the Iraqis have the freedom and sovereignty to decide to execute him.
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And I also believe that the world will be safer in the future without Saddam in this world.
December 29th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
To execute a man is never something to be celebrated, no matter how evil the SOB may be.
I think the ongoing instability in Iraq is the most compelling reason we cannot suffer Saddam to live. As talk of withdraw finds new traction with the GOP’s defeat in Nov, we are more or less compelled to make positive Hussein’s removal from power is irreversible.
December 29th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
[...] The Anchoress has a long list of interesting links and her own thoughtful take. [...]
December 29th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
The Morality of Saddam’s Hanging
Two interesting posts this afternoon consider the morality of the hanging of Saddam Hussein. Steve Bainbridge does an excellent job of laying out the morality of the hanging, according to Catholic teachings and reasoning that are more universal than…
December 29th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
Report - About An Hour Until Judgment Time For Saddam
We are finally starting to see some people report what we have been saying all along at Webloggin. Saddam Hussein, The Butcher of Baghdad, is responsible for the deaths of millions - not just the old crimes in the Anbar province that the left likes to …
December 29th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
I agree with commenters 2 and 4; this is in the Iraqis’ hands now. We can agonize about the death penalty over here, but we are no closer to understanding their point of view than we are to understanding the nature of their upcoming religious holiday.
Let go and let God.
December 29th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
Saddam Hussein Is Dead
Will I cheer his death? No. And I’ll give his suffering as much consideration as he showed his many victims. None.
I wonder if CBS broke into its regular programming to announce Saddam’s death, something its executives couldn’t bring themselves …
December 29th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
We perhaps should not take joy in the event (although I note that Iraqi-Americans are dancing in the street in Dearborn, Michigan), but we should have a certain resolve and determination in such matters. If we did have such a greater will, if the world did, we would all be better off. To all the despots, autocrats, dictators, and thugs of the world: Sic semper tyrannis.
December 30th, 2006 at 12:13 am
Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, render to God what is God’s. I defer to the fact that Jesus never spoke out against capital punishment, even though he had ample opportunity to do so. God sorts it out no matter what man does.
December 30th, 2006 at 12:32 am
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
Justice Accomplished! Saddam is dead, hanged for his crimes against the Iraqi people. Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi dictator who spent his last years in captivity after his ruthless Baathist regime was toppled from power by the U.S.-led coalition in…
December 30th, 2006 at 3:21 am
I have to say, I am all for it. Regardless of how we got here, we’ve arrived at the right answer. I am, I suppose, a “relativist”- I believe in all the shades of grey, and that some things, are a “necessary evil”-things such as the death penalty. It may never be, morally, the right decision, but sometimes it is the best one. That fits here. It’s necessary to definitively end any further threat from him to the Iraqi people. That’s why people are rejoicing in the streets of Dearborn- man I wish I was there to see it. They rejoice because he can hurt them no more.
December 30th, 2006 at 6:42 am
Hussein Hanged
The government of Iraq carried out Saddam Husseins death sentence early Saturday morning. Following denial of his final appeal, the former dictator was hanged before dawn. No Americans were present, in what Iraqi national security advisor Mowaffak…
December 30th, 2006 at 8:40 am
From one libra to another - peace.
December 30th, 2006 at 9:13 am
World Exclusive: Saddam Hussein’s Last Interview
Yes, it’s another world exclusive: Hussein’s last moments on Earth - and first moments in the after-life…
December 30th, 2006 at 9:31 am
[...] Like The Anchoress, I have always had mixed feelings about executions. That being said, Saddam’s execution is his final answer. Yes, Saddam, you do have to pay for the sins you’ve committed. Yes, Saddam, you do have to answer to your god of violence for slaughtering innocents. Yes, Saddam, you do get to join your sons in hell. No virgins for you buddy-roh. Now you’re just a tiny pebble at the bottom of the pool of people you massacred. [...]
December 30th, 2006 at 10:15 am
I wish the timing were different.
If they had not done it when they did, they would have had to wait at least several more days to after Eid Al-Adha; this way the Iraqis had more to celebrate on Eid Al-Adha
December 30th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
[...] The Anchoress rightly agonizes over the execution. Her post is deliberate and in fact, not deserving of much of the knee jerk reaction that has come her way. She notes in The Execution Of Saddam Hussein: Saddam is clearly an evil man. But evil men have - throughout history - been turned, “converted” by the Holy Spirit. I know John Paul II preferred we err on the side of mercy and assume God’s not done working on anyone of us.I cannot say I am sad that Saddam will die. I only wonder what it means in the higher realms of heaven, and here on earth, for us. [...]
January 1st, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I could have sworn I posted a couple comments here last week. Now they’ve disappeared. Any idea why? Did someone just delete them? They were thoughtful and courteous, no reason to cut them.
January 1st, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Hi Ruffster. I posted here last week about this problem and I am very sorry to know that some of your commentary was lost. For the last ten days I have been aggressively spammed and found that much commentary was being caught in my spam filters. I tried to keep up - I would wade into that crap and rescue as many comments and trackbacks as I could, but frankly it’s a big, time-consuming and ugly job and with the holidays (particularly the few days in a row where I did not much come near the computer due to Christmas/illness) I was not able to keep on top of it. Clearly some commentary slipped by me and was lost.
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The good news, things seem to be better and this comment of yours came through with no problem beyond the usual one of having to wait around for moderation.
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For the record, since I’ve begun moderating, only one person has not had his/her comments “allowed” by me, and that was someone who crossed a line. And believe me - you have to WORK to cross one of my lines, but this person did that.
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Check out the “comments rules” buttons for more information on comments and moderation! Thanks! And once again I am sorry that your comments were lost.
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
[...] THE ANCHORESS: “There are things visible and invisible and if a murderous leader of Islamofascists is to be executed during a Christian holy time…just before an Islamic holiday (of which I do not pretend to know much about)…I wonder how it all reverberates in the invisible part. Saddam may be largely a secularist…but many who share his goals are not. Battles rage all about. There is always more going on than we realize” …. (theanchoressonline) [...]