I don't agree with the death penalty under any circumstances but this was a circus orchestrated by the mad fundamentalists of the USA. Someone once said that the level of a nation's civilisation and culture can be shown in whether it has the death penalty or not. In this respect America is on the same level as the countries it vilifies. I abhor Blair's cowardice in not openly condemning America's position on capital punishment. He so slavishly supports America that he has reliinquished British democracy. I don't remember the same desire for the death sentence for Pinochet who used the Santiago football stadium to torture the dissidents of his regime. This is the same old story of: he might be a dictator but he is our dictator. Once upon a time Saddam was 'our' dictator and millions of people, including myself opposed the American and British support of his cruel regime. We were ignored, just as we have been ignored when we opposed this illegal war and now his execution.

Susan Cole, Rome, Italy

Susan Cole, Rome, Italy

To vote against the newly elected government, just because we would have made a different decision, would completely pull the carpet away from the platform of freedom which we have fought for and handed to them.

It's a bit like the war generation in the UK condeming the youth that followed, for what they decided to do with the freedom which so many gave their lives for.

Those who fight for freedom have NO moral right to thereafter dictate what those who are liberated, should do or think in the future.

George Thomas, Hamilton, Scotland

George Thomas, Hamilton, Scotland

Are there many Iraqis to whom his fate still matters? War crimes trials rarely achieve anything (by definition they can't provide retribution and from history we can conclude they don't provide a deterrent), and this one could probably be held up as the shining example of irrelevance.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Saddam was not a good man. But the question is if this execution makes any contribution to the peace.

omar augusto, , Colombia

omar augusto, , Colombia

I dont think respect comes into any of this. There are always going to be people for and against Saddam's execution but it has aleady caused a great upheaval amongst the Iraqi people and people across the globe. I personally do not believe that after saddam's death there would be any effective change in Iraq. Where as government is concerned, I do not think Iraq will be a stabilised democratic society in the long run. Iraq's decision is their business but Blair saying that the death penalty was not the way is absolutely absurd. He wanted Saddam dead as well as ush. On religious bases there still will be a continuity of violence between the Shia and Sunni people which would also indulge into political factors. The question is that in their hearts saddam's death is a celebration for the mass genocide he caused but why still are there innocent civilians dying in Afghanistan, Bosnia etc. Shouldn't we execute those who are at this moment committing crimes agianst humanity?

Azkaa Hassam, London, UK

Azkaa Hassam, London, UK

Joan Moira Peters raises the question why "a case of crimes against humanity was not heard by an international tribunal in a politically impartial country." The answer is simple: "winner takes all". America won the cold war, and celebrated the victory by abolishing the UN and substituting cowboy justice for international law.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

It is ludicrous to pretend that Saddam was condemned as the result of an independent judicial process. Does anyone seriously deny that the Americans have orchestrated the process from the beginning? It was they, at the start, who blocked a trial at The Hague as Saddam would not receive a death sentence. Now – to those who approve of the sentence – Iraq is suddenly a "sovereign state". Tony Blair, for one, has never previously hesitated to interfere in Iraqi affairs. The fact is that Saddam is being killed by his political enemies, and at the behest of men with very much more blood on their hands. Tyrant though he may have been, the thing stinks.

Andrew May, De Panne, Belgium

Andrew May, De Panne, Belgium

The death penalty is a final act against which, once carried out, there is no appeal and, since mistakes have been made in the past, there is every reason to oppose it as a punishment. However, there is no doubt in this case that Saddam is an intensely evil man who has inflicted great harm on his own people and others so that hanging is probably too good for him. We should let the Iraqi people decide in accordance with their law and everyone should keep out of the matter.

David Cotterell, Cheltenham, UK

David Cotterell, Cheltenham, UK

From The Wali Jumblatt palace - now a peoples palace in Shouf Mountains over Beirut an ancient template reads: "a day's justice is worth one thousand days' prayer"

donmacnmara, ,

donmacnmara, ,

I am confused by all the comments on respecting Iraq as a sovereign nation, letting Iraqis do what they want, letting Iraqi laws prevail etc. Are you guys talking about the same Iraq that is on the news everyday as a lawless, chaotic state, with a non-functioning government that does not extend beyond Baghdad, where foreign forces provide minimal cover in the green zone while the rest of the Iraqis live in fear? Iraqis are not able to choose to walk freely in their country due to the violence - but we believe they have made the decision to execute Saddam? Living in a fool's paradise, are we? Sovereign nations are not invaded and their leaders deposed in violent fashion and their citizens killed in a war that is not of their making. By the new rules, we should not leave a single dictator in the world - lets plan to depose Mugabe and bring the Rwandan killers to justice. What - no takers? No Israel or oil as incentive?

JRG, CO,

JRG, CO,

What right does the democratic West have in deciding whether Saddam lives or dies? The way I see it, Iraq has decided and if we believe in democracy we should accept the Iraqi decision. Our problem is that minority rulers in the West want their values upheld in places where they have no rights. The UK democratic model is flawed and we need to update it for the benefit of the citizens of the UK - not the rest of the planet.

Steve, Arbroath, Scotland

Steve, arbroath, Scotland

If we have gone to war to install are values and not to liberate the Iraqi people it would truly be a shame.If we are to beable to leave at the earliest date possible we should let these people make their own decisions and support any repurcussions with them,if any are felt.How would we feel if the Ameericans told us how to enforce are laws it's bad enough they instill their foriegn policie upon us.

John, Bordeaux, France

John, Bordeaux, France

The execution of Saddam Hussein predictably will polarise Iraqis. SH wasn't the victim of "Victors' Justice". It is evident that his trial, appeal and execution were conducted under current Iraqi law. In the circumstances, it is surely not for those living elsewhere to insist that the Iraqi authorities are wrong to apply their own laws. As someone who is totally opposed to the wholescale damage to UK laws, sovereignty and traditions by unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats in the EU, I would strongly uphold the right of Iraq to try offenders within its own laws. Saddam was given far more justice, fairness and objectivity than he ever gave to his countless victims.

Cllr Keith Standring, Bexhill-on-Sea, UK

Cllr Keith Standring, Bexhill-on-Sea, UK

There are two things that need to be clarified. Firstly, the decision was made by the Americans and not the Iraqis. Second and more inportant is the fact that he had carried out most of the atrocities during the 80s and ninetees, when he was a "friend' of the West and our leaders not only turned a blind eye to his ruthlessness, but also supported him against the Iranians and the Kurds. He was a dictator and deserved to die, but our leaders should also look at themselves in shame.

Hamad Lone, Expat-Brit, Saudi arabia

Hamad Lone, Expat-Brit, Saudi arabia

To kill, whether orchestrated by the state or the individual, brutalises the soul of a nation or that of a man. Only a fool would say that to kill is the best way to build a heaven. How little God's judgement is understood.

Alan Grocock, ,

Alan Grocock, ,

In my view capital punishment is simply wrong - full stop. But I do acknowledge that in some circumstances, such as war time, a state cannot afford the luxury of imposing life imprisonment that has any meaning and may therefore have no choice in the matter. This is a matter wholely for the Iraqi people and it is inappropriate for us to make any comment on the matter either way. Their choice, their decision.

Brian Vallance, Lefkimmi, Greece

Brian Vallance, LEFKIMMI, Greece

What an amazingly stupid question.

We have already executed thousands of Iraqis by disrespecting the law and invading their country.

Why make a fuss about another one?

Henry Percy, London, UK

Henry Percy, London, UK

If he is not executed, as abhorrent as the death penalty is, I think that in the climate of brutality that is festering in Iraq there will be so many more kidnappings, particularly of foreigners, and hijackings by his supporters to try and free him. The safest thing in the long run for the future of Iraq is to execute him. The government should find it easier to restore order and eventually after all the furor has died down the Middle East should become a calmer place. Not to execute him would only encourage the terrorists to think that the West is weak and in the end whatever they do they wll not face a death sentence. We should support the Iraqi government in this.

Jean Kaye (ex pat), Boynton Beach, Florida, USA

Jean Kaye (ex pat), Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S,A,

It was right to execute Saddam, but George Bush and Tony Blair should also be punished. Saddam killed thousands of Iraqis, so did Bush and Blair. The West is quick to condemn Saddam, yet who provided him with the weapons to commit such atrocities? This, along with the issue of Trident's replacement, proves that hypocrisy is alive and well in America and Britain. It is one rule for us, and another rule for everybody else. In conclusion, Saddam was tried for his crimes against humanity, so let's have Bush and Blair tried for their crimes against humanity.

Tom Phillips, Runcorn, United Kingdom

Tom Phillips, Runcorn, United Kingdom

When we condemn Saddam Hussein we forget it was our politic that put him in power in the first place. He served a purpose that suited us (western politics-uk & us). It was OK so long as he did what we wanted( gas Iranians & Kurds That got out of hand) but the minute he wanted to go his own way he is evil corrupt and must be destroyed. READ YOUR HISTORY, The first Gulf war, he asked the Americans permission to invade Kuwait,since they had no political influence there they agreed. Maggie Thatcher changed the US minds on this matter. After 10 years of continual bombing we are expected to believe the Iraquis still had weapons of mas destruction. People believe that the war had to do with OIL. Only partialy is this true, the main reason is that America wished more Influencial power in the Middle East to support Isreal. I Have no Ill Will Against Isreal. But Isreal politics is becoming Nazism And is it any wonder they, and any support given, are hated.

Thomas Jack, Polmont, UK

Thomas Jack, Polmont, UK

Confused: If as stated everwhere by the UK's legal and more importantly political bodies, ie. Blair, the order for the execution was an internal matter why was it stated in The Times that Blair and Bush gave the 'green light' to the execution? Is that not intereference, guidance, or some other form of what I would call basic control. Saddam should have been in Iraq custody all the way along - or does the west not trust the new Iraq government - seems not from a laymans perspective which means the whole issue of 'change' has been a complete and utter travesty of human justice. Any death caused to the 'peoples of Iraq' is a still an unjust death whether under Iraq rule or the West's current rule. Something is wrong somewhere and it is not isolated to non-democratic states. This is the first time in modern history that the UK has attacked another country unilaterraly - this should not be forgotten in the UK and I fear will not be forgotten externally!

Paul Fissenden, London, Canada

Paul Fissenden, London, Canada

On the death penalty in general: "We are all degraded when we do to the convicted man the very thing for which we condemned him". Vivyan Adams MP, 1946. "An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind". Gandhi. On Saddam's death penalty: From the moment he hit the gallows, the civil war will have begun escalating threefold. But it's difficult, how can we insist Iraq now has a legitimate government if we undermine its decisions?

Jess, Arundel, West Sussex

Jess, Arundel, West Sussex

Since USA, aided and abetted by Britain,initiated and orchestrated this whole affair, it would be rather hypocritical to start arguing about the result. Saddam's death will provide yet another reason why many will take up arms against us. I fear 2007 will bring perhaps even more unrest in the world...and on the homefront, with the EU expanding, we will be in such a mess that 2006 will seem like a holiday camp. I don't think we need Nostradamus to see this one coming.

Mid J., Guangzhou, China

Mid J., Guangzhou, China

There is too much bloodshed. What we need in this world is peace. The execution of a human been does not make contribute to harmony; it looks like revenge. Every time there is a movement in this direcion, we should expect more hatred and violence.

omar augusto, , colombia

omar augusto, , colombia

So; an apparently brave and dignified man has been executed for running and controlling Iraq (a task we have never managed through history despite resorting to equal violence). Or maybe it was for his war against Iran, for which he received our backing and arms: couldn't sell him enough WMD then. Remember, Saddam didn't destroy Iraq, we have done that, and will anyone here or on the other side of the atlantic ever pay for illegally and needlessly tipping a more secular, peaceful and moderate Arab nation in to hell? Or is this what happens only to people who have the courage to stand up against Israel? This is a sad day and sadly no change for the better in Iraq.

Paul Osborne, Norwich, UK

Paul Osborne, Norwich, UK

Saddam is a criminal and this issue shouldn't be an international issue, it should be Iraq's decision alone. Where was everyone when he was killing the Shiites or is that only considered fair and his hanging considered not fair. And for all those countries who think they believe in human rights they should mind their own business just like they did when the Shiites were being destroyed both physically and mentally. And one last thing, Saddam's execution was after a prolonged and fair trial which he did'nt give to many Iraqis and his execution has to be videotaped so iraqi people would believe that he actually died and Iraq has already so much controversies going on , and videotaping this event is one less of a controversy because it is hard to believe unless you actually observe it as he was a burden on most Iraqis

Mary, Sydney, Australia

Mary, Sydney, Australia

On principle: NO

d.hintze, Hildesheim, Germany

d.hintze, Hildesheim, Germany

The paradox would suurely have been if the British had captured Saddam and he immmediatly sought asylum in the UK because of his percieved fears of a trial culminating in the death sentence - a system which is not nountenanced in the UK ,I believe in thise circumstances Saffam would have argiued for such protection and have succeeded as did Pinochet .

the problem is that now are exposed the fault lines in the ethich of warfare and its sequellae between the allies. There is already an evidential wish for ther British to distance themselves from what was a dark, brutal, gruesome and unseemingly hasty execution

donmacnamara, galway, ireland

donmacnamara, galway, ireland

This is an intolerable and barbaric decision. Perhaps we should invade and teach them a lesson in democracy? Hold on a minute...

Brian, Farnham, UK

Brian, Farnham, UK

Only murderers kill. Only fools rejoice.

Yilmaz, Southport, UK

yilmaz, southport,

We have become so civilised that the thought of state executions have become unacceptable. But this sends out a message to all current and future genocidal monsters that you can run but you can't escape your day of reckoning on earth.

Z Akbar, Cambridge, UK

Z Akbar, Cambridge, UK

Should the Dutch oppose our laws about drugs? No, let's keep our noses out of other peoples domestic policies.

Grinch

Grinch, ,

"Saddam should not be hanged but jailed for life to repent for his crimes against his own people. M.M. Gurbaxani, Bangalore, India"

I presume it will be alright to send you the bill then?

As for executions, I object strongly to immigrants coming here and demanding we change our laws to suit them. So why should I, or any other non Iraqi person, have a say in how the Iraqi courts are run and sentences carried out?

Ragnar Vagmornason, Berlin, Germany

Ragnar Vagmornason, Berlin, Germany.

I detested the Saddam regime, but after the horrific 'snuff movie' of his lynching I find myself haunted by the man's courage and dignity in the face of the barbaric killers.Damn Tony Blair for his cowardly silence - and for his aiding and abetting the war crime of Iraq.When will he and his Boss 'be brought to account'?

Nicola L. Greenwood, Norwich, Britain

Nicola L. Greenwood, Norwich, Britain

At least it removes the possibility of some berk authorizing his release from prison in 10 or so years time on the grounds that he has been "rehabilitated".

Michael, Maidstone, Kent

Michael, Maidstone, Kent

Saddam deserved to die, why? Because he massacred many innocent people, most of whom, were women and children. However, I don't feel that his execution will achieve anything, it will merely cause more unrest in the middle east. What we must ask ourselves in the capacity as "decent people" is why we choose to intervene in circumstance like this and ignore the plight of others!

Kerry Taylor, Dundee, Scotland

Kerry Taylor, Dundee, Scotland

There is only a positive future for Iraq if it is allowed to stand on its own two feet and make its own decisions. The morality of the death penalty and our own personal opinions of whether it is right or wrong is irrelevant. His sentencing was carried out by Iraqi people in line with their own laws, similar to the way criminals are sentenced to death in Japan and the USA.

Richard Francis, , Essex

Richard Francis, , Essex

Yes they should have executed him, but it should have been a triple hanging. George Bush and Tony Blair should have also been on the gallows. They are equally as guilty for the atrocities and deaths they have caused and are still causing in Iraq and Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

Pete, Walsall, West Midlands

pete, walsall, west midlands

We all see Saddam as a vicious and hard-hitting leader of a country that, in some twisted way, felt that his mass murders and killings were justified. We also see the Islamist clerics brainwashing their hapless followers into hate and murder of non-muslim "infidels". HOWEVER, George Bush is guilty of both of these crimes for invading Iraq and hence facilitating the murder, directly or indirectly, of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; and brainwashing us into thinking that this is a justifiable act. Will bush be held to trial for crimes against humanity? Will the US government? Will bush be tried for going to war under false pretences? Will he be tried for ignoring mass protests and UN warnings? I think not. And you wonder why the rest of the world detests the US.

, ,

, ,

Prior to handing over Saddam, a prisoner of war, to Iraq Government for execution of death sentence, Bush and Blair on one hand and Saddam on the other should have been tried for war crimes by an impartial COURT. Waging war on false charges is no lesser crime then killing hundreds rebellions in one;s own country.

H.M.Gulgulia, SILCHAR, INDIA

H.M.Gulgulia, SILCHAR, INDIA

Hanging Saddam was too good for him he should have been flogged every week for the rest of his life. Incidently when this conflict in Iraq is over (if ever) are BUSH & BLAIR going to be tried for their illegal invasion of that country?

Mac, St.Helens, England

Mac, St.Helens, England

There are several dimensions to Saddam Hussein's execution. Although I'm personally opposed to the death penalty, the moral issue is difficult to argue. There was so much blood on Saddam's hands that the only valid comparisons are with monsters such as Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot. He showed no remorse at his trial or even on the gallows, and the possibility of some form of penitence is difficult to magine. Yet while it's difficult to guess how the Iraqi government would have dealt with the practical implications of a lengthy imprisonment, it doesn't take away from the manner of his execution, which is even now being spun into a revenge murder by Shi'ite elements. The Iraqi government were ill-served by the retards who taunted Saddam on the gallows but the real problems will arise when the Sunni community outside Iraq find common cause with the insurgents within. The transformation from monster to martyr may take place faster than we fear.

Graham Knight, London, UK

Graham Knight, London, UK

Saddam's sectarian murder after a Gilbertian "trial" confirms my long-held belief that Iraq both needs and deserves a ruler like him. Undoubtedly he was a cruel and murderous dictator but in terms of innocent lives lost it is doubtful if the tally became any less after he was deposed. Certainly in this country the number of terrorist killings escalated. I believe that US and UK forces should be withdrawn at a very early date, the timiing related only to the safety of Brirish and American troops. I don't believe there would be any risk to oil supplies. Iraq won't jeopardise its only source of income.

Eric Hardy, Surlingham, Norwich NR14 7AJ, England

Eric Hardy, Surlingham, Norwich NR14 7AJ, England

I find some of the comments quite bizarre. The coalition governments were criticised for entering Iraq, they have been criticised for not leaving Iraq and now it is their fault that Saddam Hussein has been hanged. The Iraqi government was elected by the people, on a stronger mandate than any western government, their judiciary appears to be independent of government and came to its decision based on Iraqui (not western) law. Think of the criticism had Blair/Bush tried to stop the execution, when they would have been accused of interfering in the judicial process. Saddam is dead, good riddance. Perhaps we can get around to hanging a few other mass murderers.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Another great accomplishment for the American people! Hurray, The world is regrettably becoming unbearable to share with you.

Oriana, Lisbon, Portugal

Oriana, Lisbon, Portugal

Have we forgotten that Iraq was ilegally invaded. With the country under occupation by savage forces, Iraq had nothing to do with decision to execute former leader. It is a really sad day for fair-minded people to witness a gross miscarriage of justice of this magnitude. In my view you have succeeded in making Saddham Hussein look like a choir boy. When you consider that this malicious war is based on lies,I wonder what kind of people could cope with all this blood on their hands. They must think that the world is populated by mindless morons and blind with it. I feel rather insulted that I should be asked to accept this madness.

Anthony Harris, London, UK

Anthony Harris, London, UK

The question presupposes that we in the UK are supportive of democracy and the rule of law. Let's look at the facts: the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq, a sovereign member state of the United Nations, was preceded by the bombing of Baghdad. The invasion itself took place without a UN mandate. Effectively, Britain and America have torn up the UN Charter and killed thousands of innocent Iraqis in the process. If we retire a moment from the age of spin, and regress to pure Greek logic to judge the situation, we must ask whether the crimes committed against innocent Iraqis by Saddam were in any sense greater than those committed by Britain and America.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

What’s the point in keeping him in jail? Kill him and be done with it.

It's about time we started taking a leaf out of other countries' books and reinstate the death penalty in this country.

And yes I am in favour of castration for sex offenders and public floggings for thieves.

There’s not enough deterrent to crime in this country, and that might explain the surge in criminal behaviour.

Dave, Peterborough, UK

Dave, Peterborough, UK

I am one of those who totally oppose the death penalty under any circumstances, as an inhumane, cruel punishment, which also cruelly ends a life thereby denying the person a future, the potential of which would never be humanly knowable. Moreover, in the case of Saddam Hussein, solely from a political standpoint, the death penalty would be unwise: 1 There has been so much violence & murder perpetuated by both Sunnis & Shias that to single out Saddam Hussein for the death penalty would simply serve to advocate murderous retribution as the way ahead instead of the religious leaders inspiring compassion & peacemaking among the factions. 2 That Shias are in power & consider (at present) Sunnis as enemies does mean that Saddam Hussein can also be considered as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention & treated accordingly. 3 Retrospectively historians may question why a case of crimes against humanity was not heard by an international tribunal in a politically neutral country.

Joan Moira Peters

Joan Moira Peters, ,

1. We have reached a consensus in the EU that capital punishment is unacceptable.

2. It is facile to claim that this execution is the business of the Iraqi people. The coalition is at the very least complicit in the trial and its consequences.

3. Under these conditions our standards should prevail.

Stephen Bull, Fontes, France

Stephen Bull, fontes, france

I notice a lot of reference to Iraq's "new found" sovereignty. Was Iraq not a sovereign state before Bush and Blair decided to violate its sovereignty? This "sovereignty" no longer exists - the Iraqi government is simply a puppet regime. Deposing Saddam initiated a spate of sectarian violence that not even the instigators of this farce have managed to contain. Murdering (in the name of the law) Saddam will serve therefore only one purpose: make Saddam a matyr, thus providing misguided justification for terrorists. There is only one solution for Iraq: ditch US-style democracy (democracy does not work when it has been imposed) and provide the people with institutions to evolve their own form of democracy while being guided by a "benevolent dictator" capable and willing to install discipline and order and finally commute Saddam's sentence to a suspended life sentence.

Osei K., London

Osei K., LONDON,

Saddam Hussein has been tried according to the laws of the country which he proported to rule. After all the killings and upheaval which his regime caused, executing him will be the least he deserves. As for whether we should "respect" Iraq's decision, I think it's the least we can do after bombing their country to bits, causing near civil war and creating a political vacuum.

Frances Roberson, Croydon, UK

Frances Roberson, Croydon, UK

No wonder the UK is so lawless. The people now screaming for Saddam's release were probably very vocal about his crimes and what should be done to him before he was caught. Let the punishment fit the crime; hanging is quite an easy way out for such an evil person. Our own country has descended into anarchy since we scrapped capital punishment.

Sue, Manchester, England

Sue, Manchester, England

I have to admit to not knowing what the best option is. I personally, have always disagreed with the death penalty. You make yourself no better than the person who commits a crime if you use violence against another as a form of justice.

However, how much more violence will occur in Iraq if Saddam sits in jail for the rest of his life, organising opposition against his enemies. I still can't decide which option would cause the fewest deaths of innocent people.

Polly, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland

polly, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland

Our "respect" for Iraq's decision to execute Saddam Hussein doesn't enter into it. It is none of our business, being an internal Iraqi matter, and Iraq does not rquire our respect. I am so tired of the sly paternalism we bring to bare when seeking to impose our brand of democratic civic rights on foreign cultures who neither need nor understand them, as we did in Iraq, and look at the chaos and killings which have resulted.

Robert Dewar, High Wycombe, Bucks.

Robert Dewar, High Wycombe, Bucks.

I agree with many others above, the trial was a total farce and no one can possibly believe it was impartial. Saddam is already crowing about becoming a martyr - he should be given life imprisonment and hard labour to pay for his heinous crimes. It may be more important to get the opinions of members of the Iraqi government than polling your readers!

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK

It`s up to the Iraqis to subject their citizens to their laws and nothing to do with us.

Bob, Leicester, UK

bob, Leicester, UK

Of course, a no-brainer:

1. Iraq is a sovereign country, and has the right to execute its citizens whether we like it or not.

2. If anyone deserves it, it is Saddam Hussein. His crimes scream from the rooftops, and any trial he got was in the nature of a bonus.

3. Important prisoners in Iraq have bribed their way out recently. It would be crazy to leave him around to do the same. While he is alive he is a focus for the insurgents - better the certainty that he cannot re-appear.

Charles, USA

Charles, , USA