World's Mixed Reaction To Death Sentence

Global Reaction To Saddam Sentence Includes Warnings, Welcome And Condemnation

(CBS/AP)  Saddam Hussein's death sentence was celebrated by some as justice deserved or even divine, but denounced by others as a political ploy before critical U.S. midterm congressional elections.

Worldwide, the range of reactions — including a European outcry over capital punishment and doubts about the fairness of the tribunal that ordered Saddam to hang — reflected new geopolitical fault lines drawn after the U.S. decision to invade Iraq in 2003 and depose its dictator.

President Bush called the verdict "a milestone in the Iraqi people's efforts to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law."

"It's a major achievement for Iraq's young democracy and its constitutional government," he said.

"Today, the victims of this regime have received a measure of the justice which many thought would never come," he added.

The European Union welcomed the verdict but said Saddam should not be put to death. At the Vatican, Cardinal Renato Martino, Pope Benedict XVI's top prelate for justice issues, called the sentence a throwback to “eye for an eye” vengeance.

The death sentence automatically goes to a nine-judge appeals panel, which was expected to rule by the middle of January, the chief prosecutor said on Monday.

Iraq's three-man presidential council agreed at least six months ago not to block the death penalty for Saddam, should it be upheld on appeal, the Associated Press reported.

All three members of the presidential Council — President Jalal Talabani and Vice Presidents Tariq al-Hashimi and Adil Abdul-Mahdi — must sign death warrants before executions can be carried out.

If the verdicts and sentences are upheld, the executions must be carried out within 30 days.

“This is not the way to present the new Iraq to the world, which is different from Saddam, who was behind hundreds of thousands of deaths as well as death penalty sentences,” said Hands Off Cain, an Italian organization working to rid the world of capital punishment.

“The hanging of Saddam Hussein will turn to hell for the Americans,” said Vitaya Wisethrat, a respected Muslim cleric in Thailand, which has its own Islamic insurgency in the country's south.

“The Saddam case is not a Muslim problem but the problem of America and its domestic politics,” he said. “Maybe Bush will use this case to tell the voters that Saddam is dead and that the Americans are safe. But actually the American people will be in more danger with the death of Saddam.”

Jubilant Shiites marched by the hundreds Monday, celebrating Hussein's sentence as Sunnis held defiant counter-demonstrations, however, the surge in violence expected after the verdict did not materialize.

Intervening militarily was “a grave error,” said Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose country withdrew its troops from Iraq, contending that conditions there have worsened since the U.S.-led invasion.

Although some voiced doubts that Saddam would actually be hanged, the International Federation for Human Rights denounced the death sentence, warning that it “will generate more violence and deepen the cycle of killing for revenge in Iraq.” The Council of Europe called it “futile and wrong” to execute Saddam.

Louise Arbour, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, urged Iraq to ensure a fair appeals process and to refrain from executing Saddam even if the sentence is upheld.

In Pakistan, an opposition religious coalition claimed American forces have caused more deaths in Iraq in the past 3½ years than Saddam did during his 23-year rule, and insisted Bush should stand trial for war crimes.

“Who will punish the Americans and their lackeys who have killed many more people than Saddam Hussein?” asked Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a senior lawmaker from the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal coalition, which is critical of Pakistan's military cooperation with the United States.

[shingles1]

"Europe is upset? Could that be because over 1/2 of its population is no longer Christian-based European descent, but Muslim-Islamic oriented?"

Did someone take their stupid pill this morning?
France has the highest percentage at 10%, Netherlands the next at 5.4, and everyone else is less than that (from .01% to 3%).

to play politics with any human life, even a wacko like Saddam, is sick and wrong.

sentenced to death 2 days prior to our elections??? That is just sick and wrong. Call a spade a spade.

[mottsa2]

Long after Saddam is gone, the U.S. will be dealing with the ripple effect of these days. I urge all of you to savor life now, spend as much time with your families and children as possible, for they may die in the future, from the long term affects of our actions. This is war that has no end, and unfortunately will be won by no one.

[mjv2944]

missmailee

He's in custody and there is murders and executions going on daily. You forget that at one time he was supported by us, till Dubya and the big money boys decided he had weapons of mass destruction and went in and blew the hell out of Iraq. Now we have lawlessness that is rampant and it is caused by poor planning on our part. Turn it all over to the elected Iraqi gov. and get the hell out.

[sallysent]

Grumpas...what is democracy? At one time, the Democratic party meant the party of the Conservatives, the party that embraced free enterprise and freedom from tyranny. You are lucky enough to live in a country where you can stamp your foot and call your leader a disparaging name. Glad to know you know Rush and the others brave enough to call a spade a spade.
Hang him and let the Liberals cry.

[sallysent]

Isn't it interesting that those who have posted comments supporting Saddam don't seem to have a command of the English language?
Could it be that they are supporters of Saddam simply because he was, at one time, their leader?
Why are you here, and not there? I am certain that those in command would be more than happy to support you. Or is the living there a little too hard? Easier to sit here and fuss, than be there and fight.

[grumpas]

perception5: Is all you know how to do is rail against liberal's????? I didn't hear anyone say they were liberal or a Democrat either one! But that's the way it always is with you "Rabid Conservative's"! Everyone is a liberal, left wing or Democrat if they don't foam at the mouth and scream obsencities like Rush does! If they don't agree with every last little bit of propaganda you people have been spoon-fed by Georgie and his right wing nut cases! You people are all for democracy until it comes to the US! Then your right wing buddies can torture, snoop and imprision for life without a trial! I am like the person who said he should be tried at the Hague! I don't think Georgie's or his funkies in Iraq are qualified to judge anyone!

[sallysent]

History proves over and over that those who do not rise up, will be trodden down. The Liberals in this country want to ask, "Why can't we all get along?" Get along, out of here and to where you can embrace the total Islamic experience. Europe is upset? Could that be because over 1/2 of its population is no longer Christian-based European descent, but Muslim-Islamic oriented? The group that attempted to place a gel bomb on the American bound flight were Natural Born Islamic Citizens of Britain--or did you miss that tidbit of news?
The European nation's Christian based population boasts a 1.34% percent population increase, whereas the Muslim nations report 4.68. No where in history has a country with less than 2% population increase survived into history. America's?? 1.89.
Don't worry about the Republicans sinking this country, those who embrace the free nation of love your neighbor will soon have the opportunity to embrace the Muslim nation right on their own doorstep. Unfortunately, as they step into that tight circle of welcoming arms, the knife will slip from the robe and drop one more "American Devil." You're right...leave them alone, they will be here soon enough. Let's turn the Democratic Liberals into the welcoming party. Those who love America will gladly use the bodies of those stupid enough to believe the Muslim faith wants us as their friends, as shields. "Thy Kingdom come...." it's on it's way.

[missmailee]

turn him loose?..I don't know what you've heard in the past 15 years about him ruling iraq. But im sure turning him loose will solve all the violence between his people. Yes just a walk in the park, huh. Okay, I'm sure turning him loose will not solve the problem. He will probably round up all his people who turned against him..Line them up and shoot them execution style. Is that justice? I think not. I say hang the poor ***. He's terrorized his own people enough. And for the allies comment. Im pretty sure he's not an allie anymore, but thats just what I think, you may think differently. I dont know why everyone is giving him mercy now that we learned that he's going to be executed. Gosh, would it be any different if he killed 100 people instead of 1000. A murderer will always be a murderer. Qute honestly Im surprise he hasnt hang himself already, does he really think he was going to get away with it. I ould probably pick death over living, if I was him, but then again...My opinion.

[bluestardad]

Saddam would have been our friend now and was given arms by America in the past. Prior to the first gulf war Saddam contacted the State Department and ask permission from the U. S. before he went into Kuwait to stop their slant drilling into his Oil Fields. Kuwait was starting drilling oil on their side of the border but slanted the drills under ground to reach the reserves under Iraqi soil. Saddam was told by the U. S. that America wanted no part in a Middle East war hearing that he took that as an American Green Light and subsequently he invaded Kuwait. This set a domino effect in motion that led us to where we are today with thousands of American deaths and billions of tax dollars spent, The Middle East and Iraq in Chaos and millions of Iraqi and Middle East civilian deaths. Now this leader that was our friend in the Middle East is going to be hanged.

[mjv2944]

I say turn him loose. He'll stop all the murder and mayhem going on in his country. He knew how to control them, it wasn't pretty, but it seemed to work. He just got a lttle too big for his britches and sitting on the second largest oil reserve, Dubya and big oil figures they would take him out. Remember, these people don't understand OR want democracy. We are still killing and wounding our young people for big business and oil.

[perception5]

Iraq is an independent nation with leaders that have been elected by the people and for the people....... no one disputes this. It figures that liberals and leftists would poo poo the will of the Iraqi people.........
...... and it figures that Democrats and their pals in our liberal MSM wolfpack would cry foul......... sad and shameful...........

[adian1-2009]

A guilty judgment just a few days before mid-term elction??? Mmmm!!! A death sentence right then and there??? Mmmm!!! Are there any rules of criminal procedure? But... anyway, Hussein, don't you worry now. You won't be hanged until a few days before our next presidential election. Our Commander in Chief will then say that it is another accomplishment of the Iraqi emerging democracy. Hey, hey, rally out and vote Republican, please!!! Let's sink this country for good!!! Do your part!!! Don't miss this opportunity or you will regret it. Because if Republicans do not win, Bush-Cheney-Rice-And Crooneys, they'll be stopped from sinking all of us.