Just two days before the US midterm elections, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death in Iraq. He has been sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against humanity, a fate shared by six of his subordinates.
In the 9 months this trial has been taking place, three defense lawyers and one witness were murdered. Although this conviction and sentencing brings some level of closure to the war torn country of Iraq, Shiites and Kurds now have a backlash from the Sunni insurgency to look forward to, as inferred by the former leader after the verdict.
Smiling, Hussein lashed out, "Long live the people and death to their enemies! Long live the glorious nation and death to their enemies!"
While the White House and the US endorsed Shiite Prime Minister seem optimistic, many European nations have been warning against a death sentence in this case, fearful of civil war. As the verdict was being read, many towns took to the streets in celebration, while others mourned, declaring the court had been corrupted by US interests and occupation, declaring "By our souls, by our blood, we sacrifice for you Saddam."
While this appears to have the same presumptuous/photo op feel of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, it is clear that peace in Iraq is still a long way off, and if anything, this conviction and sentencing has only put the final nail in the civil war coffin.
If you live in the US and you're registered to vote, please do so tomorrow. I know its midterm elections and no one really cares about those, but its the only chance we really have to make a change in this country, and as you can see, what we do here impacts people around the world. Do your part and vote!
In the 9 months this trial has been taking place, three defense lawyers and one witness were murdered. Although this conviction and sentencing brings some level of closure to the war torn country of Iraq, Shiites and Kurds now have a backlash from the Sunni insurgency to look forward to, as inferred by the former leader after the verdict.
Smiling, Hussein lashed out, "Long live the people and death to their enemies! Long live the glorious nation and death to their enemies!"
While the White House and the US endorsed Shiite Prime Minister seem optimistic, many European nations have been warning against a death sentence in this case, fearful of civil war. As the verdict was being read, many towns took to the streets in celebration, while others mourned, declaring the court had been corrupted by US interests and occupation, declaring "By our souls, by our blood, we sacrifice for you Saddam."
While this appears to have the same presumptuous/photo op feel of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, it is clear that peace in Iraq is still a long way off, and if anything, this conviction and sentencing has only put the final nail in the civil war coffin.
If you live in the US and you're registered to vote, please do so tomorrow. I know its midterm elections and no one really cares about those, but its the only chance we really have to make a change in this country, and as you can see, what we do here impacts people around the world. Do your part and vote!
