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Saddam Hussein Captured
Even though the entire world knows this already, I just had to mention here for posterity that Saddam was captured by US forces on December 13 2003. This is great news.
No matter how you feel about the justification of the conflict in Iraq there is no question that Saddam was a brutal and murderous dictator and this his capture is great news.
I would also like to applaud the US administration for the low key relay of the news and the decided lack of gloating. Almost everyone in the US administration that has given a speech or made public comment has been very matter of fact and shown great class in the matter, including the President. The only exception has been Donald Rumsfeld, he was almost professional about it in his interviews but he could not resist calling Saddam a coward time and time again (which whether or not it is true is irrelevant and juvenile at such a time).
I am sure the rhetoric about this capture will fly like hell from BOTH sides in the coming months, but for now its refreshingly low key and factual.
The capture of Saddam surely carries great symbolic significance if not actual tactical significance. Saddam may or may not have been directing the "insurgent" attacks within Iraq, but hopefully either way his capture will help to bring stability and an end to killing in the region. Saddam Caught: CNN
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Re: Saddam Hussein Captured
one post article note, calling Saddam a coward (even if he is, irrelevant) is illegal under international law. the US has called him a "POW" and the US helped to fashion and influence international law. under that law a POW is only required to give name rank and serial AND any photos or pictures of the prisoner are illegal as is "degrading" or insulting the prisoner. i would call "coward" an insult?
granted it does not SEEM like that big of a deal and even my personal feels are that i would not mind if every iraqi got to kick saddam in the face. but the law is the law and its even MORE important to obey the rule of law in a time of crisis (not less as the Bush admin would purport, not less in the name of "security").
this seems like a microcosm of the issues i have with the Bush admin in general. laws are great when they need to USE them against someone (calling out Iraq for POW images) yet when it suits their needs to ignore laws they have no problem doing so. its this mentality of we have to do whatever regardless of the law that is my major issue with the Bush admin. this is one silly example but the premise repeats itself over and over with this administration and on far more serious grounds (patriot act, "enemy combatant", sealing presidential records, and on and on and on).
Re: Saddam Hussein Captured
Point of clarification. I believe, (and if I'm wrong, I am sure that you will point it out wholeheartedly,) that the US has NOT classified him as a POW, but they have said that he will be treated as one with respect to not being tortured, allow Red Cross access, etc.
I'll allow you whatever bashing you want on intent/letter of the law type things, but I do believe that your statement that the US has called him a POW is mistaken.
Hehe. might be guilty of a little freudian slip there. one that you guys didn't see because of the handy little backspace key. I tried to type out 'P' 'O' 'W' three times and each time, I actually typed 'P' 'O' 'S'
Re: Saddam Hussein Captured
you are correct sir. "afforded every right of a POW" but NOT a POW. so what is he.
Re: Saddam Hussein Captured
Darn good question. By treating him as a POW then we would also be obligated to return him after hostilities cease, correct? However, he is also considered a war criminal. Also, I hope that we (the US) doesn't try him or let an international court try him - I hope that the Iraqi's get to put him on trial and follow their laws. After all, they are the ones who suffered the most by him.