Clark says Saddam death penalty will unleash 'catastrophic' violence

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Ramsey Clark, a former US attorney general who is one of Saddam Hussein's lawyers, said that any death sentence against the former Iraqi president would increase violence in the strife-torn country.

"It seems clear that a guilty verdict will set off catastrophic violence" and that a death sentence would be even worse, Clark told a Washington press conference.

"It's hard to know how many Iraqis, dozens, hundreds, thousands, will die because of the sentence," he said.

A date for a verdict in the crimes against humanity trial against Saddam and seven co-accused, which opened in October, 2005, is due to be set soon after the trial resumes on October 16.

If Saddam is found guilty and sentenced to death, Iraqi law lays down that he should be executed within 30 days, said Clark.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061005/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqsaddamclark

[sutz12]

1. Given what's going on now....

Will we really notice the difference?

[uppityperson]

2. yes, it can get worse.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

3. It can always get worse.

On Edit: After I posted I refreshed and the top story on the screen was this;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2325521

[Ignacio Upton]

4. I'm not so sure

While part of the insurgency is Baathist, I don't think that Al Qaida in Iraq gives a shit, and neither od the Shia (who I would assume support the death penalty of Saddam.)

[patrick t. cakes]

5. that would be

a good way to change the subject...from fire pants foley

[arbusto_baboso]

6. In the words of Jon Stewart....

"What do you get when apocalypse and catastrophe meet? A catastrofuck!"

[MnFats]

7. It WILL Get worse!!

the bombers, insurgents and hate-america-first with their AK 47s need little excuse to blow stuff up.

and since we were so kind to leave them with virtually unlimited explosives at Al QaQa, I think they will level a lot of things if Saddam gets it.

[Moderator]

8. K

[ECH1969]

9. Former US attorney general says hanging Saddam would cause Iraqi bloodbath

Former U-S Attorney General Ramsey Clark says he fears that hanging Saddam and the others would ignite "catastrophic violence." He goes so far as to say it would lead to "the end of civilization as we know."

Clark -- part of Saddam's legal team -- says the former leader's Sunni Muslim tribe would be enraged over what they would consider a revenge killing by the Shiite-controlled and U-S-sponsored government.

Saddam and the other defendants, who include his vice president, are being tried for genocide in the deaths of Iraqi Kurds during the late 1980s.

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=5504345&nav=CcXH4U4F

[Erika]

10. You think?

GHWB had at least the smarts to stay our of Iraq.

[LiberalFighter]

13. But wasn't smart enough not to impregnate Barb Bush

Unless Barb Bush pretended her husband to be Lot and she was one of the 2 daughters and got him drunk so she could have her way with him.

[Vidar]

15. Good an explanation as any for W or making love to Barb--both

equally repulsive.

[schmuls]

25. And now millions are at risk in one way or another because Daddy

and Babs aka "beautiful mind" screwed and created the "Devil in Disguise"!

[Phredicles]

11. So what we've seen up to now HASN'T been catastrophic violence?

And the mystery of the Iraqis' lack of gratitude deepens...

[pinto]

12. We own it now. Don't know what else to say.

[patrick t. cakes]

14. its a good defense strategy though

pretty smart there clarkie.

the end civilization as we know it defense.

[Screwfly]

16. I suppose

turning Saddam & his henchmen over to Iran makes to much sense to those pulling the strings huh?

I swear, the double speak over the Iraq was has been mind boggling--do you think they really believe their own bull? First they start off the war by launching decapitating strikes at the Iraq leadership & government ministries, then scream the Iraqi government has folded & left the country to chaos. Next, they mow down every Iraqi soldier (from general to private) they can find without mercy & then moan about how the Iraqi army melted away & left the country wide open for looting & anarchy. The assertion that it was a mistake to disband the Iraqi army is ludicrous--the Iraqi army was pretty much blasted out of existence with its surviving number fleeing for their lives within a month of the war's start.

[Judi Lynn]

19. It has been a shameful experience from the very first days.

It seems only yesterday we were shown photos of soldiers marching captured Iraqi soldiers down the street without their clothes, as a great way to mock them as soon as the troops went into Baghdad.



Have NEVER seen people treated this way, not ever. Pathetic. Shameful.

Welcome to D.U., Screwfly.

[Dem2theMax]

17. OOOPS. There goes the October surprise.

I'd rather see a hanging in the Hague anyway. Actually, multiple hangings.
Is that wishing for too much in life?

[ECH1969]

18. The hague doesn't have the death as a possibility

[Dem2theMax]

21. I know. But I can wish, can't I?

Besides, if mad man insane dry drunk * can change all the laws and all the rules, shouldn't the Hague be allowed the same privileges? One would think. Or hope. Or vote for it.
If the world is voting, * is hanging.

[Demeter]

23. In BushCo's Case, the Hague Might Make an Exception

I do believe the US criminal code allows for capital punishment in treason cases during time of war?

[krispos42]

20. Ummm... how could we tell?

Barring a mushroom cloud, the difference might be a tad hard to notice.

[Demeter]

22. And That's Exactly What Bush Wants

Imagine the celebrations if the shoe were on the other foot--the whole world rejoicing in the death of the most evil men in living memory!

[ShortnFiery]

24. It makes no sense that we Execute people to begin with ...

now we are going to encourage the Iraqis to execute. Why? To perpetuate the farce at how we are truly civilized.

The Civilized Countries of the UK and Europe KNOW that Execution is not a deterrent and fuels more hatred of the said Government.

And Shh! Let's not mention the fact that far too often INNOCENT people are wrongly executed. You can't take that back - therefore it's nothing less than State Sponsored Murder.

Saddam should be locked up for the rest of his life but executing him only perpetuates our the savage nature of Authoritarian Rule. :(

[MiniMe]

26. The October surprise that Rove keeps promising?