[jambutty]

Having been tried and found guilty of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court, as we all now know, Saddam has been sentenced to hang – the ultimate suspended sentence.

As lancsdave has pointed out the trial was about his involvement in the genocide of Shia people in Dujail but he was party to much, much more. The gassing of Kurds. The draining of the southern marshes so that the Marsh People were badly affected. Even some Sunnis didn’t escape his wrath when they didn’t toe the line.

Tears have been shed, tears of sadness and revenge from the Sunni section of Iraq and tears of rejoicing from the Kurds and Shia Muslims.

He and his co defendants have the right to appeal and probably will do but the appeal can only be against the sentence. Once that appeal has been heard, if it is unsuccessful, the sentence is due to be carried out within 30 days of the verdict.

Some people are of the opinion that if he and his cohort Awad Hamed al-Bander are hanged they would become martyrs to the Sunni cause and give them what they will undoubtedly see as a justified cause. Saddam is already a martyr in the eyes of the Sunni Muslims so it makes no difference if he is hanged or not. Serving a life sentence will just leave the option of some group springing him from jail and that would be a much more powerful fillip to his followers.

So yes he should be executed as should Awad Hamed al-Bander and then cremated with the ashes being scattered in a secret location out in the Atlantic.