December 30, 2006
-
More Hussein
I really get tired of reading exposition on ‘blogs. I really do. I read someone like Glenn Greenwald, and wish he’d just get on with making the point, rather than re-capping the details. But of course that’s just me being impatient.
And when I talk about political stuff, I have a little bit of trouble in that I build what I’m saying on facts that I understand to be true, and can support, but which I only offer in a sort of shorthand or omit altogether. It’s frustrating for me to have to restate the same thing over and over to people, who then complain that I’m obsessing on those things and that’s why they can ignore me. Either I go on and on and explain my multifaceted line of reasoning to an impatient audience, or I just offer the summary. And either way I often fail, because I can’t spend the next day and a half offering footnotes and citations.
And with that in mind, I’m going to talk about the execution of Saddam Hussein.
He was a US ally longer than he was an enemy. We made him. Without the US, there wouldn’t have been a Saddam Hussein as we know him. That’s simply a fact, and if you disagree, you can take it up with United Press International, among others.
If Hussein had been tried in the International Criminal Court, he would have been tried for greater atrocities, and not only that, would have testified in front of the world about his ties to the US, and our complicity in some of those atrocities. And that would have been good for the world, for Iraq, and ultimately for the US, because we’d stop doing stuff like that.
But instead, he was hanged in a jail cell by guys in hoods after a trial by a government that only kinda-sorta really exists, at a time dictated by the US: After the elections and during a slow news week when everyone’s trying to get over their Xmas party hangover.
As other commentators have pointed out: This was basically a kangaroo court, designed to get Hussein out of the way as quickly as possible. And that’s how everyone but those of us in the US see it. The point of the article I linked to before is that this reality does us no real service. We can swagger and pat our own backs for having hanged a man, but ultimately it doesn’t help our cause, regardless of what anyone thinks about Hussein himself.
We have less and less legitimacy as this war in Iraq is prosecuted, because it’s being prosecuted without competence.
Also: Darryl does the footwork so I don’t have to.
Comments (9)
You won’t hear any argument from me on that.
Without even getting into the capital punishment issue. A kangaroo court organized by a foreign government that refuses to recognize the International Criminal Court, is no way to further justice. And actually, the US has virtually no legitimacy anymore. It better be prepared to have a ten million man army for the foreseeable future, because killing people is all that’s really left.
“Without even getting into the capital punishment issue.” Of course. Or getting into the setback Hussein’s trial represents for the legitimacy of the fledgling Iraqi government. I want to try and keep it simple.
Thanks for the highly informative link(s). What I don’t understand is why I didn’t subscribe when I last visited you, which was too long ago in the first place. Thanks to thenarrator for the jog.
It’s all about history! If one has to go by the book in grade school; certainly by 11th or 12th grade and for sure in college…’alternative’ history should be taught……..that is ‘real history’! Of course! This is referred to as’ left wing’ history by the religious right and the neocons. But; afterall, what is fair and balanced? One should always learn both sides and then make their own judgements from there. But; that is just too much like left! So ‘fair and balanced’ is somewhere between the center and the far right! History happens for a reason! And your rendition of history and Saddam is the truth! But; then it would be to hard to explain to the kids why a president (Trickie Dickie or GW) can violate the Constitution in such a manipulative way to extract power that only tryants possess! Details are important…but; your frustration is also understandable!
FlowerDr: Facts are only political if you mention them.
Really, there’s only what happened, and what people say about what happened. These are two distinct things.
Going to take a while to work through all the links.
You say “And that’s how everyone but those of us in the US see it.” Uh, I don’t know anybody in the US who sees it differently. I think we’re all pretty floored about it. While many have mixed emotions, and some were happy to see him gone, I think we all would have rather heard all the evidence, which is (usually) so very common in the US media today. Obviously, the U.S. government wanted it to be swift and quiet.
No faith, no faith.
Comments are closed.