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January 1, 2007
Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs, insurgent49

Murdering Murderers

     Saddam Hussein was executed this past Friday at 6pm Alaska Time. This incident caused a deluge of various feelings to well up inside of me, including confusion, disgust and, above all, sadness. On one hand, the man that committed genocide by killing thousands of Kurds with the use of chemical weapons is now dead. On the other hand, the punishment for a killer was, once again … murder.

    Yes, Saddam was a bad man who reigned with a crushing iron fist, but the truth of the matter is that capital punishment is cruel and inhumane as well. What it comes down to is that people should not have the right or power to take anyone’s life.

    Capital punishment is an illness of humanity.

    During the course of 2005, in the US alone, sixty inmates were executed through lethal injection. These sixty people were convicted of crimes and sentenced to death. Like Saddam, these people were not saints. They were killers.

    But does that mean that capital punishment is justified?

    Many Americans were happy that Saddam was “brought to justice.” Others, who are opposed to capital punishment, were angered by the execution. Some believe that it is Iraqi business, and we should keep our noses out of it. While I understand all points of view, it is hard for me to really believe that our Republican administration had nothing to do with it, although the current Iraqi administration vows that it was purely an Iraqi operation, from the trial to the execution.

    I still have my doubts.

    Would the US allow for an Iraqi government that they did not support 100%? I doubt it, because the US would only accept an Iraqi administration that would be conducive to their needs. It is America’s duty, as the colonial power, to set up a government that will work with us. Why would they set up a government that would work against us? And why would they not be as pleased as punch to see that their nemesis, Saddam, was executed? That’s right … the American government had nothing to do with the operation.

    I am not saying that many Iraqis did not rejoice when they heard the news about the execution, because after all, Saddam wasn’t a kind and compassionate leader. But I wouldn’t be surprised if most shrugged their shoulders and felt nothing of the incident, because the truth is that many are still concerned about clean drinking water and safe streets.

    Saddam is dead and whether you feel apathy, happiness, or disgust, the War in Iraq continues, and capital punishment is still, for the most part, accepted by the global community.

    Death, death everywhere … I wonder when our species will evolve and realize that simply killing people is not the answer.

    Executing Saddam solved nothing.   

     


     


      Nova Stubbs is a freelance writer and activist, and is co-founder of Insurgent49. Nova resides in an undisclosed location in downtown Anchorage and may be contacted at nova@insurgent49.com.

     'Rank and File' appears on insurgent49.com every Monday.
- Columnists -

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by Aaron Selbig

Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs

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by Soren Wuerth

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in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.