The United States held its breath as news of the hanging of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein spread to televisions and Web sites nationwide. Hussein’s death should have symbolized the death of a dark era in Iraq’s history, but instead is involved in a whirlwind of controversy because of a cell phone video that was made during his hanging.
As shown by the cell phone video – widespread on YouTube and Google video – Hussein was thoroughly mocked until the floor was pulled out from beneath him. Although his death needs to be seen as a light in the darkness for the Iraqi citizens, it is instead an example of the sectarianism that continues in Iraq.
This man deserves no sympathy for his death by hanging. However, with President Bush constantly repeating our invasion justification as spreading democracy and justice, this runs counter to our mission in Iraq.
Hussein’s death must raise questions in the minds of Bush and other leaders handling the rebuilding of Iraq. The last thing that country needs is for one group of the population to continually suppress the other groups who make up the rest of the country. They have seen enough death and repression.
Because the Bush administration decided to invade Iraq, its new government, its actions and its progress in rebuilding will reflect on the United States. Unfortunately, Hussein’s death is now thought of as one with a circus of controversy surrounding it.
Although the hanging was handled by the Iraqi government, the controversy surrounding it may be blamed on America. Many countries throughout the world, such as Italy, consider the death penalty to be barbaric. It is a wonder why his death had to come so soon when questions about fairness of the trial itself remained.
The controversy around Hussein’s death is another example of the Iraqi government not being functional as a fair and just democracy. This will also encourage the debate between the newly-elected Congress and the Bush administration on whether to keep fighting or to begin to pull out of Iraq. The U.S. government needs to make the decision whether they will continue to support and take the blame for the mishaps of the Iraqi government, or whether it is time to get out.
