Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Sadly Insane

Sadly takes the long drop!

So, Saddam Hussein (titularly Sadly Insane) is an ex-President of Iraq. Actually, he's pretty much an ex everything. Like Monty Python's parrot – he is permanently “ex”, i.e. this parrot is dead.


Not much to lament there.


What is lamentable is the bone-crushing nauseating rush by Labour politicians (who ought to know better) to jump on the anti-capital punishment bandwagon “caused” by the unsavoury nature of the actual execution. That, and their slavishly stupid attempts to on one hand applaud the efforts of the democratically elected Iraqi government, while simultaneously, on the other hand, expressing their heart-felt (yeah, right you hypocrites!) opposition to the death penalty.


What abject nonsense.


No-one believes that Saddam could have been brought to justice but by the combined efforts of the USA and Britain. No-one believes that the Iraqi government could dispense justice to Saddam without the approval, co-operation and complicity of both powers.


Unfortunately, only the US has the necessary political maturity to explain this to the public and not hide behind the ridiculous pretence that “it's nothing to do with us”. As 'ol Dubba might say, “That dog won't hunt”. Pretending that the execution is nothing to do with the UK and their politicians reiterating their long-standing, historical and illogical opposition to capital punishment only serves to make the politicians, of all major parties, look like light-weights. Just when they should be punching above their weight – they can't resist trying to distance themselves from what the general population applauds.


Think I'm making this up?


From the internet:


Although many groups campaign against any re-introduction of capital punishment, its restoration remains popular with the public. Those in favour of its reintroduction cite natural justice and its value as a deterrent.

However, this apparent public support is not mirrored in the political establishment and any movement to reintroduce the penalty would be unlikely to survive a vote in any recent House of Commons. Indeed, despite three 'free' votes in the last 20 years, MPs have rejected all calls for its restoration.


From an on-line survey:


The 2005 survey has seen a 56% increase in activity over the previous year, giving a total of 1,188 responses.

Of these an overall 66.5% were in favour of the death penalty for some or all of the offences suggested.

This survey claims no demographic or statistical basis. All responses were entirely voluntary and only from people who visited the Capital Punishment UK website and who presumably had some interest in the subject.

There is little or no doubt that the general public supports the use of capital punishment.


This does not, of course, make capital punishment either right or appropriate – nor is it necessarily a good reason to re-introduce it in the UK. What it does show, however, is the appalling arrogance of statements by UK politicians who attempt to distance themselves from the hanging of Saddam Hussein - a process of their own making and responsibility. This is criminal hypocrisy.


Personally, I'm opposed to capital punishment – on practical grounds. It's just too easy to make mistakes – even with Sadly Insane; therefore, life without parole is the appropriate punishment for perpetrators of heinous crimes. Sadly should have rotted in jail – not have been martyred by Iraqi militants.

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