Lessons lost with death of dictator

There is something disturbing about the recent execution of former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein.

In fact, its staging was in violation of everything the Americans and British have been trying to bring to Iraq.

The hectoring of the condemned dictator in the moments before his death even had at least one Iraqi official considering a halt to the proceedings. Observers brought camera cellphones to illicitly record the event and broadcast it around the country and the world, sparking both spasms of joy and violence in various circles.

A rotten rat bugger for sure, Hussein was condemned for the deaths of a number of Shi'ites who had attempted to assassinate him way back in the 1980s. Ongoing trials for the deaths of rebelling Kurds and probably countless other now non-proven evils done to his countrymen over the decades ceased at his execution. We'll never know the extent of alleged monstrosities.

Hussein fought all the way - and maintained his dignity, verbally holding his own and then some with tormentors on the scaffold.

It's too bad his strengths hadn't manifested themselves more positively for his country and people during his tenure.

The speed at which the obviously scarcely completed trial concluded, the targeting of defense counsel, the sort-of appeal that followed, and then the execution itself leave a number of questions.

Did the Iraqi government follow due process in ordering the execution when it did, and by whom? Why was the execution on the eve of Eid?

What of any foreign plaintiffs - Iranians, Kuwaitis? Wouldn't that make it an international court trial?

Former Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosovic was tried at the international court at the Hague, dying of a heart attack during the trial, cheating justice. Even his perceived justice - based only on if he had been found guilty, and there was no guarantee of that as things became known - would in no way have ended with his execution. The international court doesn't deal with capital punishment. Like Hussein, Milosovic put up a spirited defense against the tide of public opinion - even getting around to calling Canadian military writer Scott Taylor and maybe, eventually, M/Gen. Lewis MacKenzie (Ret'd) to give evidence to back his case.

No, neither dictator took any guff off anybody during their show trials. In broad strokes, they behaved somewhat like former German Reichsmarschall Herman Goring during his war crimes trial at Nuremburg after the Second World War. As head of the Luftwaffe, Goring had planned and perpetrated the bombing of civilians. In an economic capacity, he also perpetrated the Nazi slave labour system. A genuine First World War flying ace and hero, however, Goring got a grip on himself after the surrender, beat a severe medication habit and put up an elaborate and well-conducted defense - knowing full well the end verdict and result. But he did it, gaining admiration from his foes - if not his victims. In the end, however, before he could be executed, he committed suicide, using poison he had concealed on his person.

Milosovic was charged with human rights violations in relation to neighbouring areas that had been part of the Yugoslav federation. Not only was his country busting up in the early 1990s, various other ethnic groups were targeting Serbs, even planning to take away traditionally Serb territory. Did Milosovic order illegal deaths, ethnic cleansings and persecutions outside Serbia? We'll never know. But, to what was he reacting in his known actions? What were others doing to spark such actions? What was he trying to prevent? From what was he trying to protect Serbia and Serbs? As cooler heads begin to gain voice, more questions than ever continue to arise from the Milosovic case.

With Hussein, it's even more complex. Most of his mayhem was domestic, and possibly in response to other forces - ethnic, religious, political and what not. His foreign wars against Iran and Kuwait were just those, and under whatever international laws govern such enterprises.

What gets me is Iraq collectively couldn't get its stuff together to firm up a solid political system. Then, the people collectively laid the blame directly on Hussein. They aren't alone in that neck of the desert - not by a long shot. In fact, the only functioning democracy in that region is Israel. And, for the Arabs in general, at least 1.4 million Palestinians live in a real democracy and modern economy - enjoying full benefits of citizenship in Israel.

It gets down to what the Iraqi people can accomplish and build for themselves from what they have - traditions, education, material well-being - as well as just behaving and getting along. They were, prior to the intervention, relatively secular, with a relatively modern economy - at least as much as could be under international sanctions.

But when state executioners and observers taunt a 69-year-old condemned man, particularly expressing their own political and religious views and record the proceedings, it shows they have learned nothing through what is supposed to be going on in their country. It's still a winner take all, all spoils to the victor, social and political scenario, now spreading into a visibly weak concept of modern state justice.

When the leader of the coalition that intervened to help change Iraq for the better condones the execution - and, implicitly, the circumstances - we have to wonder if the sacrifices have been worth anything. We have to wonder, too, if the right power is trying to impart these new and, hopefully, proper ways.