I'm sure this will work out well (sarcasm)

[db44]

How better to show "Christian" charity during this festive time of year than to condemn Saddam to death the day after Jesus' celebrated birthday?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6210245.stm

An Iraqi appeals court has upheld the death sentence against ousted President Saddam Hussein.
The court rejected an appeal by Saddam Hussein's lawyers and confirmed that he would be hanged, court spokesman Raed Juhi told the BBC.

The appeal was launched after an Iraqi court sentenced Saddam Hussein to death on 5 November for the 1982 killings of 148 Shias in the town Dujail.

Under Iraqi law, Saddam Hussein must be executed within 30 days.

"It cannot exceed 30 days. As from tomorrow [Wednesday] the sentence could be carried out at any time," appeals court judge Arif Shaheen told a news conference in Baghdad.

[Venisenvy]

So non-christians are required to show christian charity?

[pinky]

What does this have to do with Christian charity? The appeals court is Iraqi, which means Islamic, not Christian.

[pinky]

Hey! Great minds, Luis!

[db44]

The timing of it. The time of the year where good will toward man is supposed to be the theme, and one day after the day that should eptimoize that thought... If this is indeed a Holy War to some Muslims, I'm guessing the irony will not be lost on them.

It is an Iraqi court that made the decision, but one closely alligned to Bush, as this goverment will forever be considered. I'm fairly certain that irony too will not be lost.

[pinky]

The timing is irrelevant in a country in which Christmas is not celebrated, Dave.

To the Iraqis it's just another day for their legal system to do its job.

[db44]

Are you sure it's not celbrated, and not observed? Afterall, the Bible is part of the Islamic scriptures and Jesus is an important icon for Muslims as well.

Christianity wasn't banned in Iraq, even under Saddam: Case and point: Tarik Aziz.

The important thing though is this still can't be good for our troops.

[pinky]

It may be celebrated by Christian families; I doubt it's a major event for most Iraqis.

[Venisenvy]

Christianity is not huge in Iraq so while im sure some celebrate it, its not everywhere.

[db44]

But considering the influx of the West and the religious nature of the struggles, are you sure they have no idea about the holiday and the supposed meaning of it?

[pinky]

I'm sure they know of the holiday and its meaning. I'm equally sure that the people who are sitting in positions of power in Iraq are NOT Christians and do NOT base any of their decisions on Christian ideals.

[db44]

No, I agree with that fully, but I also believe the mentality of the insuregents/Saddam supporters is that those people in power are there as friends of George W. Bush.

[Venisenvy]

Those in power are not christians, and friends of Bush? Have you seen how well they get along, because i recall reading for the past couple of months a bunch of things that paint a less than rosie picture of Bush and his relationship to those in power.

They probably did not even think twice about the timing of the ruling, they just did it and thats it.

[db44]

But to the enemy, these people in power wouldn't be in power if it weren't for Bush. I would wager the enemy will be in power again after we leave, no matter how long or short we are there.

Both Bush and those in powers need each other now more than ever. Less-than-rosie doesn't mean hate or want to kill, like the enemies probably feel towards both those factions. Just as Saddam hated Osama (despite Bush's propeganda), the enemy of my enemy is my friend... Except Saddam didn't bend that way. If he had, we'd be in much more trouble there and here.

[SparkleHugs]

Are you sure it's not celbrated, and not observed? Afterall, the Bible is part of the Islamic scriptures and Jesus is an important icon for Muslims as well.

Christianity wasn't banned in Iraq, even under Saddam: Case and point: Tarik Aziz.

The important thing though is this still can't be good for our troops.


I am pretty sure it isnt, they view Jesus the same way we view John or Paul. He is just another prophet. We dont celebrate their birthdays, so i dont see why they would celebrate Jesus's birthday.

I figure, the day is over, what needs to be done needs to be done and they should get on with it it. Sadaam certainly wasnt thinking about morality when he killed all the people he killed, now it is time for him to die.

[db44]

Well, part of my belief has panned out, the Baath party (not insurgents, mind you) is blaming the U.S.:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/27/saddam.baath/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Baath Party, the political movement that ruled Iraq during the Saddam Hussein era, is warning there will be "grave consequences" if former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is executed.

Saying it would hold the United States responsible, a message appeared on al-basrah.net Tuesday that read: "The Baath and the resistance are determined to retaliate in all ways and all places that hurt America and its interests if it commits this crime."

If the execution is carried out, the largely Sunni-Arab Baathists said they also will retaliate against members of the Iraqi High Tribunal.

And they vowed a complete shut-down of peace negotiations between the Baathists and coalition forces.

The Baathists have been operating as part of the insurgency against the U.S. and its allies since Hussein's regime fell in 2003.

Hussein was convicted November 5 in an Iraqi court of crimes against humanity.

He was sentenced to death by hanging for ordering the killings of 148 people in the predominantly Shiite Muslim city of Dujail in 1982.

The former dictator's execution, upheld by an appellate chamber of the Iraqi High Tribunal, could be carried out any time over the next few weeks.

The Baathist message went on to call Hussein's execution a "most dangerous red line" that the Bush administration shouldn't cross.

"The entire world knows that the final decision is in the hands of the American administration and not the agent government in Baghdad," the message said.

The execution "will make later negotiations between the resistance and the Baathists" and the U.S. "impossible." It would further embolden and strengthen the resistance, the message warned.

[pinky]

As I've already said, they can say whatever they want, it doesn't make it any more true than the things Bush says.

Dave, I don't disagree that we'll somehow be assigned the blame. I just don't think the fact that it's Christmas season has anything to do with it.

[db44]

I don't think it had anything to do with it either. I just find the timing ironic.