Near East Pundit

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Perhaps they can remember the victims...

Ban Ki-Moon, the new U.N. Secretary General has kicked off his new term by saying he would not criticize the death penalty for the ex-Butcher of Baghdad even though the United Nations' policy stands firmly against the death penalty. 

Ki-Moon said,

“Saddam Hussein was responsible for committing heinous crimes and unspeakable atrocities against the Iraqi people.  We should never forget the victims of his crimes."

Whereas, the special representative from Iraq to the U.N. said the U.N. is opposed to the death penalty even in cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide “based on the principle of respect for the right to life.” 

If the U.N., and anybody else opposed to the death penalty truly respected the right to life, they would in fact support the death penalty. 

Yes, there's always tragic instances where an innocent person could be mistakenly put to death for a crime they didn't committ.  But the evidence for those who have committed crimes worthy of the death penalty, are let out and will kill again is overwhelming.

So if we're truly interested in saving (in Saddam's case), hundreds of thousands of lives, and the talk of respecting the right to life is not merely talk, then the U.N. in particular ought to reconsider their policy on the death penalty, especially with blatant disregard of life as evidenced by Saddam Hussein and his ilk.

Hamas is miffed

 Hamas is miffed that Abbas met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and didn't brief them afterwards, and now that Abbas may have private discussions with Israeli officials without their knowledge. 

I only have one question - for a government that is bent on Israel's destruction, why do they care if Fatah has peace talks with Israel.  And based on that presupposition, what legitimate peace talks can ever come from a government that seeks to destroy the other party they're allegedly having peace talks with?

It boggles the mind.