Talabani won't sign Saddam death sentence (even if it costs him his job)

[sabra]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050828/wl_mideast_afp/iraqexecutesaddam_050828183800

Talabani won't sign Saddam death sentence 51 minutes ago

DUBAI (AFP) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said in remarks that he would not sign a death sentence against his ousted predecessor Saddam Hussein even if it costs him his job.

"Once his (Saddam's) interrogation is over, he will go before a tribunal," Talabani told Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel in an interview.

Should a death sentence be issued against the former dictator, "I will not sign it," he said.

"I am a man of principles. I cannot forego my principles for the sake of my post. If there is a clash between the post and the principles, I will give up the post and keep the principles," Talabani said in a snippet aired in advance of the full broadcast of the interview.


In this photo released by Iraqi Special Tribunial ousted President Saddam Hussein, is seen being questioned by Chief Investigative Judge Raid Juhi(unseen). Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said in remarks that he would not sign a death sentence against his ousted predecessor Saddam Hussein even if it costs him his job.(AFP/IST-HO/File)

[mike_c]

1. good for Talabani....

That's the right thing to do, IMO.

[Charlie Brown]

2. Kudos to Talabani

I haven't found much to admire about him yet, but his dedication to an ethical principle is commendable.

[rateyes]

3. How about that?

"I am a man of principles. I cannot forego my principles for the sake of my post. If there is a clash between the post and the principles, I will give up the post and keep the principles," Talabani said in a snippet aired in advance of the full broadcast of the interview.

That's a statement you will never hear * make--got to have principles to give them up.

[klyon]

21. at least he is willing to resign

George on the other hand think their values and principles are more important than laws.

KL

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Wow, the "president" of Iraq is against the death penalty?

How could they let something like THAT slip through? :eyes:

[cal04]

8. Maybe his reward for finding Saddam in the first

place? If this is how it really happened.

It was two weeks ago that the Sunday Herald revealed how a Kurdish special forces unit belonging to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) had spearheaded and tracked down Saddam, sealing off the al-Dwar farmhouse long "before the arrival of the US forces".

PUK leader Jalal Talabani had chosen to leak the news and details of the operation's commander, Qusrut Rasul Ali, to the Iranian media long before Saddam's capture was reported by the mainstream Western press or confirmed by the US military.

http://www.countercurrents.org/iraq-pratt040104.htm

[insane_cratic_gal]

12. PUK is also listed as a lobbyist group

starting in 2001 I believe

80k in donations on the records

[MADem]

18. Gee, since Islam regards Moses and Isa (Jesus) as prophets

...the impertinant president must have actually READ those Ten Commandments, and remembered the 'thou shalt not kill' one. Oh, such a pesky fellah!!!

[Mike Daniels]

19. He won't sign the order himself but he'll hand it off to someone else

It's an empty gesture.

[MADem]

20. What more can he do, save resign?

Stand in front of Saddam's firing squad?

It's a puppet government; I admire the guy's stones for speaking out at all.

[maddezmom]

5. good for him

I'm actually amazed at this latest comment.

[darkism]

6. Wow!

He's really taking the high road!

[hiley]

7. someone with principles

how refreshing!

[TahitiNut]

9. What's the "principle"?? No capital punishment for anyone? Or ...

... just for the "ruling class"?? I am not aware of any abolition of capital punishment in Iraq.

"The Iraqi president, a vocal opponent of capital punishment, refused earlier this month to sign the first death sentences passed in Iraq since Saddam's ouster in April 2003, delegating his deputy to sign the relevant decree."

It seems he's quite willing to allow a subordinate to sign. :shrug:

[Teaser]

13. He doesn't have a choice.

The presidency of Iraq has *zero* power. It is a figurehead position. If the Iraqi interim government wants someone killed, they will find a way to authorize it.

[VegasWolf]

10. Ummm, wonder how Bush will do away with Talibani? Can't have this

guy going off the reservation like that.

[geckosfeet]

11. Whoa! This guy has more guts than a lot of our mealy-mouthed

politicians. Can't wait till after the trial and western journalists are allowed to interview him AND Saddam. I wonder what morsels may spring forth.

[Coventina]

14. Why make a martyr out of Saddam?

I don't get it.

Just let him rot away quietly until he dies of natural causes. That's much more of a punishment to him than the inevitable "show" an execution would end up being.

[VegasWolf]

16. Because Bush wants to see Saddam's warm, red blood. nt

[question everything]

15. Perhaps Iraq need to invade the U.S. to establish a democracy (nt)

[Mike Daniels]

17. Big deal. He'll just hand it down for someone else to sign

Like he did earlier this year when he refused to sign the forms for three criminals but passed the form down to a vice-president who did sign the death warrant.

This isn't saving Saddam from a rope. It just saves Saddam from being executed by the President's hand.