Verdict on Saddam

Not surprisingly, the US-sponsored court in Iraq pronounced the death penalty for former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. However, the question is whether he got a fair trial or not. There is no denying that Saddam was a dictator and used heinous measures to suppress his opponents. But irrespective of his stature as an oppressor and dictator, it is not right to deprive him of his basic rights. If this is done, then what is the difference between Saddam and the "liberal democratic government" of Iraq?

Had Saddam received the punishment in a fair trial, everyone would have welcomed it. But the US pressure on the judicial proceedings made the entire system a mockery before the public eye. The whole world is watching Iraq with curious eyes. The American intrusion in Iraq forced Iraq into a turmoil and the country is burning. Now, the death penalty for Saddam will further aggravate the situation. The US may soon leave Iraq after Saddam's hanging. However, there is little doubt that the situation will remain unchanged in the years to come. The history will never forgive the US for what it has done in Iraq.