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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (121673)	12/16/2003 1:42:34 PM
From: carranza2	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

The US is on the horns of a dilemma. One of the horns is the global perception we must promote that any trial will be scrupulously fair. Any trial in Iraq may very well not be perceived as a fair trial. The other horn of this dilemma is the nearly-global opposition to the death penalty. If we allow a local trial in which the death penalty could be imposed, we will create the perception that we condemned Saddam to death. Given the justifications advanced for the war, this is clearly not the right message to send the world A third horn on this dilemma--yes, I know, a third horn is a bit much, but this is a strange beast--is our need to give the Iraqis some sense that they control the fate of the man that for so many years ravaged them and their country. They deserve the emotional release a trial in Iraq would bring. A really thorny problem. On balance, I think that the best thing to do is to appoint a respected group of international observers to participate in an Iraqi trial in which the death penalty is not an option. Though not a perfect solution, I think this is the only way to satisfy all the interests.