[Gondring]

Now Cooper is asking why Saddam wasn't shot like he wanted to be instead of being hung

Often, interviewers ask questions to give guests a chance to express things. But in any case, it seems this wasn't a dumb question, since so few people seem to realize why.

A firing squad is used for military executions. If a firing squad were granted to Saddam, then it would indicate POW status, which he was denied...and if he had POW status, it would trigger many other things by the Geneva Conventions.

those who know their American History will recall how General Washington had to hang Major André against both their wishes for the same reason--he was caught as a spy, and as such had to be hanged, despite his valiant military career.

[GretchenM]

I don't think Anderson Cooper has been often caught asking a reasonable question so his guests could give informed opinions such as you just wrote out (does he even have guests informed enough to dispense this type of information, as a rule?). Also, the thing I get from Cooper's question, based on his general way of doing things, is that he sounded sympathetic to poor old Saddam not getting his wish honored. Saddam had to know the rules of war by which he was tried and executed.

[OldFriend]

Thanks for that bit of information. Should have known that nothing happens by 'accident'.

Happy New Year!

[Mo1]

ahhh ... that makes sense
Thanks for the info

[HawaiianGecko]

"A firing squad is used for military executions."

That's not true. The state of Utah uses firing squads.  Gary Gilmore was shot by a firing squad on January 17, 1977, at 8:07 AM in Utah for murder.  John Albert Taylor was executed by firing squad in 1996, also in Utah. 

Idaho and Oklahoma are two other states that allow for firing squads, although both also have lethal injection as a method and since that time all death row inmates have chosen the latter method to die.