Rome's Coloseeum lights up in death penalty protest

Brietbart.com ^ | Jan. 6, 2007 | AFP

[TheDoctorNoh]

"Is it ironic that Rome chose the Colosseum, the site of executions and other acts of barbarism, to symbolize its protest of Saddam's hanging?"

[The Iceman Cometh]

"bungled hanging"?????

Pretty sure Saddam died didn't he?

[SolidWood]

I would have expected such ridiculous and despicable gestures and statements from the Communist Romano Prodi, but apparently Berlusconi is a contemptible little turncoat, as well.

[Kakaze]

Bungled?.....taut rope snapped neck.

I'd say they got the hanging right.

Too bad it wasn't two years earlier and with al sadr as a warm - up act.

[RichInOC]

"Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?"

[Paladin2]

_____________, v. ...to bungle, usually used with up.

[RichInOC]

Seriously, if we're going to talk about horrible, degrading and at best questionably legal executions of tyrants, Italy of all nations has about the least right to criticize the Iraqis.

[dighton]

The Colosseum in Rome was illuminated evening as part of Italy's campaign for a global moratorium on the death penalty following the bungled hanging of Saddam Hussein.

Had the hanging truly been bungled — say, because of too short a drop — we would have seen and heard about it.

[TheDoctorNoh]

Great point! Oh Benito, we hardly knew ye...

[Screamname]

Most efficient hanging I ever seen or read about. The punk died so fast his eyes were still open as well as his mouth which was speaking his last words when he fell. "Allah Akba--*snap*" The guy was alive then stone dead literally in a fraction of a second.

[Screamname]

[peeps36]

Will anyone protest when moslums start hanging infidels all over Europe in the next ten years?

[Peter Libra]

A bit of a hypothetical question here. This to opponents of the death penalty. Your child or grandchild is being held by some thug. The child is threatened with death. You are told that the only way to save your child/grandchild is instant execution by "hard men". No negotiation, no if's and buts. The maniac is on a trigger edge.

Do we kill him?

Ah old fellow, you of the compassion- is not your bottom in a sling? LOL

[Graybeard58]

Your child or grandchild is being held by some thug. The child is threatened with death. You are told that the only way to save your child/grandchild is instant execution by "hard men". No negotiation, no if's and buts. The maniac is on a trigger edge.

Do we kill him?

Do you really believe that self defence or the defence of one's family is the same as an execution?

I would kill in a heart beat to defend myself, family or country or any other human being.

I am opposed to the death penalty and won't debate the matter here as I am in a very small minority here and I have heard every argument pro and con all my adult life but your example makes no sense at all. It just is not the same thing.

[Prodigal Son]

This is not the death penalty you have described. Simply self defense.

I support the death penalty, but within very stringent conditions. The crime must be proved beyond all doubt. I mean there must be absolutely no doubt that the person has committed the crime.

Otherwise, you will eventually kill an innocent person. It has happened already. Therefore we are killers of innocent life by advocating for and applying the death penalty in cases where the proof is not absolute. I would prefer to keep killers alive than to execute even one innocent person.

Obviously, in your example, it would always be easy to assign guilt but this is not how it happens in real life. If a judge and jury witnessed a crime they could throw the person in jail immediately. No need for a trial. This isn't how it is though.

[ffusco]

Not ironic since the site was sanctified a long time ago.

[ffusco]

They have a s much right as anyone to criticize the death penalty of a disposed leader.

[GulfWar1Vet]

You got that right. Man, the irony just smacks ya in the face. The Romans who killed thousands of Christians in the Colosseum, all of a sudden get on a freakin high horse about that asshole Saddam Hussein.

Man, this world is just ate the f*ck up.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

...the bungled hanging of Saddam Hussein.

The results betray them...

[RichInOC]

And I have the right to note that if Italy wants to criticize Iraq's trial and execution of Saddam, they might at least be good enough to apologize to the Mussolini family for what they did to Benito.