Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN4508
2006-06-20 10:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION ON SADDAM HUSSEIN'S TRIAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0021 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #4508 1711011 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 201011Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1523 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0355 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1277 RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS AMMAN 004508
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON SADDAM HUSSEIN'S TRIAL
Editorial Commentary
-- "Purposeful justice"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (06/20) editorializes:
"In line with this newspaper's long-standing liberal tradition and
consistent with its vocal defense of human rights, we are against
Saddam being hanged. First, we are against the death penalty in
principle, for both practical and moral reasons. From a practical
point of view, it has been proven time and again that capital
punishment does not serve as a deterrent for people to stop
committing heinous crimes.... Morally, we believe that no human
being, entity or institution should be entitled to dispose of the
most sacred thing on earth: human life. In the specific case of
Saddam, there are both practical and moral reasons not to execute
him.... Even some ordinary Iraqis are arguing that executing Saddam
could be counterproductive: it could make him a martyr in the eyes
of his fanatic die-hard supporters within the insurgency, thus
strengthening some militant fringes. Most importantly, however, we
should ask our selves whether hanging Saddam would fulfill the very
raison d'etre of this trial.... Ordinary Iraqis need to see him
tried and convicted under their law, by their judges and within
their own courts, to feel that they can finally make justice for
themselves. But for all this to happen, the tribunal trying Saddam
and the whole legal proceeding need enjoy utmost legitimacy in the
eyes of all Iraqis. And this is still questionable for too many,
and the trial has too often been branded as an empty, mediatic show
for it to serve as a unifying, cathartic exercise for the whole
nation."
RUBINSTEIN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON SADDAM HUSSEIN'S TRIAL
Editorial Commentary
-- "Purposeful justice"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (06/20) editorializes:
"In line with this newspaper's long-standing liberal tradition and
consistent with its vocal defense of human rights, we are against
Saddam being hanged. First, we are against the death penalty in
principle, for both practical and moral reasons. From a practical
point of view, it has been proven time and again that capital
punishment does not serve as a deterrent for people to stop
committing heinous crimes.... Morally, we believe that no human
being, entity or institution should be entitled to dispose of the
most sacred thing on earth: human life. In the specific case of
Saddam, there are both practical and moral reasons not to execute
him.... Even some ordinary Iraqis are arguing that executing Saddam
could be counterproductive: it could make him a martyr in the eyes
of his fanatic die-hard supporters within the insurgency, thus
strengthening some militant fringes. Most importantly, however, we
should ask our selves whether hanging Saddam would fulfill the very
raison d'etre of this trial.... Ordinary Iraqis need to see him
tried and convicted under their law, by their judges and within
their own courts, to feel that they can finally make justice for
themselves. But for all this to happen, the tribunal trying Saddam
and the whole legal proceeding need enjoy utmost legitimacy in the
eyes of all Iraqis. And this is still questionable for too many,
and the trial has too often been branded as an empty, mediatic show
for it to serve as a unifying, cathartic exercise for the whole
nation."
RUBINSTEIN