DEATH TO SADDAM?
(Tuesday) President Bush: "Let's just see what penalty he gets, but I think he ought to receive the ultimate penalty ... for what he has done to his people," Bush said. "I mean, he is a torturer, a murderer, they had rape rooms. This is a disgusting tyrant who deserves justice, the ultimate justice." Link

The president is right. Justice would seem to dictate the death penalty. However, there are some good reasons to think otherwise in this situation.

1. Executing Saddam Hussein would turn him into a "holy martyr" and a rallying point for future anti-American violence. In other words, executing Saddam would further energize the terrorist movement and more Americans would end up dying.

2. By acquiescing to the EU and the UN on this point it would do wonders in repairing international relations.

Let's be wise.