Saddam Execution Video Scandal
Well, it’s an interesting way to see in the New Year, with controversy surrounding the release of footage of last Thursday’s execution of Saddam Hussein on the Internet. Certainly, the video phone has come of age although as only two senior Iraqi officials were apparently allowed to have their mobiles with them as the ex-dictator went to the gallows, it’s perhaps a perverse form of citizen journalism, I suppose. Nevertheless, it’s quite a moment for the online world as The Huffington Post explains.
The execution happened, the coverage began, and the inevitable question arose: would the networks air full video clips of Saddam Hussein’s hanging? Those thirsting for gory details that potentially squeamish networks wouldn’t provide needed to look no further than YouTube, which held versions aplenty of the now infamous camera phone video within hours of the execution (an occurrence that surprised just about no one). Meanwhile, networks wrung their hands over whether the value of the context and authenticity shown in the videa outweighed the material’s gruesome nature. Even Fox, which teased viewers with early footage that stopped just short of the moment of death, balked at showing the dictator’s neck breaking on air (though, as Gawker pointed out, they wasted no time in ponying up the full video on the Fox website). Blogs and independent news sites nabbed and posted the unofficial video (which was reportedly more graphic and detailed than the brief clip released by the Iraqi government) in droves, and soon the question of whether or not to run it became somewhat moot.
And already, questions are starting to be asked while anxious politicians run around wondering how on earth they’re going to be able to justify an execution staged in such a manner even if it was of perhaps the most evil son of a bitch of modern times. Of course, it’s another matter that Hussein was “Our SOB” until he went a little too far by invading Kuwait or that we even overlooked many of his attrocities when it suited us, but anyway.
Simply, another scandal is brewing, as the BBC’s John Simpson explains.
A few hours after Saddam Hussein’s execution, the Iraqi government put out a videotape of what had happened.
There was no sound on the tape, and it ended at the point where the executioners put the rope around his neck.
Not so. One of the witnesses managed to get a mobile phone into the execution chamber, and recorded the entire event, from the time when Saddam is brought into the chamber, his hands and feet shackled, to the moment when his body is hanging lifeless at the end of the rope.
[…]
Far from being a quiet and dignified business, the new video shows that several of the witnesses taunted Saddam during the last seconds of his life, chanted the name of one of his many enemies, and told him he was going to hell.
Altogether, the execution as we now see it is shown to be an ugly, degrading business, which is more reminiscent of a public hanging in the 18th Century than a considered act of 21st Century official justice.
[…]
But the most disturbing thing about the new video of Saddam’s execution for crimes precisely like this, is that it is all much too reminiscent of what used to happen here.
It is going to be increasingly difficult for the government of Nouri Maliki to convince Sunni Arabs here that Saddam’s execution was not merely an act of retaliation.
Anyway, the blogosphere is already full of posts detailing the significance of this video finding its way onto the Internet when many politicians in Washington and London in particular would have only wanted us to see the sanitized version. With the reservation that the person responsible for the video was no ordinary citizen, Adam Curry explains its significance thus:
One last prediction as we close out 2006: The Saddam Hanging video will go down in history as the Shark Jump moment for mainstream media worldwide. The “people” get what they want to see and no bureau chief or network boss can stop us. Recorded on a cellphone by a single citizen in Iraq, seen worldwide the very next day.
Already, questions are being asked of the political establishment in the U.K about the way in which this execution was carried out, and not least because my Government should be totally against the use of the death penalty even for Hussein. Indeed, the release of this video has brought an official response from Whitehall.
Downing Street said Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had spoken “on behalf of the whole government” when she gave her reaction to Saddam Hussein’s death at the weekend.
She said Saddam had been “held to account”, but added: “We do not support the use of the death penalty… we advocate an end to the death penalty worldwide, regardless of the individual or the crime.”
We’ll be hearing more on this for quite a while, I’m sure.
Obviously, the Iraqi government is making a big deal out of the leaked video. And as usual, they (any most of governments) are trying to solve the wrong problem. The problem is not that there was an unauthorized video but the way Saddam was treated. How can they try to make progress if they still have executions (they are under the US occupation and may not have much of a say in this area as Mr Bush is fond of executions himself).
Comment by nazarian — January 3, 2007 @ 7:26 am
Interesting post, and in the spirit of balance , I invite you to include these videos on your site as well (link is below). Saddam’s style of punishment (not for the weak). I suggest Video #2 is a good start.
http://fdd.typepad.com/fdd/2006/01/alert_saddams_c.html
Without the leaked video of Saddam’s hanging, I’m sure the reactions would have been on a different level (perhaps more cognitive), so of course, the visual images are crucial (just think abotu the Rodney King video) to one’s argument…
Comment by jordan — January 7, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
Sure, Jordan. Incidently, I don’t shed any tears now Saddam is dead although I think the video will do more harm than good in Iraq. Incidently, I spent a number of years working with Kurds in London and so now all about Halabja, for example. But, in my opinion, this is not the point. Firstly, I don’t believe in the concept of an eye for an eye and don’t support the death penalty.
It’s also somewhat hypocritical for the U.S. and U;K. to argue for Saddam’s execution when many of those he tortured and killed were done so with instruments and training supplied by the West when it suited them. Indeed, had Saddam not invaded Kuwait then he would have been alive, still in power, and in relation with the West no matter what unspeakable evil he represented.
Anyway, that’s it, really. The guy was a monster and I don’t feel sorry he’s dead. However, even if the death penalty was to be used, it should have been done in a more “humane” way than this, or are we saying that it’s okay to humiliate victims just as he did? Are we saying we can do the same and we’re no better? Anyway, that’s it, really.
Comment by Onnik — January 7, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
What do you think we should say about Saddam’s death?
And what do you appeal to to justify your position? And are there absolute values that transcend all cultures, and how should these values be spread throughout the world? And who in your view should (and should not) do it? Remember that just because most people accept a value as universal doesn’t mean that it is at all or should be…
Please recognize the situatedness of your own position…I think the hypocrite argument so often waved-about will hit closer to home…
And I do appreciate you publishing my post…because I do feel that it is the image that has the power…which of course takes us away from reason onto to the emotional level…all we have here is a power-play, one self-righteous group trying to impose its will on others…
Comment by jordan — January 7, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Jordan, I think everyone has the right to their own opinion, which is why your comments are welcome on this site just as I’ve made mine. I oppose the death penalty, but admit that I don’t shed any tears now that Saddam is dead.
However, I do think that his execution was carried out in an inappropiate manner, and in a way that will make him into a martyr for some, and lead to more sectarian violence.
Moreover, I don’t support that death penalty and am glad we don’t have it in Armenia or Europe. Indeed, I don’t believe that the concept of democracy and human rights can co-exist with the idea of capital punishment.
But just my own personal opinion.
Comment by Onnik — January 8, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Thanks again, it’s too bad there isn’t more discussion here…but perhaps it’s about quality not quantity…
MY beef isn’t with the fact that you have your own opinion, of course not…but I am very concerned about how people justify and account for their opinions…So, if you say, as you do, that you don’t believe that democracy and human rights can co-exist with capital punishment, I want to know on what basis you make this link and to what reasons you appeal for support? This is the crucial area for informed discussion…
Jordan
Comment by jordan — January 8, 2007 @ 10:45 am
Don’t think I am appealing for support, am I? I’m just providing a complilation of information I encountered online regarding a major news event. It interested me, and so I posted it to keep this blog current.
Like I said, I’ve made my opinion clear. I don’t believe in the death penalty and I think they made a mistake in how they executed Saddam, but time will tell if that’s the case or not. Otherwise, like I also said, despite my objection to capital pubishment, I’m not shedding a tear for Saddam.
And that’s about as far as it goes. I have my opinion, you have yours, and I’m not appealing to anyone or anything to say or do anything different.
Comment by Onnik — January 8, 2007 @ 11:54 am
I fear that if we do not understand why we hold an opinion, we will never know if it deserves our loyalty. If you can’t explain why you believe something, then how do you know it’s the best possible opinion for you to have?
If all we can do is say you have yours and i have mine, then what will decide whose opinion is more informed, rational, and thought-thru, and whose opinion we should accept? And more importantly, what gives us the authority to say someone else’s opinion is misguided or ill-informed, or simply is nonsense? If we don’t appeal to reasoned arguments to justify our opinions, then it will descend into might makes right, or mob-rules (perhaps this is democracy for you?)? Is this ok for you?
Comment by jordan — January 8, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Listen Jordan, I am not going to explain my position for three simple reasons.
i) This is an Armenia blog where that takes preference. I’m sure you can find all the debate and discussion you want on Middle Eastern and Iraq-centered blogs.
ii) This blog is something I do when I’m not working, and I have some work to clear. Because of that, and point i), I cannot spend much time on engaging in discussion on issues such as this.
iii) I’m happy to accept your opinion and let you state it on my blog. However, the only person who seems to be saying that anyone’s “opinion is misguided” is you.
Again, that’s up to you, you’ve said it, and now I have to get back to what I was doing.
Comment by Onnik — January 8, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
fair enough, maybe at the next gv conference 2007-08 we can do this over a few beers…take care, jordan
ps. opinions without justifcation are blind…that’s my opinion…
Comment by jordan — January 8, 2007 @ 7:28 pm