Hussein capture hits GC&SU

The Dec. 14 capture of Saddam Hussein was met with a huge sigh of relief from United States officials, but it seems to create more questions than answers. Borrowing the words of Paul Bremer “we got him,” but what does that really mean to Americans at home?
“First, we know that Saddam is of enormous symbolic value,” said Dr. Michael Digby, chair of the department of government and sociology. “Having the dictator who caused the Iraqi invasion in custody will go a long ways in pacifying the countryside and showing the success of our occupation, but secondly, his capture does well in terms of toning down the rising insurgency.”
According to Digby, U.S. Coalition Forces are fighting two insurgent groups — those who remain from Saddam’s defunct government and those like Osama Bin Laden’s terrorist group Al Qaeda, who are less organized foreign terrorists, but more difficult to suppress.
Critics of the Bush administration are quick to point out the increasing number of Coalition casualties, which has more than doubled since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1, but Digby said the capture of Saddam may eventually thwart these deadly attacks on forces in Iraq.
“Some experts predict an increase in insurgency for a few weeks after his capture,” he said. “But there should eventually be a drop off. Just because you’ve won a decisive battle doesn’t mean the war is over and that your soldiers are going to stop fighting and the loss of lives is going to end.”
Perhaps the most confusing aspects of all are the specifics of Saddam’s impending trial. There are a number of basic issues that have yet to be decided upon, including the number of trials Saddam will face, the locations of these trials and the sentence he would receive if he should be convicted.
“The predominant thought is that he will be tried on his own soil by his own countrymen,” Digby said. “He’ll probably be tried in a court dominated by Iraqi citizens, but with some kind of international presence, whether it is Americans, our allies, or the UN.”
Although the U.S. Coalition authority has banned the death penalty in Iraq, it could be brought back after sovereignty is restored July 1. While President Bush has publicly stated that he favors the death penalty for Saddam Hussein, it may not happen considering the international pressure against it.
Should Saddam actually face the ultimate punishment, Digby says even more complicated questions inevitably will arise.
“One of the dangers when someone is killed is the possibility of turning them into a martyr and a rallying point. However if he were to stay in prison, he could continue to serve as a course of inspiration and continuing insurgency,” he said.
Ten months, 589 Coalition casualties and one captured dictator after, President Bush ordered the first air assault on Iraq; it’s quite clear that the threat against America is still active.
Just four days before Christmas, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced the terror alert level would be raised from elevated to high due to an increased volume in threat related terrorist chatter. Luckily, any attempts at terrorist activity were prevented by increased homeland security and eventually, the alert was lowered.
Though Saddam is in American hands and will eventually stand trial, recent homeland security alerts have given Americans at home reason to believe the war on terror is far from over. Fear still runs rampant in the streets of large cities, but according to Digby a dose of fear may help keep us vigilant.
“Being afraid is a healthy feeling, but there is a difference in being afraid and being paralyzed. The probability that any of us would ever encounter a terrorist or terrorist event is quite small, but we should be on the watch,” he said.
Digby also reminds us that this war on terror will not be won over night and it’s important to see its value through the big picture.
“This is one battle in the war on terror. There is a very good argument that can be cultivated to criticize this war, but by the same token it is a battle in the war to prevent things such as 9/11 from happening again,” he said. “It’s not going to be over in the next couple of years. It could take a couple of decades and it has the potential to wreak havoc and create a great loss of life. We’ve got to be diligent and we’ve got to be on the job because we can’t just wish this war away.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 16 2004. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry