Democracy Arsenal

« Baghdad Blogger returns.... | Main | Assessing UN Action on Iran and North Korea »

December 31, 2006

Saddam's Execution: Oops, Wrong Day
Posted by Shadi Hamid

The decision to execute Saddam Hussein yesterday (as opposed to, say, the 364 other days of the year) may stand as one of the most stupid decisions ever made by the Nouri al-Maliki government. If there’s one time the Bush administration should have put its foot down and said NO, it was now, it was this. I can’t even begin to think how offensive this must have been to Iraq’s Sunnis. Well, first some background: yesterday was one of the most holy days for the 1 billion plus Sunni Muslims all over the world. Eid al-Adha marks Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son Ishmael (it was a test from God, and Abraham ends up slaughtering a sheep instead). The catch is that Sunnis celebrated Eid yesterday, while Shias – including those who rule Iraq – are celebrating it today. Juan Cole (via Steve Benen) sums it up well:

The tribunal...had a unique sense of timing when choosing the day for Saddam's hanging. It was a slap in the face to Sunni Arabs. This weekend marks Eid al-Adha, the Holy Day of Sacrifice, on which Muslims commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son for God. Shiites celebrate it Sunday. Sunnis celebrate it Saturday -- and Iraqi law forbids executing the condemned on a major holiday. Hanging Saddam on Saturday was perceived by Sunni Arabs as the act of a Shiite government that had accepted the Shiite ritual calendar.

So not only was the execution date a deliberate insult to Iraq’s embattled Sunnis, but it was also illegal. This, however, is not the worst of Maliki’s offenses. His is a government that turns a blind eye and, yes, encourages the slaughter of innocent Iraqis through its continued indulgence of its Sadrist coalition partners (yes, you got it right, there are full-fledged terrorists in the highest levels of the Iraqi government). Unfortunately, a steady stream of American commentators seem to think its okay to indulge the Shia Islamists when, if anything, the US should be doing all it can to serve as a counterweight to Shia excess. Why does this all matter? One of the primary engines of terrorism is humiliation, particularly in Arab culture where shame, dignity, and honor play a much larger role than they do in the West. When you schedule Saddam’s execution on Eid al-Adha, it is yet another mark of humiliation on a minority group which continues to suffer under what has become a tyranny of the majority.

I don’t want to belittle this significance of all of this, but I’m going to employ a very basic analogy which may help to explain how humiliation, even in Western culture, can make people do violent, seemingly irrational things. When I first heard of the NBA’s huge fight earlier this month between the Nuggets and the Knicks, I immediately understood why Mardy Collins took down J.R Smith in a particularly tasteless flagrant foul which provoked the wider brawl. Why would Collins start a brawl with only 1:15 left in the game?

Well, it’s simple. The Knicks were being humiliated on their own home court – on the vaunted grounds of Madison Square Garden no less. They were being embarrassed, teased, and put down. Denver still had all its starters on the floor even though it wasn’t close. The Nuggets was running up the score, putting salt in the wound. As a matter of decency, this is something you just don’t do, which is why it’s rare to see all starters playing in the last two minutes of a relative blowout. You just don’t do it. Anyway, at the risk of inappropriately extending an analogy, I will stop there.   

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451c04d69e200d83570ccd869e2

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Saddam's Execution: Oops, Wrong Day:

Comments

There are certain things in life related to smoking that simply cannot :)
parça kontör
parça kontör bayiliği
parça kontör bayilik

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

БанкAir Max Апсон, базирующихся в Thomaston, Джорджия, Nike Air Max согласился принять на себя актиNike dunk lowи месторожденияAir Max 90 веке безопасности банка, которыйAir Max 95 имел $ 96,5 млн. активов и $ 94 млнair max ltd в депозиты. Air Max Ожидается, что стоимость страхового фонда 29,9 млн. долл. США.
• Северный государственный банк в Ashland, Wisc. Согласился взять на себя депозиты и активы государственного банка "Аврора". Банком было около 28,2 млн. долл. США в активы, а $ 27,8 млн. в депозитах. FDIC надеется, что этот шаг позволит стоимости страхового фонда 4,2 млн. долл. США. • Национальный банк и целевых Co., основанная в Уилмингтон, штат Огайо, согласился принять на себя активы и месторождения Американский Национальный банк, который имел $ 70,3 млн. активов и $ 66,8 млн. в депозитах. Стоимость в страховой фонд, как ожидается, составят $ 17,1 миллиона.

In the latest team-up between handbags Nike and UNDFTD’s Eddie Cruz, Nike Sportswear has released the nike air force 1 sales "Eddie Cruz West Edition" part of the East vs. West Rivals Pack leather handbags. These hightop retro style shoes take a cue from his Lakers-like low Guccl Bag tops but go with a more believable snake colorway instead of purple. jkaefvhne

This cheap nike air force 1 sales retro lifestyle shoe matte silver upper has a gradient mesh effect created by manolo blahnik shoes as series of perforations that go from large to small. Combine that with a stark Christian Louboutin shoes white swoosh and laces and it comes across pretty clean.jkaefvhne

In the latest team-up between handbags Nike and UNDFTD’s Eddie Cruz, Nike Sportswear has released the nike air force 1 sales "Eddie Cruz West Edition" part of the East vs. West Rivals Pack leather handbags. These hightop retro style shoes take a cue from his Lakers-like low Guccl Bag tops but go with a more believable snake colorway instead of purple. jkaefvhne

In the latest team-up between handbags Nike and UNDFTD’s Eddie Cruz, Nike Sportswear has released the nike air force 1 sales "Eddie Cruz West Edition" part of the East vs. West Rivals Pack leather handbags. These hightop retro style shoes take a cue from his Lakers-like low Guccl Bag tops but go with a more believable snake colorway instead of purple.jkaefvhne

One of the biggest improvements to ed hardy kids shoes "World Cup" comes in the form of testing ed hardy purses a gamer's nerve. With the all-new penalty kicks ed Hardy Women's system, it's no longer just about hitting a button.jkaefvhne

where he belonged long before Lou nfl jerseys Piniella finally made the move. But if cheap nfl jerseys any pitcher is dumb enough to throw him a fastball instead cheap nhl jerseys of a breaking pitch, Soriano can still crank those to the bleacher seats.jkaefvhne

"I've become a better nhl jerseys decision-maker," Stallworth said. "Making one bad nfl jerseys decision can snowball into a whole nba jerseys terrible incident. One incident doesn't define a person at all. mlb jerseys I could've used better judgment and I didn't."jkaefvhne

A guy was driving when a G policeman Sports & Entertainment pulled him over. He rolled down his window and said to the officer, "Is there a problem, Officer?" "No problem at all. I just observed your safe driving and am pleased to award you a $5,000 Safe Driver Award. Congratulations. What do you think you're going to do with the money?" He Residential Lighting thought for a minute and said, "Well, I guess I'll go get that drivers' Other Residential Lighting license." The lady Book Lights sitting in the passenger seat said to the policeman, "Oh, don't pay attention to him - he's a smartass when he's drunk and stoned." The guy from the back seat said, "I TOLD you guys we wouldn't get far Wall Lamps in a stolen car!" At that moment, there was a knock from the trunk and a muffled voice said, "Are we over the border yet?"

Adidas In this group again, this time co-operation, the operation of the low table Khufu. From what we see, the light gray color of the shoes, high-level design will use the perforation. Nike ShoxNow do not know, which is why it is called a joke, we just air Nike 3 black / metallic silver training characteristics, there are two colors to make your. Nike air these three settings, [url=http://www.oknike-shox.com]Nike Shox[/url] and its unique color and design of several components of the classic profile. The first show in a black here. Los Angeles has been a staple of the city, when it comes to fashion, it is not surprising, such as paints kick me, Nike Shox R2from the custom equipment hail this relationship. Adidas Stan Smith is expected in these visits iPhone, and made a serious cult following through the years. Jordan Brand designed the new interest to fanatics.[url=http://www.oknike-shox.com/category-5-b0-Nike+Shox+R2.html]Nike Shox R2[/url] One of the latest design, known as the iron surface, air Jordan. Living in Jordan, not the other, these features are not a typical Air Jordan inspired, all are his creation. The picture showsNike Shox R4 a pair of black fishnet stockings movement. Simple is and always will be king. No amount or add any of the simple model technology will always stand in their[url=http://www.oknike-shox.com/category-3-b0-Nike+Shox+R4.html]Nike Shox R4[/url] shoes is a science and technology. Hundreds have decided to get it right once again with the Johnson model. We see a pair of turquoise sheepskin it.

"I just hope that our guys nfl football jerseys come with enough toughness to withstand nfl youth jerseys their toughness," Sloan said. "They have a authentic nhl jerseys terrific team and you learn something by playing against them if authentic nfl jerseys you want to make yourself better fgtytyhtr.

"I just hope that our guys nfl football jerseys come with enough toughness to withstand nfl youth jerseys their toughness," Sloan said. "They have a authentic nhl jerseys terrific team and you learn something by playing against them if authentic nfl jerseys you want to make yourself better fgtytyhtr.

I’m a huge fan of earth tone and buy online camo colorways. I think it gives a nice understated feel to the shoe, with the overall potential of breakin necks. However, when done on an cheap nike zoom shoes mid, it has the potential to leave little to be desired, as shop and save most are not a fan of this silhouette fgtytyhtr.

Absolutely not. Twenty is way too many, but Derby ed hardy shirts officials like the big number. It produces more dollars and speculation. The ideal number would be 12 or ed hardy clothing fewer. In human foot races, a runner in lane 2 must cover about cheap nike air force 1 sale three yards per turn more than a runner in lane 1 fgtytyhtr.

Well it looks like youth jerseys there’s some great news for NYC residents, as the Footaction nike air force 1 sale on W 34th St near Penn Station will drop offer an team jerseys Air Jordan XI Silver Anniversary midnight release fgtytyhtr

nfl jerseys It is successful in bringing together families and contacts,cheap nfl jerseys gathering all amusement and entertainment,wholesale nfl jerseys but It is not a trend to have a passion to amass unusual and nfl jerseys wholesalers imitation jerseys of their impression of being together in a football sport NFL Pro Bowl Jerseys.

Moreover, due to intense popularity of NBA Jerseys football as a sport in the world, the request of football jerseys has also enlarged manifolds.MLB Jerseys Besides that, football fan avenues like football shirt, soccer shirt, nfl jerseys cheap football shoe, soccer shoe, soccer stud, football stud, soccer jersey and football jersey.


And to have forgotten Wholesale nike shoesto restore them, he had been obliged to stop at her door, and go in for a few minutes: he was therefore later than he had intended; and being on foot, was unseen by the whole party till almost close to them. The terror which the woman and boy had beenWholesale nike shox creating in Harriet was then their own portion. He had left them completely frightened; and Harriet eagerly clinging to him, and hardly able to speak, had just strength enough to reach Hartfield, before her spirits were quite overcome. It was his idea to bring her to Hartfield: he had thought of no other place. This was the amount of the whole story,- Wholesale nike dunks-of his communication and of Harriet's as soon as she had recovered her senses and speech.-- He dared not stay longer than to see her well; these several delays left him not another minute to lose; and Emma engaging to give assurance of her safety to Mrs. Goddard, and notice of there being such a set of people in the neighbourhood toWholesale air max Mr. Knightley, he set off, with all the grateful blessings that she could utter for her friend and herself. Such an adventure as this,--a fine young man and a lovely young woman thrown together in such a way, could hardly fail of suggesting certain ideas to the coldest heart and the steadiest brain. So Emma thought, at least. Could a linguist, Wholesale nike jordanscould a grammarian, could even a mathematician have seen what she did, have witnessed their appearance together, and heard their history of it, without feeling that circumstances had been at work to make them peculiarlyWholesale air force 1 interesting to each other?--How much more must an imaginist, like herself, be on fire with speculation and foresight!--especially with such a groundwork of anticipation as her mind had already made.

Thanks for your sharing,and you will enjoy the sunshine service. Let's abandon all the worry, omega watch and enjoy the happy shopping travel.All the are most in fashion boutique this year. show your chaming temperament. In addtin, the and the other make you mold your unique glamour this winter. The swiss have the high quality but low price. nd have all the style and cheapest price Chanel Watch Enjoying the fun of net purchase! We will supply you the perfect service and after sale support system. Our honest will bring you absolute satisfaction. Aslo and are so good for you.

Part of the fun of being a sneakerhead is trying to make sense of buying rare kicks from international hookups, and the occasionally inevitable loss in translation. That’s the case with this new nike air max, which we previewed in April as debuting a new shade from Nike called ‘Menthol’. Turns out, this was likely taken from ‘Menth’, which is how the Swoosh codes ‘Cool Mint’ for French customers. So Cool Mint is here to stay, and performs a fine supporting role opposite a huge splash of Wicked Purple. Possibly the ‘coolest’ looking shoe you’ll see all summer, these new AM1s for ladies just dropped at nike air 2010

I was actually looking for this resource a few weeks back. Thanks for sharing with us your wisdom.This will absolutely going to help me in my projects .

a magical substance. Ancestors chaussures puma worked the trap is also the ecstatic too. Floods trample our homes, destroying crops, when we are struggling to survive, little seemed so helpless and sad man the face of the unexpected challenges bolsas chanel. of nature we do nothing, but rather to wait. However, flood control, let us understand that we have the wisdom that we can gucci shoes conquer the disaster displaced. Perhaps even earlier, the wise man from hermes handbags the water began to think the truth of the world. Audio Bible symbolizes the tenacity with perseverance enable us to make the impossible possible, contains all let us understand the meaning of tolerance. Encounter a stream stone to take a detour, it seems weak, but once into the flood was to destroy a country, home to the survival of a nation. At this point, I do nothing careless study they simply play. Taoist ideas of charity has been the pursuit of excellence, I think if the situation they encounter, how will I do now. I am ordinary, I worried, just want the same as the water flows with undulating terrain where I belong. I did not louis vuitton wish to change the way forward, but since not always go with the flow, maybe I should try, out of their own cultivation of a ditch, irrigation in my mind the ideal and the future.

There is no question that most of people enjoy in watching NBA sports .As The NBA holds the most highly skilled players in the game of basketball and because it is known worldwide even basketball kits adds to the awesome revenues that the NBA gets. That is why nba jerseys become so popular among all the people.
The way to show off your loyalty to your favorite teams and players is to wear nba jerseys as well as watching NBA games. There are many NBA jerseys stores ,the best way for you to choose is to get on the line where you will see countless NBA jerseys stores ,then you can choose one or two you love most .Before you have a deal ,be sure that this store is reputable which will guarantee the quality and offer you best services .Welcome to visit our website at http://www.nfljerseymvp.com ,where you will see a lot of NBA jerseys ,also include other jerseys ,such as nfl jerseys, MLB jerseys, NHL jerseys .You will never be regret to choose our store online and we will be here for offering you all best NBA jerseys, NFL jerseys, NHL jerseys, mlb jerseys you all the time.


I am a little bit short-spoken since I was very young,because I do not

like talking too much ,if there is a choice,I would rather doing or

talking.I don't know why.maybe this is me inborn.

Tomorrow is another day , should have new features.

Included in the Beats' impressive packaging are two Duracell AAA batteries. I hadn't installed them.
I removed the headphones and searched all over for a battery compartment.

Well, after reading I came to the conclusion that every secret is opened but only in many years. Remember the story with Nixon. The same will be with Obama and Bush and all the rest. It is just a matter of time.

Great article. Resources such as the one you mentioned here will be extremely helpful to myself! Thanks once again for the push!

thanks for sharing Sohbet many people are pay more attention to one's swearing than before, especially a watch.Chat.
Perhaps when you went to some place far away Sohbet you must borrow it from friends you can get everything you want in this game Chat money to invest in other industry which will return you good profit. Sohbet when you look at Chat
the surface of the watches viaload great any cool Exsohbet from the city you live in and thought you knew nobody there Egitim Fourth, there were various signs of political conflict among shia. If they split 3 ways or 4 ways, the sunnis and the kurds could often be the Sohbet swing votes in the politics. If they felt they had political clout out of proportion to their numbers, they could settle in Sohbet and do politics and not feel oppressed.

What is it all about exactly?

really nice and informative article. thanks

Good post. I am also going to write a blog post about this...I enjoyed reading your post and I like your take on the issue. Thanks.
Tiffany Jewelry

Good article, Each and every point is good enough.Thanks for sharing with us your wisdom.

That was a great piece of information., I enjoyed reading it...
cheap jersey
[url=http://www.jerseysshopsonline.com]cheap jersey[/url]
cheap jersey
[url=http://www.www.jerseysshopsonline.com cheap jersey]

football jerseys
[url=http://www.jerseysshopsonline.com]football jerseys[/url]
football jerseys
[url=http://www.www.jerseysshopsonline.com football jerseys]

nba shop
[url=http://www.jerseysshopsonline.com]nba shop[/url]
nba shop
[url=http://www.www.jerseysshopsonline.com nba shop]

I like you on facebook and follow through google reader!

I was actually looking for this resource a few weeks back. Thanks for sharing with us your wisdom.This will absolutely going to help me in my projects .

Well, after reading I came to the conclusion that every secret is opened but only in many years. Remember the story with Nixon. The same will be with Obama and Bush and all the rest. It is just a matter of time.

Thank you so much to share so nice article. It is wonderful!

Post a comment

If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In.

Guest Contributors
Founder
Subscribe
Sign-up to receive a weekly digest of the latest posts from Democracy Arsenal.
Email: 
Powered by TypePad

Disclaimer

The opinions voiced on Democracy Arsenal are those of the individual authors and do not represent the views of any other organization or institution with which any author may be affiliated.
Read Terms of Use