From good old Denis: "The Taliban were doing that. It's the same thing."
From the Globe article: "Fifteen men, convicted of crimes including murder, rape and kidnapping,...... in only the second execution since the collapse of the Taliban in 2001."
Murderers, rapists and kidnappers in Denis' world equate to the women killed by the Taliban. Who elected this asshole in the first place?
Jeez, John B, you beat me to it. I can accept the theory that we should rehabilitate criminals, rather than execute them (although given our track record on rehabilitation, we might want to re-examine that proposition) - but not every nation accepts that idea. Many civilized societies believe that the death penalty is appropriate for some crimes, and I find it hard to stomach a blanket condemnation of a legal system because it allows rapists and murderers to be put to death, particularly when the available resources for rehabilitation are pretty limited. Other than the method of execution (and the fact that it was conducted as a group operation) this would have been a pretty typical Canadian news story at about the time of my birth - is Denis Coderre really positing that Canada was a barbaric society at that time? My recollection is rather different. Of course, the reflexive comparison to the Taliban is both profoundly ignorant and repugnant - but what do we really expect from that little troglodyte?
Posted at 2007-10-11 09:20:01 [PermaLink]I don't often disagree with you John, but this is NOT a good development. "A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Humayun Hamidzada, said yesterday that the executions will continue as a lesson for those who commit a range of crimes, from murder to adultery."
This does NOT sound like 'an eye for an eye', 'Thou shalt not murder' justice, but rather more of the same revolting sharia mayhem we're so quick to condemn in other jurisdictions.
On a more pragmatic note, this'll muddy the waters here at home as Harper tries to sell extending the mission, leading into an election. Baaaad timing.
Dan: I'm usually not a supporter of the death penalty but DCardno got it right when he wrote that rehabilitation facilities are pretty limited in Afghanistan. Executions for adultery is pretty hard to take, except it isn't happening in this case and hasn't so far. Nevertheless, "the President does not like executions but added that "Afghan law asks for it, and he will obey the laws." Given that China executes about his many every week, Coderre may have his priorities misplaced. Then again, this is a cheap campaign issue for him.
Posted at 2007-10-11 09:56:33 [PermaLink]Coderre should haul out his Hezbollah flag and go marching around Kabul till he gets himself arrested.
Posted at 2007-10-11 10:58:30 [PermaLink]Coderre should make himself useful and volunteer to exchange his pathetic ass for some Taliban hostages.
Posted at 2007-10-11 13:35:22 [PermaLink]