Does Osama deserve the death penalty?

[Ebowed]

"No" can mean let him off the hook, life in prison without parole, hard labor, whatever you think.  "Yes" is more straightforward, obviously.  I voted option 2.

[Beet]

Why not? If you believe in the death penalty... its a good idea to try and rehabilitate even bin laden, but the death penalty still applies.

[Richard]

Yes.  Not a hard choice.  You either like him, or you dislike him.

[TheWildCard]

Yes.

The problem with keeping him alive is if you do so you are opening up the world to hostage taking in the hopes of his little peeons swapping hostages for him.

[bullmoose88]

Yes.

Another reason...If Osama is kept alive...he could concievably still coordinate more terorrist attacks...therefore it is necessary to execute him.

[The Duke]

Since the only time I have no conlficted feelings about the death penalty is for war criminals, I say kill him.

[opebo]

I voted no.  I don't like the term 'deserve' as it implies an objective morality.  If you want to kill him be honest enough to say you're doing it simply because he's your enemy, and it is in your interest. 

[angus]

"No" can mean let him off the hook, life in prison without parole, hard labor, whatever you think.  "Yes" is more straightforward, obviously.  I voted option 2.

I think capital punishment is demoralizing and cheapens life.  Bush talks about the "culture of life" quite a bit.  To honor that culture of life, we should abolish capital punishment. 

I voted no.  But it's a trick question.  Either we all deserve to die, or none of us do.  In any case, we shall all die anyway.  For some it will be merciful like a shot to the head.  For others, unrelenting, like the slow and painful death of emphysema.  And how painful is your death will have little to do with whether you "deserve" to die.  I know I've squashed at least as many ants as osama has people.  Good thing there aren't entomoligical tribunals.  According to Brahman Chapaktura, I should come back as an ant in the sunbelt suburbs in my next life.  A fate probably at least as satisfying to the gods as death.

[ian]

Yes.  Death penalty defined as when we find him, we shoot him in the head.  Don't bring him to jail; I don't even want to think about what would happen if he broke free.

[Akno21]

By our standards, he may deserve it. Doesn't mean we should give it to him. Though I'd have no qualms if we kill that bastard when we find him.

[migrendel]

I don't support the death penalty under any circumstances because I believe it is an over-exercise of government authority. I also question whether he could be sentenced for a capital offense if he didn't actually kill anyone, only participated in a conspiracy to kill. I do believe there might be grounds under international law to incarcerate him until his dying day, though.

[Jake]

I like ian's idea.  Shoot him, drag his body in for testing, and continue on like nothing happened. Don't even announce he's dead.

[Alcon]

Deserve? Yes.

But like Angus, I am opposed to the death penalty. Exceptions break laws. But he would be killed the minute he entered a prison - even accountants would kill him. I know I would.

[David S]

Can't think of  a more deserving recipient of the death penalty.

[??????????]

I like ian's idea.  Shoot him, drag his body in for testing, and continue on like nothing happened. Don't even announce he's dead.

So basically the same situation we are in now, correct?

[Dave from Michigan]

Yes,  after we torture him.

[ian]

I like ian's idea.  Shoot him, drag his body in for testing, and continue on like nothing happened. Don't even announce he's dead.

Yeah, but then Republicans couldn't heroize themselves.  And where would you be without that? 

[TexasPatriot2024]

Yes, but bring back public executions just for this one time.

[TomC]

Can't think of  a more deserving recipient of the death penalty.

Exactly

[Cashcow]

Yes. We are at war, and he is an enemy.

[Joe Kakistocracy]

No.  He deserves far worse than death.

And if you're worried about little SOBs taking hostages or threatening other violence for his release, then tell them he's dead for all I care.  That doesn't have to be the actual truth.

[Jake]

No.  He deserves far worse worse than death.

And if you're worried about little SOBs taking hostages or threatening other violence for his release, then tell them he's dead for all I care.  That doesn't have to be the actual truth.

Good point, bring out the suggestions made in thay child molester thread and broadcast them torturing him all around the Middle East.

[Akno21]

No.  He deserves far worse worse than death.

And if you're worried about little SOBs taking hostages or threatening other violence for his release, then tell them he's dead for all I care.  That doesn't have to be the actual truth.

Good point, bring out the suggestions made in thay child molester thread and broadcast them torturing him all around the Middle East.

Oh that'd be a great foriegn policy plan. Broadcast Americans torturing a Muslim, albiet a very evil one. Didn't work so well last time it happened did it? If the capture of Osama Bin Laden makes us look bad, we are screwed.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

No.

Death is not a punishment for him. It'd be like catching a suicide bomber before he carried out the planned attack, and executing him. What's the point?

For that reason, the question is moot anyway. He won't ever let himself be captured alive.

[TomC]

No.

Death is not a punishment for him. It'd be like catching a suicide bomber before he carried out the planned attack, and executing him. What's the point?

For that reason, the question is moot anyway. He won't ever let himself be captured alive.

before?

He has killed Americans, by his own admission. He has implied, if not stated overtly, that he will kill more. It is self defense. I do not support the death penalty as a means of venegeance, but I do as a means of protecting society. Given that rationale, he is the perfect example of when the state should have the right to kill.