January 4, 2007

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Were you surprised that Saddam Hussein was executed so quickly in Iraq? How do you think his execution will affect our troops? Will you view the execution on the Internet?
(Asked the Via Valiente Plaza)

“I was somewhat surprised. I was expecting 30 days—not a week. I’m not sure whether it will affect them a bit. No, I don’t plan to watch the hanging; I don’t want to look at it.”

W.T. “Smitty” Smithson, 86
Almaden
Retired


“No, I wasn’t surprised. I think to prolong it would result in more unrest in the region. This way, they can deal with the repercussions quickly and then move on. To be honest, I think the execution will make our troops’ job tougher in the short term because of unrest. But I also think it clarifies their (the Iraqi government’s) goals in terms of moving the country forward. I do not plan to view it, personally, I find executions distasteful and I don’t feel it is entertainment. But I don’t judge those who feel they need to view it because of what he did to their families; it will give them closure.”

Coreen Booth, 41
Almaden
Pharmaceutical consultant


“No, because they were going to do it independent of what the American press said. I don’t think it will affect our troops at all. No, I’m not going to watch it on the Internet. He’s gone and I don’t believe in watching people die.”

Martin Grace, 70
Almaden
Retired


“Yes I was surprised it happened so fast; I just thought there would be more appeals going back and forth. That’s what we’re used to in this country. I hope it affects the troops in a positive way. No, I’m not interested [in seeing the execution].”

Mike “Mo” Koshfam, 50
Almaden
Sales manager


“No, I wasn’t surprised because it already was such a long, drawn-out affair that I think they realized it was better to do it quickly in order to be able to move on. I honestly don’t think it will have much affect on our troops. I don’t want to watch the execution; it’s not a form of entertainment I subscribe to.”

Bob Blankenship, 59
Almaden
Retired


“I wasn’t surprised. I think it will help our troops; the guy was a maniac. He killed thousands of people. I don’t want to see the execution.”

Luke Stamos, 74
Almaden
Retired


"I’m not sure if they did execute him. Hitler had many doubles; you can’t trust him (Saddam Hussein). I don’t think our troops need to be there anyway. I will see it—I have friends in the tech world and it will probably be e-mailed to me whether I actively view it or not.”

Daryl Zarosi, 39
Almaden
Real estate


"No I wasn’t surprised it happened so quickly and I believe that’s the way we should do it here. There should be automatic appeals through the appellate and supreme courts but it shouldn’t take any longer than three years. Hopefully, it will not have a significant effect on our troops. If the politicians would let the generals run the war we would have been in and out of there by now. Stop being concerned about political correctness in a war zone. I’ve already seen the execution on the Internet. It’s just and appropriate [punishment] for someone who has butchered hundreds of thousands of men, women and children."

Don Werner, 56
Almaden
Director of sales