Bush Proposes Tough New Sanctions on Saddam

As President Bush suggests the imposition of a tough new "sanction" on Saddam Hussein (if so approved by an Iraqi court) some Europeons and a Vatican spokescardinal cautiously urged caution in dealing with the deposed rapist, murderer, and dictator of Iraq.

"Let's just see what penalty he gets, but I think he ought to receive the ultimate penalty ... for what he has done to his people," Bush said in a TV interview broadcast Tuesday. "I mean, he is a torturer, a murderer, they had rape rooms. This is a disgusting tyrant who deserves justice, the ultimate justice."

The Vatican's Cardinal Renato Martino felt "compassion" for Saddam, despite his crimes, after seeing images of "this destroyed man" being "treated like a cow, having his teeth checked" by an American military medic.

Actually, he was probably looking for a suicide capsule, Padre. To prevent Saddy from committing a sin, if you will. And as far as "cow" treatment, I just had my annual dental checkup. I'll admit it wasn't very fun, but I can't say it occurred to me to feel "cow-like" at the time. You see, dental visits are just a part of life... in America.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the world body opposes the death penalty. The European Union shares his view.

"We believe there are no circumstances that can justify the death penalty," said Diego Ojeda, the EU's spokesman on external relations.

Searching tirelessly for additional supporting quotes, the intrepid AP reporter who filed this copy stumbled happily upon...

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who supported the U.S.-led war that ousted Saddam, also emphasized his country's opposition to the death penalty.

The international community and the Iraqi leadership "must show the Iraqis that an alternative to the past decades' terror regimes exists," Denmark's Berlingske Tidende newspaper said.

How many "world figures" would perhaps approve of "one last warning" for Saddam prior to setting him free as an example of the "right way to do business" for the Iraqi people?

Update on the Cardinal from Instapundit.