Sometimes justice prevails, and the guilty face punishment, but not always.

An Iraqi High Tribunal has issued a death sentence to former dictator Saddam Hussein for past atrocities committed by his soldiers. In the short term, Saddam remains alive while his legal team pursues an appeal.

In Washington, U.S. president George W. Bush, whose soldiers invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam in 2003, suffered political setbacks in recent mid-term elections. By comparison, that’s a trifling punishment.

The two men demonstrate strong similarities. For example, they each:
• invaded other countries for spurious reasons;
• worsened bad decisions with more of the same;
• stubbornly refused to admit costly mistakes;
• tolerated misdeeds by their soldiers;
• tacitly approved torturous interrogation techniques;
• operated secretive prisons beyond legal norms; and
• spied on their own citizens.

Tens of thousands of people have died needlessly in Iraq thanks to the U.S. invasion. The country’s health minister estimates the death count at 150,000. Typically, number-crunchers in Washington like to ignore this toll, which rises daily.

Millions of people, including Iraqis but too few Americans, notice parallels between the tyrannical Saddam and the buffoonish George.

At least Saddam’s wrongdoings have ended. Sadly, George bumbles forward.


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