I understand and accept what you are saying rottbo. However the terms set the example and set the bench mark come to mind. If we treat an evil murdering dictator with respect courtesy and rights, all people following his path will expect the same. The fact that he was kept a in a square concrete box with what appears to be a unfair trial and sentenced to hang gruesomely, shows the united nations of the world will not put up with it. If we didnt take such extreme measures, such people following such paths would have less to fear and expect. And we would look like we are rolling over and letting them get away likely because of rights.
At the end of the day, it is easy for us to say how we should have treated him and given him fair rights. But I bet you that if it was your mother, sister or wife he killed in a gruesome fashion, you would not be standing for his rights.
Fact is, most of us were untouched by saddam directly, and at this distance it is hard to understand what his victims and their relatives went through.
Let us forget he was a dictator for a minute, the focus of the trail and his convictions were for murder. And he was on trial for just a fraction of the murders he committed. It boils down to a cold blooded mass murderer in charge of a country with huge amounts of resources. He had been a danger for to long, it was only a matter of time until the rest of the world woke up to the tragedies he was behind.
For the Iraqis they were defeated along time ago.. 
I believe for 1 reason we will die to the last one of us and not stop til we are all gone.. For not just our cause but EVERYONE ELSES as well.. We will one day be defeated though I believe on that day there will be NONE of us left 
