Hi. I think that your thoughts are very valid, and I share your anger and outrage at this man. I could offer many of my own thoughts, but I think that I will just share a couple.

I think that we can't know what state anyone will eventually end up in in the after life. From our perspective (as westerners and Christians, who are relatively affluent, educated, etc., etc.), it certainly seems as though Hussein belongs in and / or deserves Hell. However, my experience has indicated that my perspective is always incomplete defficient. I do not mean that I allow that Hussein's massacres could be considered anything but evil. However, I don't know anything of his state of mind, past, present, or future. I don't believe that I could even ever understand God enough (at least in this life) to describe how God will or will not relate with Hussein once he is dead. I believe that God's love is so much more lovely than I could ever possibly imagine, either concretely or abstractly. So, I don't know what that love will do with Hussein, now or at his death. I do believe both in heaven and in hell, and the possibility that Hussein could enter either. However, I don't think I could ever propose something beyond the possibility.

Also, I think that the belief that a man or woman will go to hell (or heaven) ignores the possibility that while he or she is still alive, his or her relationship with God and humanity could change. So, if we were to execute Hussein, (because we believe that he is going to go to hell) we, in effect, deny him the further opportunity to repent.

Okay, well thank you for letting me share my thoughts on your blog. The only other thing I wanted to say is that I'm quite sure that you are on "the way." Jesus is the way: not the destination.

i am very much against the death penalty and found it difficult to listen to the sentance placed on saddam... i too agree that his actions were horrible, but at the same time i wonder what justice aught to look like. is this what god intended us to do?