A couple of interesting pieces from today's New York Times media empire. First, this post from their Lede blog, about the mechanics of a proper hanging. This is in the news again because of another botched Iraqi execution, this time of Saddam Hussein’s half-brother Brazan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, who was decapitated during the process.
Second is an article about the impact the hangings are having across the Middle East. Apparently, the unity among Sunnis and Shiites in the wake of last years Israeli war against Hezbollah is unravelling due party to the continuing violence in Iraq and the rise of Iran.* As one expert puts it:
And while political analysts and government officials in the region say the spreading Sunni disillusionment with Shiites and their backers in Iran will benefit Sunni-led governments and the United States, they and others worry that the tensions could start to balkanize the region as they have in Iraq itself.Well, isn't that grand.
'The reality of the current situation is that we are approaching an open Sunni-Shiite conflict in the region,' said Emad Gad, a specialist in international relations at the government-financed Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo. 'And Egypt will also be a part of it as a part of the Sunni axis. No one will be able to avoid or escape it.'
* Nothing brings adversaries together like a common foe. Am I the only one who thinks there's a marketing opportunity for sales of T-shirts that say "My two favorite sects are the Sunnis and whoever is attacking Israel"?
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