Regarding Iraq's future after a history of political volatility, two UW professors feel Saddam Hussein's execution Dec. 30 may have negative political ramifications for the region.

While some think it was appropriate to execute Hussein at this time and others disagree, professors Dan Chirot and Ellis Goldberg feel the execution may increase hostility in the region.

"[Hussein's execution] was not a wise decision," said Chirot, a professor of international studies. "He could have been more useful alive ... [We] could even have gotten him to cooperate with us, in exchange for, say, ... more comfortable prison accommodations."

Goldberg, a professor of political science specializing in the Middle East, felt the execution was one of several bad decisions.

"I think a lot of unwise decisions have been made [in Iraq]," Goldberg said. "I think it tells the Sunnis in general not to expect any reconciliation from this [current Iraqi] government."

Both professors agreed that while the execution may be favored by many in Iraq, those who sympathized with the former dictator would only be further angered.

"[The execution] didn't accomplish much," Chirot said. "People happy with him don't like us anyway, and people upset by this will only be more upset."

Hussein was captured by U.S. forces in 2003 and was held by the United States until the time of his trial and execution in Baghdad. Even though the sentence was officiated and carried out by the Iraqi administration, the association with the United States remains, Chirot said.

Another unwise decision was having the execution take place immediately before the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, a time during which Muslim law says no executions may take place, he said.

"Now he will be remembered as a martyr," Chirot said.

Goldberg felt the execution might have been in the spirit of revenge.

"Telling someone to go to hell before you're about to execute them ... is a sign that this was done in revenge," he said.

Both professors agreed about the lack of stability in Iraq.

"I think what we're looking at is something very close to civil war," Goldberg said. "You're looking at a situation where there's mass violence."

Considering the volatility of the situation, both professors said the execution was not done at the best time.

"This government, which is apparently our ally, is not in control," Chirot said. "They're not in control of their people. They're not in control of their police. They're not in control of their forces."

Chirot does not have high hopes for the future of Iraq, either.

"It's a mess, and it's not going to get solved," he said. "Iraq hasn't been reconstructed ... [and] suggestions on how to solve the problem are not very good."

Reach reporter Jeff Tripoli at jefftripoli@thedaily.washington.edu