20060504 Noonan’s WSJ Column: They should have killed him

Peggy Noonan: “They should have killed him.”

Gee, I sure wish Ms. Noonan could be a bit clearer in what she means. I mean, Peggy, why all the sugar coating?

If you missed Peggy Noonan’s column in the Wall Street Journal Editorial Page, you may want to take a moment to read it. You can find: “They Should Have Killed Him,” here: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110008330

The beginning of her piece reads:

PEGGY NOONAN

They Should Have Killed Him

The death penalty has a meaning, and it isn't vengeance.

Thursday, May 4, 2006 12:01 a.m.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)--Moussaoui said as he was led from the courtroom: "America, you lost." He clapped his hands.

“Excuse me, I'm sorry, and I beg your pardon, but the jury's decision on Moussaoui gives me a very bad feeling. What we witnessed here was not the higher compassion but a dizzy failure of nerve.

“From the moment the decision was announced yesterday, everyone, all the parties involved--the cable jockeys, the legal analysts, the politicians, the victim representatives--showed an elaborate and jarring politesse. "We thank the jury." "I accept the verdict of course." "We can't question their hard work." "I know they did their best." "We thank the media for their hard work in covering this trial." "I don't want to second-guess the jury."

“How removed from our base passions we've become. Or hope to seem.

“It is as if we've become sophisticated beyond our intelligence, savvy beyond wisdom. Some might say we are showing a great and careful generosity, as befits a great nation. But maybe we're just, or also, rolling in our high-mindedness like a puppy in the grass. Maybe we are losing some crude old grit. Maybe it's not good we lose it.

“No one wants to say, "They should have killed him." This is understandable, for no one wants to be called vengeful, angry or, far worse, unenlightened. But we should have put him to death, and for one big reason.

This is what Moussaoui did…”