Thugs act like thugs by and large, even in Damon Runyon stories. So we could expect prosecutors and judges to be targets.

Suggestion 2: The people who were Saddam's victims are not thugs. That's why they were under his heel for so long.

This would mean that they expect to seek justice in a civilized manner. This in contrast to the thuggish behavior of Saddam and his friends, who we expect to shoot officers of the court.

Please don't be so quick to be happy to see justice remanded to the tender mercies of a blood feud. Even if you don't believe Saddam deserves a fair trial by Iraqis acting with restraint and dignity, believe that the Iraqis not only deserve such an event, but need to see it. Every contentious and emotional issue that's resolved by legal processes rather than gunfire in Iraq is one more step toward public safety and a working civil society there.

I hope this is a single incident.