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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Iraq: Death Sentence Ratified for 12 Terror Convicts

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July 29, 2012: The Iraqi Presidency Council ratified the death penalty verdicts for 12 terror convicts, including two from other Arab countries, Iraqi official television reported.

"The Iraqi Presidency Council approved the death penalty verdicts for 12 terrorists, including two (non-Iraqi) Arab nationals," The state-run television of Iraqia said.

The convicts were found guilty for their involvement in terrorist acts, the channel said without giving further details.

According to the Iraqi law, execution verdicts must be signed by President Jalal Talabani and his two vice presidents.

Although Talabani disapproves death penalties on principle and refrains from signing such sentences, he authorized Shiite Vice President Khudair al-Khuzaie to sign the verdicts in his stead. 

Source: Xinhua, July 29, 2012
Location: Iraq
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