No tears for Gadhafi

Comment on "Gadhafi's death - who pulled the trigger?" (China Daily website, Oct 21)

Muammar Gadhafi came to power through the barrel of the gun, so no pity for him in death because he met his end came through the barrel of the gun too. He executed and tortured to death many of his countrymen, so no one is shedding tears for him.

But we should know that Gadhafi came to power with the help of Western intelligence and backing.

Western powers think they have right to change regimes in any country to suit their needs, which should be vehemently opposed.

KKBB, on China Daily website

No cheers for the West

The leaders of some leading Western countries seem to have lost their moral standards and sense of justice. Gadhafi was wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and should have been captured and brought to trial.

The guiding principle of most Western legal systems is that you are not guilty of a crime until it has been proved in a court of law beyond "any reasonable doubt". The West seems to have completely forgotten the very basis of its own system of justice.

NATO should have made sure that, if and when Gadhafi was captured, every precaution would be been taken not to kill him so that he could be brought to justice.

It was much the same with the death of Osama bin Laden. He was killed unarmed in front of his wives, daughters and their school friends. By taking the law into their own hands those who approved and sanctioned the murders of Gadhafi and bin Laden are no better than terrorists and dictators.

Ross Grainger, via e-mail

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(China Daily 10/24/2011 page9)