I was reading an article on The Ooze and then filtered through some of the comments to this article. I like this one in response to the author's comments on the hanging of Saddam:

the Bible are complicated by unbelief then thrown out as "out dated" or "God didn't really say that" (sounds like the original lie in the garden doesn't it?). Read through Romans... the whole thing. Get out your Greek helper books. See where the Bible stands on this issue. Some practical examples of "what would Jesus do". He did die on the cross. Unfairly, unjustly. Without the death penalty being in place at that time.. we'd still all be dead in our sin. There was also a thief on another cross... Christ forgave him... but still allowed him to die there. why? Why would God , that is going to have the final and fair judgement, not allow for some amount of world government power to keep the peace? Some things are not pleasant but are nessasary.. we live in a sinful world. That will not change until Jesus returns and judges the world. ( I know alot on this site don't believe that... but it doesn't change the truth of the matter). No true Christian should rejoice in the death of someone else...especially if they are unsaved. But do we not rejoice in justice? There is such a thing as justice.. and right and wrong.. even today. If anyone here claims to be a Christian... well the Bible is the bottom line for you.. so go it and know it. Read it all not just portions. Reading only portions is how we end up with denominations.. mega churches .. and the emerging church is no different. We all err when we depart from God's Word. Even if you don't believe that.