Don't forget though that the US ranks up there with the worst of the worst when it comes to nations with the highest numbers of executions per year. We're a backward bunch here...torture, the death penalty, large numbers of a certain race in prison, etc..

Most nations long ago banned the death penalty. Life is a pretty basic human right, even for criminals. It might be a way for the US to reclaim the moral high ground if they could encourage Iraqis to do better than hanging and ex-dictator. But we don't exactly have the moral high ground anymore and show no hope of ever getting it back.