Trial... it allows the governments prosecutor to point out all the other rats on the captains ship of state.

We helped the Shah escape his didn't we... and Britain let Pinochet go...

Trial in the Hague or the Ghdaffi / Ceaucescu option. Have a hunch most dictators would vote for option A if given half a chance.

President Obama has circumvented the Constitutional rule of law regarding due process by ordering the assassination of an American citizen and his teenage son.

Are you really asking what America thinks about foreign policies regarding fair trials??

We're clueless!

The article mentions the problem of unregulated revenge mode, which is a real possible dilemna. I read the analysis in the NYT about the possibilty of allowing Saleh to come to the US for medical treatment. When Jimmy Carter allowed the Shah of Iran to come to the US, the Iranians were so irate, that they took all those American hostages and we know how that went. This is a complication we face by possibly allowing Saleh to come here for medical treatment. As unstable as Yemen is and with the al Qaeda issue there, we run the risk of sending those folks into "unregulated revenge mode" if it looks like we are offering him sanctuary.
As I understand it, we are trying to leverage some reforms to help the Yemeni's, such as a guarantee that he will not be able to return to power, in exchange for allowing him to come here. Still, that may not be enough to satisfy the Yemeni people. And, if we were to push for trial, it may help in Yemen, but then we run the risk of a greater crackdown from Assad, as Cammett mentioned.

No easy answers here. I find myself wondering what Syrians think and what they are willing to endure to see justice served. Their opinion counts more than ours, I think.

Or we could stage a coup like times past. Because it's not illegal if the U.S. does it, whatever it may be.

3. Execution

If given a choice I choose - Funeral.

What is needed is a fantasy island for these guys to go to that offers complete immunity from prosecution. That way, we would at least be rid of them. On the island, they could have unlimited access to prostitutes, rich food, shopping, Sado- masochist bathhouses. Hmmm,
Yep. Manhattan.

The people could simply stop protesting and break the cycle of violence.

Those who favor stability can have a dictator in place, and the people are no longer shot at by their version of Homeland Security.

One of the things the left despises about George Bush, was his decision to free the people from a dictator, as opposed to maintaining stability thru a dictatorship.

More interesting would be: when is John Corzine going to be put on trial?

Let's bring him here and set him up in a mansion with all the same perks and benefits our politicians get, and let him leave all his $ in some offshore bank so he doesn't have to pay taxes.

This is a ridiculous question.

Crimes against humanity, crimes of war against a civilian population, a dictatorial legacy of brutality and corruption . . . for these crimes there is no justice in a “comfortable" exile. Justice is facing the consequences of your actions in a court of law, be that court on your own soil or an international court.

These dictator’s actions are crimes. Would you exile a serial killer? Would you exile a rapist? Would you exile an extortionist? Would you exile the leader of a crime syndicate? Would you exile Hitler if he promised to stop exterminating Jews? Would you?

The question we should be asking is how do we create a global force that can effectively and quickly deal with these kinds of dictators and crimes.

Exile would be fine for the killer Assad as long as the world knew where he was..... and he would feel theatened at all times as his people are.

Assad's reaction to threats has been to kill civilians. As a practical matter, maybe it's better to allow Assad to leave with a suitcase full of money and Move On.

Here's an idea. Offer Assad exile. Then while he's being flown out of the country, have the ICC issue and indictment and inform him on the plane that it is being redirected to the Court. Easy.

Look what happened in thsi country the more we got litigious.

Lawyer jokes are there for a good reason.

There should be a new goverment structure called a Judical Oligarchy

Offer exile then have the CIA send their drones after him.
Best of both worlds.

Or you can send him on vacation with Mitt. He could be the one strapped to the roof of the car.

Assad would be tried for murder and convicted if he abdicated power. Ghaddafi knew this. Mubarak might still get the chair.

Mtn Steve: Well stated; you are so right.

Vengeance in the quise of justice, ...whatever that is, will just force the worst outcome from a desperate dictator, thinking only of himself. Like Ghadafi. Instead it is 1000 better to give the vermin a delicious escape, than to prolong the torments of his people for one more day. Though many inch for vengeance, it is not worth the cost. Attaining freedom, welfare and democracy without bloodshed must be the ultimate goal of a truely civilized society.

In the illiterately entitled article, "Have A Well-Being Holidays", frequent NPR commentator Adam Frank counsels not to be bothered by circumstances, no matter how bad. Terming the qapproach "well-being", he describes it as not being bothered with suffering from the way things are, not giving in to aspirations to change things for the better, not putting time into trying to right wrongs. There are no such things as spirit, soul, decency, there is only matter and energy. People should only wish for things to be exactly the way they are, and nothing more. Dictators call that attitude "contentment", blind, empty acceptance.

A word of advice to the Syrian people: Drop the Nazi salute! You're raising unnecessary questions and not using good judgment.

Interesting that they get together for a photo op and do the Nazi salute. Makes you wonder if they really support Asad or if it was an attempt to associate Asad with Hitler.

There should be no question about holding dictators accountable by trial. Imagine if we'd provided Hitler with a guaranteed life in the Berghof if he promised to end the war. How about allowing deposed/deceased Libyan leader Ghadhafi a guarantee to pitch his tent anywhere he wanted if he agreed to step down. Then there's al-Qaeda. Why not grant them amnesty and a life of luxury in any country they choose if they stop fighting? Let's not forget about Saddam Hussein. Could we have looked the other way?

Peace does not come cheap. I'm a veteran, but cannot lay claim to having suffered and made sacrifices for the freedom and comfort I enjoy. That was granted to me by God and my brothers & sisters who fought wars that threatened our nation. The people we witness protesting for change in the streets of their nations not only want freedom, but justice. And they are sending a message to dictators, too.

'We will fight you wherever you are and win no matter what the cost!'

"Dealing With Dictators: Is Exile Or Trial Better?"

The answer: Trial. Fiat iustitia ruat caelum ("Let justice be done though the heavens fall.")

I don't believe there is justice for the people of Syria by prosecuting Assad or that revenge will solve anything. Better to offer exile and let the people of Syria move forward with some infrastructure in place than to grind out another bloody civil war that ends in chaos.