The case for letting Saddam live

Much like the Nuremburg trials and the trial of Adolph Eichmann, the result of the Sadly Insane or Saddam Hussain/Hussein/Husayn, however you want to spell it, that result was foreordained. He had to be found guilty no matter what and the sentence had to be death. That is a fundamental truth in the current Iraqui and possibly even Arab world. And much to the surprise of nobody...that was the result.
In a stunning display of a total lack of compassion, I gotta say...yawn. He deserves it. In fact, I could make an argument that hanging is not painful enough for him.
At the same time, I can say killing him might be the single worst thing the new Iraqi government could do. Not because he doesn't deserve it...not because they don't have the right...not in acceding to claims it will motivate the terrorists...but more because of the symbolism.
Saddam dangling from the gallows is a powerful symbol; a power to the Iraqis they need never fear him again, that the new government has the power to prosecute their chosen set of laws, etc...and power for the opposition as he becomes a martyr, another in a line of people put in power and removed from power by the Colonialists/Imperialists/Capitalists/whatever term is next used for "great powers" strongly influencing or controlling the affairs of smaller nations.
Saddam as a broken old man in a prison uniform is forgotten. There will be initial threats to break him out, restore him to power, demands for his release...but this is no Nelson Mandela, no Ghandi...this is a man who led the rape, murder, torture, impoverishment, displacement of millions of his own people. He will be another Noriega...a once powerful, dangerous, deadly individual forgotten as he rots away in some lonely cell, only entering the news briefly when his misbegotten life expires.
Killing him makes him a powerful symbol, a martyr they can rally around...making him another faceless, nameless prisoner disenfranchises him as a power player on the world stage.