Regarding the North Korean "death penalty, " if arbitrary and public executions can be described by such a judicial designation, Amnesty is considerably more subdued.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Amnesty: For North Korea

Allawi noted that the death penalty has been restored in Iraq, but said it was up to the Iraqi judicial system to decide Saddam's fate.

CNN: Iraqi leader: Saddam trial could begin in October

The Supreme Judicial Court, the state's highest court, used to be steadily against the death penalty, but three new Weld appointees may tilt it the other way.

ECONOMIST: The death penalty

Dr. PRISCILLA RAY (Chair, American Medical Association Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs): The AMA's position is that while a position on the death penalty is up to each individual person's moral and ethical beliefs, that physicians should not participate in executions.

NPR: The Medical Ethics of the Death Penalty