Even brutal leaders deserve rule of law

Our View

Col. Muammar Gadaffi is dead.

The former dictator of Libya, who ruled the country for an overdue 42 years, was the epitome of instability.

Though an extremely intelligent man, though unpredictable as his emotions teetered precariously, casting Libya into decades of economic hardship and oppressive militarized control.

In February, outraged Libyans rebelled against Gadaffi’s regime, the beginning of an eight-month-long civil war that led to his death by a highway connecting Benghazi and Sirte.

Gadaffi was found hiding in a drainage pipe after his convoy was attacked by a NATO warplane.

Frantic rebels held him arguing over whether to kill him or keep him alive for trial after wounding his legs to prevent further escape.

Beaten and heaving, the former despot repeatedly asked them not to shoot until someone fired a bullet into his head.

Various videos litter the Internet displaying Gadaffi moments before his death.

Although Libyans widely despised him, was justice truly served in the way the rebels killed Gadaffi?

His grisly murder seemed just the kind of behavior they protested, though it is understandable that no one was thinking rationally at the time of his capture.

Eyes for eyes leaves everyone blind.