like a fire

I have read a bit on a couple of sites about Saddam and his execution. It seems to be the majority view of the Christian blogosphere that he did awful things but that does not merit the death penalty. The Vatican goes so far as to say that it is repaying a crime with a crime.

Having read the Old Testament where God told his people to exterminate certain peoples and even the reference to “an eye for an eye”, I wonder where these beliefs come from. God certainly is the judge and in the OT his law was set as the standard for punishment. Yet, God set men as judges also.
I would never want to be an executioner, but I would never condemn someone to death without knowing my part in it either. This is where I am torn. It is obvious from the Bible that execution is sanctioned. Jesus did throw a new idea on capital punishment with the woman caught in adultery though. So I am working this out in my head and wondering what people think (hint, hint, nudge, nudge).