Like you, the concept of blood money makes me cringe. It should be pointed out that the sum was 15 million Iraqi dinars which converts to about $4,000. (Using Salam Pax's statement from before the war that the exchange rate hovering around 4000 dinars to the dollar.)

Actually, I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say “cringe”. I’m not advocating it, by any means, but considering the disagreements we have over the roles of restitution and retribution in our criminal justice system over here — not to mention wrongful death lawsuits and whatnot — it might be nice to have some kind of agreed-upon cultural framework for that sort of discussion, at least, if not a legal one.

Another context for looking at the amount is that Iraq’s prewar GDP per capita was about $2500.

(I can’t tell how much of the article is tongue-in-cheek — it’s hard when the humor is, necessarily, so black.)