What's the difference between an assasination and an execution?

Answer 1

One gets a blindfold.

Answer 2

Assassination you don't know your going to die, they strike without
you knowing your going to die and sometimes they don't die because the assassination doesn't kill you . Execution you know how and when your going to die, there isn't a thing you can do about because you are locked up and lead to your death chamber. If I had to choose I would want to be assassinated not executed , when I saw the way they handled Saddam 's I just can't believe any human being should be treated the way he was even though he was evil, I just can't stand to see that on TV anymore. Being beheaded is another form of the worst death you couldn't ever have to have happen to a human being. I hang my head in shame that I even watched one beheading and Saddam execution.

Answer 3

I would say that it depends on who is saying it - some will call it "assassination" and others will call it "execution". The hanging of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will be termed by the PM Maleki as an execution whereas Osama Bin laden may call it assassination. In this case, execution is looked upon as within the legal bounds and assassination is not.

It also depends on which media is saying it. For example, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's hanging will be termed by the American media as execution, whereas in certain media outside the US, it may be termed as an assassination. In this case as well, execution is looked upon as within the legal bounds and assassination is not.

Sometimes murders by the mafia is also referred to as "execution style". In this case, contrary to the above two, execution does NOT imply within legal bounds.

Answer 4

In its most common use, assassination has come to mean the killing of an important person. An assassin — one who carries out the assassination — is usually motivated by ideological or political reasons. Other motivations may be money in the case of a hitman; opposition to a person's beliefs or belief systems in the case of a fanatic; orders from a government that are often carried about by a subversive agent such as a spy; or loyalty to a competing leader or group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination

Execution is the act of putting a person to death, with or without judicial process (for cases under judicial process, see capital punishment). Military executions are typically by firing squad (for violations of orders in wartime or the laws of war) or by hanging (typically for cowardice, or commission of atrocities or other crimes).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_(legal)

in other words one is planed and approved by an institution the other is not.

Answer 5

Execution is when someone has committed a crime and is being punished for it, put to death. An assassination is when a person is sought out and killed. This term is usually used when a government person is involved.
Janet

Answer 6

The person with power is assasinated while the person without is executed.

Answer 7

execution is an assassination done in such way that the target has time to think (and be scarred ) about his imminent death and without being able to do anything.

sometimes, in some countries, execution is legal

Answer 8

An assassination is usually done covertly and an execution usually happens after a trial by your peers .

Answer 9

Executions occur after due trial and conviction... Such as in Saddam's case.

Answer 10

Execution implies that they are a prisoner of some sort. Assassination implies that it is a political killing. The lines do get blurred, however.