Desertion was also punishable by death by firing squad, but the U.S. Army had not carried out such a sentence since 1864.

CNN: Private Ryan was a hero, but there were bums, too

"Indonesia has very strict drug laws and the maximum penalty for drug trafficking is death by firing squad but it is very rare that it actually is delivered, " our correspondent said.

BBC: Lindsay Sandiford loses Bali death sentence appeal

On November 8th, 15 former army officers were sentenced to death by firing squad for plotting the murder, in 1975, of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the man who won Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.

ECONOMIST: The troubled country does not want an early election