I think the scriptwriter (Cooper) was going for humor by exaggeration ("rotting corpse"="dead body"), but the line really falls flat. It isn't Jack, regardless of the vehemence of his feelings.
HAMMOND Colonel Checkov feels that as a symbol of our joint efforts, a Russian officer should be assigned to join SG-1.
O'NEILL Over my rotting corpse, Sir.
HAMMOND Colonel…
O'NEILL I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?
Now. Replace "rotting corpse" with "dead body", and the exchange doesn't clank nearly as much...
no subject
HAMMOND
Colonel Checkov feels that as a symbol of our joint efforts, a Russian officer should be assigned to join SG-1.
O'NEILL
Over my rotting corpse, Sir.
HAMMOND
Colonel…
O'NEILL
I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?
Now. Replace "rotting corpse" with "dead body", and the exchange doesn't clank nearly as much...