Posted on 12/22/2003 7:14:59 PM PST by Pikamax
From NICK PARKER Chief Foreign Correspondent, in Tikrit THE hole where Saddam Hussein was found is to be taken to America — as a monument to his capture.
US military engineers plan to excavate a huge block of Iraqi soil containing the underground chamber.
It might even be turned into a tourist attraction — with money raised going to relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq.
Commanders want Saddam’s last hiding place to be displayed at the giant Fort Hood military base in Texas.
It is home to the 4th Infantry Division, which seized Saddam on December 13.
US Army spokesman Major Gordon Tate said yesterday in the toppled tyrant’s home city Tikrit: “Our engineers are looking at ways of moving the hole back to the States.”
It would involve securing and moving hundreds of tons of clay in an enormous block.
Engineers say the feat is possible — and worth the effort to bring home the most spectacular trophy of Gulf War II.
More than 600 troops took part in the operation that snared Saddam on December 13 after an eight-month hunt.
They swooped on the 6ft by 3ft underground “spider hole” five paces from a hut on a farm in Ad Dawr. The village is ten miles south of Tikrit.
US forces have arrested Iraqi intelligence officer Gen Mumtaz al-Taji, who was suspected of directing terror attacks on Americans north of Baghdad.
I seriously doubt it. Talk about a complete waste of taxpayer dollars. I'm sure even some of the most ardent Bush supporters would disagree. What's the use or need in doing it?
US military engineers plan to excavate a huge block of Iraqi soil containing the underground chamber.
So now this nation of states is in the business of shipping dirt around the world?
[Correction]: Hey, if the 4th ID wants that hole as a souvenir, then that's okay with just about everyone else in the country whose mind isn't seeped in ideology.
[correction] Hey, if the 4th ID wants that hole as a souvenir, then that's okay with just about everyone else in the country who doesn't care that a Republican administration is spending money that would put even the most ardent Democrats to shame.
Just how much do you think this is going to cost? Better yet, do you even care? At what point would you admit and argue against the rate that the national government is blowing money? Or is just important enough for you that 'our' guys are in charge? Is this going to go under 'Homeland Security' for budgetary reasons?
If you must commemorate the moment, then wouldn't it be easier just to pay someone to recreate it? Why is it so necessary to ship a block of Middle Eastern dirt over here? I've given up on Republicans even pretending to be socially conservative but are we throwing away the tenets of fiscal conservatism now as well?
This isn't ideology, this is plain and simple monetary cost
When John Dillinger was killed, enterprising juveniles soaked up the blood with [toilet] paper and sold the wads.
Reliquaries in the Church of the Eternal Shrug Against Self-Governance and G-Men? ;-)
Trajan88
A sweet monument with him cowering in a little hole with 700 ish airborne and special forces soldiers all geared up and guns pointed at him.
Put a list of the fallen soldiers their somewhere and how their sacrifice lead to this victory and a free iraq.
...that's okay with just about everyone else in the country whose mind isn't seeped in ideology.
If by "ideology" you mean "common sense," then I would agree.
I'd like to see Saddam's head on a pike over the front gat to the place.
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