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.
Plus, it would really offend the rest of the world, which automatically makes it right. There could be no greater illustration of the difference between America and Old Europe, than to dig that entire barnyard up, ship it over here, and sell admissions.
Beautiful.
Coin-op speakers can play the whole "discussion."
Naturally, visitors will want to take home souvenirs, available in the gift shop -- saddam-head keychains, saddam-head auto mirror hangers, saddam-head doormats, saddam-head chew toys for Fido. Maybe even a saddam-head pez dispenser.
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