U.S. Forces Set to Destroy Saddam's Homes

Associated Press ^ | Jan. 28, 2004 | Paul Garwood

[Alouette]

UJA, Iraq - U.S. authorities on Wednesday prepared to demolish Saddam Hussein's five palatial homes in the village where he was born, having stripped them of expensive marbles, tiles and valuable furniture.

The 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, based in Tikrit, received permission from coalition authorities Tuesday to go ahead with the demolition in Uja village, said the commander, Lt. Col. Steve Russell.

For the past couple of months, contractors hired by the U.S. forces have been removing valuable materials from the homes including hand-cut Italian bricks and polished marble tiles, Russell told reporters taken on a tour of the ousted dictator's home.

Saddam's home and adjoining gardens were surrounded by dates and orange groves. The main entrance to the building was covered in blue and white tiles. Inside, the high ceilings were covered with Arabesque geometrical designs and artwork.

A covered walkway connected the main house to an indoor swimming pool with glass walls and red-and-white tiled floors. The walls are now shattered and the pool partially drained. Salvaged tiles were laid in neat piles.

Parts of the house were destroyed by U.S. missiles during the war on Iraq last year.

Saddam was born April 28, 1937 in Uja, many of whose 3,500 people are his clansmen and distant relatives. Russell said the majority of attacks against coalition forces since the fall of Saddam's regime last April had links to Uja residents.

In addition to the massive four-story residence toured by reporters, the other homes slated for demolition were built by Saddam for the exclusive use of his two brothers and sons Odai and Qusai.

Saddam had built palatial homes in most major cities of Iraq in addition to palaces in Baghdad.

He was captured Dec. 13 in another town close to Uja. Odai and Qusai were killed in a fire-fight with U.S. forces in the northern town of Mosul on July 22.

Russell said that once the homes are leveled the property would be returned to the owner, Sheik Mahmoud Nassiri, from whom Saddam had seized the land. He did not say when the demolition will begin or how long it will last.

Also Wednesday, Iraqi workers under U.S. supervision began removing razor wire from around the village, about three months after the barriers were erected to restrict movement around the resistance hotbed.

Officials said the operation would take about four days.

U.S. authorities clamped restrictions on Uja, located just south of Tikrit, in late October because of suspicions the village was a focal point in the resistance to the American-led occupation.

"This village contained a lot of residents that were close to the former regime including Saddam Hussein, his brothers and other members of his family," said Russell, whose regiment is based in Tikrit, 6 miles to the north.

The 5-mile long barbed wire fence was set up at the end of October in an attempt to weed out any anti-coalition forces and to control access to the town. Residents were not allowed to enter or leave the village without showing U.S.-approved identity papers. Outsiders were not allowed to enter the community.

Amil Heza Ali, 65, said that the people of Uja are happy to see the fence go.

"We are very happy to have the barbed wire taken down because now people don't feel they are trapped in prison or jailed any more," he said.

[Alouette]

FRmail me to be added or removed from this pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[KantianBurke]

They should allow the locals to have a toga party or two in those palaces before they demolish them.

[CharliefromKS]

Thanks for the ping. For once, some good news from the Middle East.

[Coop]

For once, some good news from the Middle East.

There's all sorts of good news coming from Iraq, if you bother to look for it.

[Quilla]

Here's one sat image of his palace in Tikrit. One big place!

[CharliefromKS]

Yeah, but not generally put out by AP.

[beckysueb]

I agree. I think they should have left them alone and turned them into community centers and museums and such. That would have really got the old dictators goat, watching the peasants partying in his mansions.

[Alouette]

They should allow the locals to have a toga party or two in those palaces before they demolish them.

Saddam's palace in Mosul was made into a recreational center for U.S. troops. It was very nice to see it all decorated for the holidays and the troops enjoying themselves at Christmas and New Year's parties.

[sirshackleton]

Agreed....I hope at least they rebuild something like a hospital or community center or homes where those palaces once stood. But it would be equally as great to see the Iraqis refurbish those homes into something that can benefit the community.

[Alouette]

My mistake. It was the palace at Tikrit or at least a part of it that was a rec center for US troops. I hope that part stays in use.

[Ralph the Hun]

contractors hired by the U.S. forces have been removing valuable materials from the homes including hand-cut Italian bricks and polished marble tiles...

I wouldn't be surprised to see this stuff on ebay some time very soon.

[Triple Word Score]

I suppose it's a stupid question, but what are we doing with all the stuff being taken from the palaces?

I'm sure the libs are just assuming they're all being taken to Crawford....

[Triple Word Score]

It would be kind of cool to own something like that, wouldn't it? A bit of history.

[Alouette]

U.S. forces have been removing valuable materials from the homes including hand-cut Italian bricks and polished marble tiles...

Imagine the outcry if Israeli soldiers were caught looting the homes of terrorists before bulldozing. BTW where are all the ISM "human shields" blocking the bulldozers with their bodies?

[rabidralph]

Russell said that once the homes are leveled the property would be returned to the owner, Sheik Mahmoud Nassiri, from whom Saddam had seized the land.

The land is going back to the owner. I guess he will decide whether he wants a community center built on his property.

[princess leah]

Soon E-bay will be full of "palacial treasures"

[wayoverontheright]

Though turning these palaces into community centers has practical value and feels right, demolishing the vestiges of Saddam's power has symbolic and strategic value. Wars must be fought on psychological grounds and throughout history are never won until a level of humiliation is instilled in each and every enemy combatant, and rest assured these actions will serve that end.

As I understand the article, the demolition is at this point limited to an area infested with die-hards who are still dangerous to us and will send a powerful message to both out supporters there as well as our detractors.

It's brilliant, IMHO.

[yonif]

Of course, however, I am of the belief that most of the terrorists could care less about Saddam. All they are wanting to do is to kill as many Americans as possible.

[Buell_X1-1200]

I thought the same thing you said, but I assumed that they were already blown-up.

But after reading this story I thought it might be a good idea to have a nation-wide lottery in IRAQ where they would hold a "Win Saddam's Western Palace" contest.

I sure like the toga party idea ... brings back memories of Animal House. "Toga! Toga! Toga!"