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

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

[Alouette]

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[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!"