Thanks, Kalat! [cool statue done by Iraqi of US Soldier]

Snopes.com via http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/ ^ | 16 JAN 2004 | unkown

[jjm2111]

Thanks, Kalat
Claim:   Photograph shows a statue of a U.S. soldier crafted by an Iraqi sculptor.

Status:   True.

Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 2004]

This picture of the statue was made by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad. This artist was so grateful that the Americans liberated his country, he melted 3 of the fallen Saddam heads and made a memorial statue dedicated to the American soldiers and their fallen comrades. Kalat worked on this night and day for several months. To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms. It is currently on display outside the palace that is now home to the 4th Infantry division. It will eventually be shipped and shown at the memorial museum in Fort Hood, Texas.

Origins:   According to the Army News Service (ARNEWS), the text reproduced above is a relatively accurate description of the statue shown in the photograph accompanying it.

In July 2003, two statues of Saddam Hussein, which an Iraqi sculptor named Kalat had a hand in creating, were removed with explosives from outside a palace complex in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, Iraq, where the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division headquarters group is located. The 555th Engineer Group cut up the bronze statues and shipped the pieces to Kalat, who — using a photograph of 1st Sgt. Glen Simpson as a model — spent several months fashioning them them into a likeness of an American soldier kneeling to mourn a fallen comrade, while a young girl reaches out to comfort him in his time of grief.

According to ARNEWS:

The sculpture is based on a scene many in Iraq have witnessed in one form or another.

A Soldier kneels before a memorial of boots, rifle and helmet — his forehead resting in the hollow of his hand. Behind and to his right stands a small Iraqi girl with her hand reaching out to touch his shoulder.

The statue evokes emotion. The girl was added to the statue to remind people of why the sacrifice was made, [Command Sgt. Maj. Chuck] Fuss said.

"It's about freedom for this country, but it's also about the children who will grow up in a free society," he said.

The statue will eventually be flown to the 4th Infantry Division museum at Fort Hood, Texas.

Additional information:

Changing Faces: Statue Honors Fallen Heroes   (Army News Service)

Last updated:   16 February 2004

[jjm2111]

I found this while perusing one of the Iraqi blogs. Kind of reminds us why we were there. Also, a very interesting story from the blog:

Today a friend of my father visited us after being absent for a long time. I had heard that he was imprisoned at Saddam’s times when he was an officer in the Iraqi army, so I took advantage of the occasion to hear his story in full details and here is it as I heard it from him: I‘ve had just been assigned in my new important position in the Iraqi army headquarters and that was in 1991 and I was very happy with my new job, fully dedicated to do it as best as I can, until that day when an officer from one of the Iraqi army divisions came to me with a presidential order to hand him confidential documents that concerned his unit defensive plans in Kuwait. He was authorized to receive those documents and after further checking, I handed the documents to him, and I looked at this as another routine procedure, he took the documents, signed on a paper that verifies this and went on his way to his unite with his escorts.

I didn’t expect the disaster that was coming to lie on my head. As that officer stopped with his driver and escorts on the long road, to have dinner, the idiot left the documents in a suitcase in the car. After finishing their meal, the officer and the men with him were shocked as they went out of the restaurant to see that their car was gone. Someone had stolen the car with its exceptionally important cargo.

Here I interrupted our friend, realizing the size of the terrible mistake, but again not understanding what has he got to do with it, as it was clear that he did exactly what he was told to do, and was not responsible in any way for the awful mistake. He said:

So you say, and so I thought but that wasn’t Saddam’s opinion. When he heard about it, he signed an order of executing all those who were related to that incident, including me, and I was just doing my duty. I don’t know if it was possible to escaped this fate, and where was I incautious, was it be possible that I shouldn’t give him the documents? They would’ve executed me as well. How could I know that the idiot will lose it? It wasn’t me who put confidence in him; it was them who chose him.

I asked for meeting with Saddam, and I sent some people who had strong relations with some of his relatives, who were the only people who could interfere in such sensitive issues without the fear that they may face the same destiny of the people they are defending, and hoped that they may convince him to look into my case in a reasonable way. When I finally managed to reach some of his relatives who explained to him how I didn’t have anything to do with what happened (not for free), the sentence was lowered to 15 years. And I accepted my fate. I have a family and this is better than execution.

After that I was transferred from my temporary prison to Abu-Garib prison, and from the moment I entered my cell, which I shared with many convicts, I couldn’t help but telling everyone that I was innocent and I shouldn’t be here.

The other prisoners gathered around me and asked me “what is your story, brother? You have given us a headache with your whining, so spit it out”

I told them my strange story, and here I was shocked. They all laughed at me, and when I said that this was not funny at all, they shook their heads and one of the said” sorry brother but if you knew why we are laughing you may excuse us. Do you really think you are the most unfortunate man on earth? Well at least there was a document that was lost. What would you say if you knew my case?”

So I asked him” why are you here?” and he said, “listen, I’m a senior Ba’ath party member and I was in charge of a large sector in Baghdad. One time I was sitting with some of my comrades, who I also considered my friends, and we were just chatting. I told them a silly dream I had the night before the meeting. I dreamt that I became the president of Iraq and that I appointed one of the comrades as a minister of the defense. The next night there was a heavy knocking at the door and the (midnight visitors) dragged me out of my house, and after a short investigation, I was sentenced to 15 years in prison and this, and he pointed at one of the prisoners, is the minister of defense who got 10 years in prison” The man in question shook his head in conformation and said “ yes, I’m the minister of defense who appeared accidentally in another man’s dream. So do you still think you are innocent? No, my friend, you are guilty as charged, on Saddam’s justice scale. So shut up and live with it”. I have to admit that after hearing (the minister of defense), I felt I was somehow overreacting and that I was lucky!

By Mohammed.

[jjm2111]

Ping for your lists. Hope this isn't a dupe.

[OXENinFLA]

It's a Dupe, RTCG posted this straight from the Ft. Hood army web site.

[cripplecreek]

I knew it was true because i saw a news story about it awhile back. personally i dont have much faith in snopes on some issues.

[livius]

Wow! Thanks for posting this! (Both the picture and that interesting account.)

[OXENinFLA]

Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers

[armymarinemom]

I've seen this photo before but what is showing here is a sick green yucky face.

[EggsAckley]

I can't see the picture. Just see a big green graphic.

[EggsAckley]

Looks like it's copy protected.

[cripplecreek]

same here, just click the link.

Evidently snopes doesnt want us stealing thier picture.

[End Times Sentinel]

Snopes switched it out when they saw it was coming to FreeRepublic.

Now we know where they stand.  F- Snopes.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Maigrey]

But it's not their picture! Someone from the army shot it.

[HardStarboard]

>>>I can't see the picture. Just see a big green graphic. <<<

Hacked by DU? Someone doesn't want what we have done for Iraq shown in a positive light!

Gee, I wonder if it could have been done by Kerry supporters?

[mupcat]

***personally i dont have much faith in snopes on some issues.***

That's why I also check truthorfiction.com. Another good site.

[george wythe]

[jjm2111]

Thanks for the link. Boo hoo on snopes, so we linked to their picture, big deal.

It still shows the picture for me.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Right click on the yucky face and select "View Image" if you have Netscape or click on the link if you have IE.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Look at the post above yours.

[armymarinemom]

Thanks. I've seen the photo is has been run on 4th ID web, military.com, and on the Army web before. It does show that linking to photos doesn't always work.

[finnman69]

IT'S OBVIOUS THE IRAQI'S HATE US.

I love when liberals are soo sooo wrong.