Bush Keeps Saddam's Pistol as Souvenir

aolnews.com ^ | 5 29 04 | MATTHEW COOPER

[freepatriot32]

May 30) -- When Saddam Hussein was rousted from his spider hole in Dawr, a town near Tikrit, by U.S. soldiers last December, Iraq's fallen dictator was clutching a pistol. He is now in detention at an undisclosed location, being questioned by American authorities and awaiting charges for war atrocities and crimes against humanity. But what ever happened to the pistol?

The sidearm has made its way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Sources say that the military had the pistol mounted after the soldiers seized it from Saddam and that it was then presented to the president privately by some of the troops who played a key role in ferreting out the old tyrant.

Though it was widely reported at the time that the pistol was loaded when they grabbed Saddam, Bush has told visitors that the gun was empty—and that it is still empty and safe to touch. "He really liked showing it off," says a recent visitor to the White House who has seen the gun. "He was really proud of it."

The pistol's new place of residence is in the small study next to the Oval Office where Bush takes select visitors after pointing out better-known White House pieces like the busts of Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower and a watercolor called "A Charge to Keep," which gets its name from a Methodist hymn.

The study — the one where Bill Clinton held some of his infamous trysts with White House intern Monica Lewinsky — has become a place where Bush keeps the memorabilia that hold special significance for him. Another of the room's mementos: a photograph of special-forces soldiers in Afghanistan praying after burying a piece of the World Trade Center there as a tribute to those who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

[freepatriot32]

i dont really like this at all there have been lots of people arrested and sent to prison for keeping souviners from iraq including a fox news journalist that was given a gold plated gun by the guy that owned it and when he gotto america donald rumsfeld said that the gun belonged to all the people in iraq and charged the reporter with a federal crime

[freepatriot32]

ping

[McGavin999]

ROTFLMCO, you're kidding, right? You'd have to be kidding because I don't think any thinking person could seriously make that kind of statement.

[Spok]

I think it's a cool momento, but is it legal in the D. of C.? Maybe George should take it to his ranch in Texas, where the gun laws are a little more sensible...

[ReaganRulez2000]

I agree, it indicates a spoil of conquest. The President has stated that we are in Iraq for the pursuit of freedom and democracy, not empire.

[Piquaboy]

That gun is a part of history and unlike the previous occupant of the WH would have done, it will be left there rather than spirited out in the dark of night.

[Atlas Sneezed]

No photo? No ID of the type of gun?

[dr_who_2]

"Guns don't kill people"...

Just the same, I hope he washed it before picking it up.

[dr_who_2]

He ought to give it back to the Iraqis so that can shoot their former fearless leader with it.

[yarddog]

The gun which was always shown in Saddams hand, often shooting it in the air, was a Browning HP.

[Logical me]

You need to get a life. It is in the White House now and it might be placed in a permanate place for all to see. What better place for safe keeping. Wonder where all the things the Clintons took and where are they now????? Don't give me that, "gave it all back". Think we should not be too quick to make judgements.

[Squantos]

Your "opinion" is noted but incorrect.......clearly a difference. Worthless demilled firearms are still brought legally back as trophies by those GI's having the time in country an a smart and willing commander to process the paperwork. I have an AK on my home office wall that was demilled according to regulations and BATF rules and brought back from Desert Storm in 1991 with proper documentation. The demill effort is required of "military grade select fire weapons" but I suspect a semi-auto pistol for the Commander in Chief was a cakewalk for a fixed-mounted to a plaque trophy keepsake thang. Can ya link me to the incident where rummy charged a reporter for the gold gun ? Thanks ahead of time.

Stay Safe !

[joesnuffy]

Bush has told visitors that the gun was empty—and that it is still empty and safe to touch.

No gun is safe to touch on the word of anyone else...if allowed to pick it up and examine...the handler must "personally" be responsible for that gun being empty by opening the action and visually verifying an empty chamber and lack of magazine

imo

[blau993]

is it legal in the D. of C.?

Not unless you want to rely on an argument that the White House is federal land and not part of the District of Columbia. Even then, somebody likely violated DC law bringing it into the White House. I would suggest that the President take this pistol with him the next time he flies to Crawford (I doubt that the DC cops have the balls to try to stop and search Marine One) and leave it in Texas. This is just the kind of thing some RAT politician in the District will try to make a big stink about.

[dts32041]

Would you prefer Sodom's head on a Silver Platter, or on a pike, I would.

Now that would be a real war trophy.

[steveyp]

Good idea! I would prefer a video tape of Saddam's ears or arms being amutated while the butchers sing "Happy Birthday, George!"

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

Spoils of War go to the Victor! It has been going on since the beginning of time.

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]

A HISTORY OF TERROR

A murderer at work

[eno_]

Thanks for the informative post. It's good to know that sensible rules on this kind of thing are in place and available to our military men and women.