Bush Reportedly Keeps Saddam Gun at White House

Reuters ^ | 5/30/04 | Reuters

[wagglebee]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A handgun that Saddam Hussein was clutching when U.S. forces captured him in a hole in Iraq last December is now kept by President Bush at the White House, Time magazine reported on Sunday. Military officials had the pistol mounted after it was seized from Saddam near his hometown of Tikrit last year, and soldiers involved in the capture gave it to Bush in a private meeting, Time said.

The magazine quoted a visitor who had been shown the gun, which is kept in a small study off the Oval Office where Bush displays memorabilia. It is the same room where former President Bill Clinton had some of his encounters with former intern Monica Lewinsky.

Bush shows Saddam's gun to select visitors, telling them it is unloaded, both now and when Saddam was captured, Time reported.

"He really liked showing it off," Time quoted a visitor who had seen the gun as saying. "He was really proud of it."

A White House spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

[wagglebee]

I would love to see Bush start wearing it around on a holster. That would make for some great photos and drive the gun control crowd crazy.

[Bogey78O]

Wasn't that the tradition in ancient times?

Victor's would take a mementio from the conquered leader.

[zencat]

I think once Saddam is tried by the Iraqis, Bush should turn the gun over to them to execute the bastard.

Saddam goes down with a bullet from his own gun that Bush has held in the Oval Office, and the trigger is pulled by an Iraqi. Poetic justice.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

OH THE HORROR THE HORROR IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!! (I'm the liberal media and I approved this message)

[wagglebee]

Nope, Bush should let his father fire the bullet.

[jonascord]

But, WHAT WAS IT? Colt, Browning, Makarov?

[adam_az]

"This will be spun into a negative by the media. I,however, think it's cool!"

How could you spin this badly?

I think it's great... very poignant, with a nod to history.

[PISANO]

I would like to see Saddam, once convicted, executed by the same pistol and THEN it would be a keeper!! The "pistol" that avenged a million deaths!!

[Fintan]

How could you spin this badly?
 

 

Wait till Katie Couric & Peter Jennings get ahold of this...you'll see.

[BunnySlippers]

Yes, the media will do a negative spin. The reaction among liberals is just like when you tell them that you keep guns in the house ... the look of sheer horror!

[Utah Girl]

This made me smile when I read it. It is such a Western thing to do. The Eastern establishment will faint when they read it.

[Steely Tom]

I think a picture of the President, holding this gun, looking at the camera with a glint in his eye, would brighten Saddam's lonely cell in an undisclosed location.

Captioned (in Arabic) "Thanks for the piece, Saddam. Dad enjoyed it too."

(steely)

[wagglebee]

Hell, I want to see that on a billboard!

[BunnySlippers]

Hahaha ... maybe pair it with wearing a bandalero across his chest. :-D

[ChefKeith]

PING-A-ROO!

How's that pig doing? Ready yet ? I'm getting hungry...

[GSlob]

Yes, like body parts. King Alboin, if memory serves, used the skull of a vanquished chieftain as a drinking cup. Idea sounds great, but with Saddam one immediately runs into hygienic problems.

[VOA]

Good for Dubya!

[glock rocks]

It is the same room where former President Bill Clinton had some of his encounters with former intern Monica Lewinsky.

Only reuters. Q'uelle scum. I guess they're trying to lower the bar for hanoi john.

[Paul Atreides]

They'll really have to stock up on Depends, for Pelosi Galore, now!