Posted on 10/07/2008 4:34:51 AM PDT by Schnucki
The United States is preparing to hand control of Saddam Hussein's Republican Palace in Baghdad to the Iraqi Government in one of the most symbolic examples of the country's increasing sovereignty.
Plans are also under way to turn over swaths of the green zone, which surrounds the palace, to the Iraqi authorities, with Iraqi forces expected to replace US troops at some checkpoints over the next year, according to sources inside the compound.
The transition is part of a process in which the Iraqi Government has taken full responsibility for security in 11 out of 18 provinces as its police and army become increasingly competent.
The move also underscores a shift in the relationship between Iraq and the US, which is moving from being an occupying power to having a regular diplomatic presence. The new US Embassy building will be the biggest of its kind in the world.
The Republican Palace, a dust-coloured building with marble corridors and a blue dome on its roof, used to be the seat of Saddam's power. After the 2003 invasion it became the headquarters of the US-led coalition authority that ruled Iraq, remaining under US control even after power was handed to the transitional Government in June 2004.
Thousands of American, British, Australian and other foreign diplomats, military personnel and contractors work in the palace. Makeshift wooden walls divide up a network of large halls to create office space, a gymnasium and even a Starbucks-style coffee counter.
Many people lived at the palace, crammed into trailers around the grounds. Over the past few months they have been moving to a new embassy compound on the banks of the River Tigris inside the green zone.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
More gooo news from Iraq
Mr. Green Beans?
Saddam Hussein was captured in a rat hole, tried and hanged.
His sons Uday and Ky say were corenered and died in a gun battle.
Iraq was freed from their tyranny.
If Obama is elected, similar tyranny will descend on America
Ah...the Green Bean. I've been in there many times.
Fortunately, there is also a Green Bean on my current compound not far from the palace, so I won't lose out during the turnover. :)
Thanks for posting - great news!! Interesting that this is from the UK and not one of the papers here in the U.S.
Oh, that’s right, this is good news about Iraq, the rags here will not report this.
Smells like victory to me!
Let’s hope the new embassy will continue the old embassy’s tradition of the Friday night wet bar, DJ concert, pool swimming gatherings courtesy of the State Dept.
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