Saddam’s Thai gem spree hints at getaway plan

The Sunday Times ^ | March 9, 2003 | Jon Swain

[MadIvan]

SADDAM HUSSEIN has sent his personal jeweller to Thailand on a secret mission to buy millions of dollars worth of diamonds, prompting speculation that he is preparing to flee or send his family into hiding, writes Jon Swain.

Sources with knowledge of the trip revealed that the jeweller travelled from Baghdad to Bangkok via Jordan. They said he bought the gems in the Thai capital in a prearranged deal. “He purchased millions of dollars worth,” said one.

This was the jeweller’s second recent visit to Bangkok. Three months ago the sources said that Saddam’s son Uday had sent him to buy a diamond ring from an American dealer for $750,000.

Saddam is one of the world’s richest men. Before the 1991 Gulf war his personal wealth was estimated at $10 billion. After a decade of United Nations sanctions, however, Forbes magazine’s rich list has lowered his worth to $2 billion.

In a defiant address last week Saddam said he would never desert Iraq or its people in the event of war. He has not left the country since the invasion of Kuwait more than 12 years ago. In an interview with American television last month, he said: “We will die here. We will die in this country and we will maintain our honour — the honour that is required — in front of our people.”

The purchase of diamonds suggests he may now be having second thoughts, at least for his family. Saddam may have opted to convert part of his wealth into diamonds because they are easier to hide and transport than banknotes.

During his iron rule Saddam has proved a master of concealment. He uses doubles and is said never to sleep in the same place on successive nights. His ministers are kept in the dark about where he will meet them.

Although it is the size of France, Iraq does not offer Saddam any easy hiding places. The mountainous areas are mostly in the hands of hostile Kurds and much of the rest is desert. But one Iraqi with knowledge of his regime speculated last week that it may be to the desert that Saddam will instinctively flee.

“I am sure he is thinking that way,” the Iraqi said. “He knows that as long as he is not shown on television, captured or dead, the Iraqi people will stay afraid of him and perhaps the army will continue to resist.”

Capturing Saddam may prove easier than tracking his vast illicit fortune. He has gone to great lengths to hide his money. One of the guardians of his fortune has been Barzan Tikriti, his half-brother. Barzan served as an Iraqi ambassador to Switzerland throughout the 1990s. His clandestine parallel role was to manage the financial network used by Saddam to break UN sanctions.

But through an intricate system of kickbacks, Saddam, his family and close entourage have continued to enrich themselves. Saddam has spent part of the illegal fortune he has amassed on a multi-million-pound programme of palace construction.

[MadIvan]

Saddam may have decided it is better to go to a French seaside heaven rather than be sent to Hell.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[RS]

"He knows that as long as he is not shown on television, captured or dead, the Iraqi people will stay afraid of him..."

I'm sure we will have a few captured or dead doubles to show...

[InterceptPoint]

Saddam may have decided it is better to go to a French seaside heaven rather than be sent to Hell.

I agree, and France should welcome their good buddy with welcome arms. I always thought that he would bail.

[TADSLOS]

Two years from now (assuming he's still alive): "What do you mean it's Diamondique?"

[Militiaman7]

I vote for this option

[Dog Gone]

There will be nowhere that Saddam can hide in safety after we topple the regime and expose his crimes against his own people.

I don't even think France would harbor him.

And, he ain't the type to live in caves for the rest of his life. He's got a real problem.

[lafroste]

Hmmm.... Millions of dollars in diamonds, spirited away in the dead of night... This sounds like the beginning of a good movie

After the despot is killed, the jewells are gone! Enter the hero, a rapscallion if there ever was one, and the fun begins to get the diamonds, score with the babe (there HAS to be a babe) and kill the bad guys. What fun.

[Teacher317]

butbutbutbut Saddam is supposed to be using that money for food and medicine for the Iraqi people. I can't wait until ABCNBCCBSCNN get a hold of this and show his duplicitous nature to the world...

What's that? They won't? Huh! Imagine that.

[steveo]

Saddam may have decided it is better to go to a French seaside heaven rather than be sent to Hell.

At least he could swim I guess.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Domestic Church]

I'm wondering what kind of plastic surgery he's had in preparation for his new life on the french riviera.

[Kahuna]

Actually I think that George & Tony's methodically slow build-up to attack can be compared to "Chinese water torture" for old Sadaam. He's played the appeasers like a fidel, however he realizes that a couple of poisonous snakes are loose in his underground bungalow.

Always look forward to your posts Ivan and we have a mini Union Jack on our state flag. Bless the Queen, bless Tony Blair, bless Jack Straw and bless Great Britain.

[Kahuna]

not necessarily in that order!

[OldFriend]

Chirac will invite Saddam to live with him.

[MindBender26]

The Times is very well wired into this story. This, plus the absent Powell brief, etc.

MI-6 is doing a good job of "leaking."

GSTQ TTFN

[anniegetyourgun]

Too late...I want him dead. And where he's going, those diamonds won't do him any good.

[NewLand]

"I can't wait until ABCNBCCBSCNN get a hold of this and show his duplicitous nature to the world..."

Remember that song by Aerosmith...

Dream On...Dream On...Dream On...dream until your dreams come true!

[mingwah]

What do ya wanna bet that in a year we will see a picture in some french rag with Clinton and Saddam sitting at a cafe in France chatting it up drinking lattes with a couple of french models hanging on them???

[11B3]

"And where he's going, those diamonds won't do him any good."

They don't take U-Hauls in Hell. And they don't take Gem Express, either.