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.

[geedee]

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

[Domestic Church]

That would mean we could take out his doppleganger too!

[Domestic Church]

Belarus is thinking about how much $$$ they can get in trading him.

[Happygal]

Saddam is one of the world’s richest men

Well, there's one to throw at the communist lefties.

They hate an oil-background Texan democratically elected leader.

But are prepared to DEFEND, and defend violently, a sickeningly rich tyrant who found his fortune through murder and ill-gotten gains, who (by default and serious humanitarian indescretions) sits on an oil field (as well as WMD).

[aculeus]

Happygal if Earth were invaded by six-foot long insect-like aliens that ate 10 humans per hour the left-wing Europeans would be rooting for the Martians ... as long as they were eating Americans.

[Happygal]

Aculeus...I still like to have hope in my old continent ye know.

We're not ALL that bad. And you gotta look to Spain currently (the land of my ill-gotten 20-something summer holidays *L*).

I can't be completely cynical about Europe. It has it's benefits too, as you know. I don't view America as a land of Jerry Springer interviewees, so therefore...

[aculeus]

Right you are. Aculeus lived in Europe for four years including a lovely summer on the Costa Brava.

I specified "left wing" Euros. The AAA's (anti-American Americans) are just as bad.

[daviddennis]

But who would take him?

I see a lot of proposals for him to leave, but I haven't noticed any countries offering to harbor him. It would be a pretty risky job to offer exile to the world's most hated man.

Note that the rumour about Belarus doesn't suggest that they have made the offer, only that Saddam is interested in hearing from them on the subject.

D

[Dog Gone]

The only place that comes to mind is Cuba, which is the one place we've pledged not to attack. But I doubt Castro thinks Cuba is big enough for the two of them.

I don't think Saddam will attempt to flee. Like Hitler, he will go down in his bunker.

[Happygal]

I know you did specify the left-wing Euros aculeus...it's just unfortunate that sometimes the left wing press, can colour the opinion of conservative Americans to understanding the REAL Europe.

Aculeus, I know YOU understand, and love Ireland..and the continent. But, I hate to think the likes of Schroeder and Chirac would put people off visiting this VERY beautiful, historical and interesting continent.

I made two trans Atlantic trips in the last 10 months.Both holiday trips..not business. Most Americans wouldn't dream of trying to experience the European culture, which is a shame, really. I'm not saying they shouldn't holiday at home. I'm just saying, if this Irish lass can make two trips to North America in one year, surely most Americans can make one trip to Europe in a lifetime.

[aculeus]

I agree. Now go to bed it's way past your bedtime!!!

[Happygal]

OK! Dad! *LOL*

[SuziQ]

In a defiant address last week Saddam said he would never desert Iraq or its people in the event of war

Good!! I don't want him going anywhere else to continue to be a thorn in everyone's side!

[Atchafalaya]

Yeah, I see, I see George Clooney as the lead.

[Atchafalaya]

Ah good! A little more hirsute under the nose.

[185JHP]

Topkapi Redux?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I wonder if there is any relationship to this event of week 4 February:

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Authorities put a price tag of $100 million Thursday on the jewels, gold and securities stolen this month in what is widely considered to be the theft of the century in Antwerp, the world's diamond-cutting capital.

Police are still looking for the goods taken from 123 of the 160 high-security vaults at Antwerp's Diamond Center and the burglars who actually broke into the building Feb. 16.

My bet: Yes

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

[Saddam]is said never to sleep in the same place on successive nights

Hmmm! Neither does Clinton.

[daviddennis]

Castro doesn't strike me as enough of a killer to accept Saddam, although I could be wrong considering his assistance to Chavez.

I doubt that I would have gone to Cuba last year if I'd known Castro was still into international adventurism. I thought he was too broke for it, but I guess with Venezuelan oil money anything is possible.

(The thought crossed my mind that my tourism dollars might have gone to finance the evil Chavez, but any impartial view of the situation would note that oil takes care of the cash, and the common worldview of Castro and Chavez does the rest).

I tend to agree with you about Saddam and exile. For one thing, I don't think he would trust any country that would take him, even Cuba. For another, I believe him to be sincere in wanting to appear "great" to history, and he will look like just another coward if he goes into exile.

More to the point, it's worth remembering what happened to his son in laws in Jordanian exile. They defected, the information was dragged out of them, and they were then left alone with boring lives with nobody to push around or torture.

They were so bored of this that they went back to Iraq even though they must have known that Saddam's promises of eternal friendship were phony, after the knife they plunged in Saddam's back earlier.

Saddam and his belicosity is like a shark that constantly needs to move and eat. If you take it away, you take away his essence. Better to die, he says, than to leave Iraq with a life drained of meaning.

That's my take, anyway.

D