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DEL.ICIO.USSaddam Hussein’s fake palace
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeremy Redmon/AJC
One of Saddam Hussein's many presidential complexes, the Al-Faw Palace now serves as the headquarters of Multi-National Corps Iraq. Much of it consists of cheap materials; the chandelier in this atrium is part plastic.
Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq — It may look ritzy and sophisticated, but much of this palace is fake.
Once one of Saddam Hussein’s many presidential complexes, the Al-Faw Palace is now the nerve center for all U.S. land forces in Iraq. Dozens of U.S. military personnel work inside the cavernous building.
As with other such palaces built to honor Hussein, Al-Faw consists of cheap materials and questionable construction.
A gaudy throne sits in the rotunda, given to Saddam by Yasser Arafat. The inlay on it, according to military historians, reads: “Victory from God and success is near.”
Suspended high above is a huge chandelier that appears to be solid glass. But military experts say much of the fixture is plastic. Many of the banisters resemble carved marble but are really gypsum. Elaborate reliefs made to look like marble are really concrete. The Arabic script in parts of the palace appears to be gold but is actually gilded brass. Even the lake just outside the palace is artificial.
“It’s like the bizarre love child between Tony Soprano and Elvis,” said Maj. Todd Breasseale, 38, of Venice, Calif., who handles media relations for Multi-National Corps Iraq.
The complex was built to commemorate the battle for the Al-Faw peninsula in the Iran-Iraq war, according to a U.S. military report. Thousands died in that campaign. But only Saddam’s initials are carved into various parts of the building.
In 1998, Iraq came under additional scrutiny by the United States when it declared the palace off limits to United Nations arms inspectors. During the invasion five years later, the U.S. military destroyed a utility bridge to the complex with two 2,000-pound bombs. A 5,000-pound bomb pounded the back of the palace, where it was believed Saddam had an office.
After the invasion, U.S. soldiers discovered what appeared to be gold bars in the basement of the complex. They tested them, according to military historians. And, of course, they turned out to be made of lead.
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