One of the "Saddam heads" that was removed from a former presidential palace. They were moved near the new U.S. Embassy, but have recently vanished. Some early reconstruction officials were promised souvenir coins made from the melted-down heads.
Iraqi government building damaged in the 2003 liberation
It's as if I'm holding one of the swords! Uncanny, isn't it?As George Packer explains in Assassins' Gate: "After the war with Iran, Saddam ordered gigantic arms to be cast and smelted from models of his own, with the hands holding enormous swords that were crossed into triumphal arches over either end of the military parade ground in the center of Baghdad. The helmets of dead Iranians, pocked with bullet holes, were embedded in the pavement under the arches, so that during the annual ceremonial parade Iraqi tanks would crush them and Iraqi soldiers would stomp on them."
This may be the most photographed spot in all of Iraq.
This may be the most photographed spot in all of Iraq.
The parade grounds are still littered with the helmets
Swords on the other end of the parade grounds(is that where the old Landmark casino went?)
Entrance to Camp Prosperity (a former presidential palace)Full blogger disclosure: some of these photos aren’t mine. Except for the Saddam head, I did indeed see all this.
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3 comments:
Ok, confusion. Are both of you playing in Iraq, or only Dan?
And when do you come home?
Only Dan!
Dear Dan and Duffy,
I am an Iraqi urban researcher, who wrote my master thesis entitled: Urbicide in Baghdad, the production and effects of spatial disruption in the city with particular reference to open green spaces. because of the value of my research, I would like to publish it, so its benefits could reach out those who need them. I kindly request to obtain a permission to use the photo taken in the Green Zone in Baghdad in this particular post.
I thank you in advance and looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards
Namariq Al-Rawi
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