Merry Christmas Saddam
2003-12-23 21:33
Iraq - "Saddam Claus wishes you a Merry Christmas."
The poster caption at a US military base in Tikrit accompanied a mocking image of Saddam Hussein dressed as Santa Claus. A top American commander said the December 13 capture of the former Iraqi dictator was an early Christmas gift for his troops.
On Tuesday, hundreds of soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division patiently waited for Christmas breakfast in the chow line, while a tuba brass band in the corner played carols.
There were muffins and peanut butter, scrambled eggs and pancakes, sausages and fresh fruit in a huge mess hall decorated with American flags, green-and-white banners of the division and Christmas trees.
After breakfast, soldiers seated at long tables bowed their heads in prayer for comrades slain or wounded by insurgents. A total of 317 US soldiers have been killed as a result of hostile action since the invasion in March.
"Don't ask 'why me, why here, why us,' because God has plans, we are here for good reason," military chaplain Gilo Richardson told soldiers.
Despite dozens of casualties over the last several months, soldiers were jubilant. They tracked down and arrested Saddam earlier this month.
Saddam's capture was "an early Christmas gift," said General Raymond Odierno, commander of the division.
"Capturing him... will help us to continue to eliminate the insurgency but also to go back to the business of rebuilding Iraq and moving forward and turning the country back to the Iraqi people," Odierno said.
Asked who received the best Christmas present, Sgt Gilbert Nail from Fort Hood, Texas chuckled: "Of course, Saddam. He received free food and boarding for the rest of his life."
"I received only greeting cards," Nail said.
Beyond the walls surrounding the American camp, based in a huge complex of Saddam's palaces, lies Tikrit, a city of 120 000 where many people bitterly resent the troops and see them as invaders. The nights are frequently punctuated by gunfire and occasional blasts of mortar rounds.
Major Josslyn Aberle said soldiers will remain vigilant despite Christmas. "People who are loyal to Saddam could try to make one last effort and try to attack," she said.
- AP