Eldridge - Blog 2

Al Faw Palace - Baghdad, Iraq

Al Faw Palace was built by Saddam Hussein to commemorate the re-taking of the Al-Faw Peninsula during the Iran-Iraq War (with the help of some sarin gas). This was one of the many palaces Saddam built after getting crushed in the Gulf War (it is unclear if he commissioned this before or after the Gulf War) . After putting down the post war rebellions (with some more help from sarin gas), Saddam needed an image change. He sought to paint himself a great Arab hero for "defeating the U.S." He suddenly became a devout Muslim and added Arabic lettering to the flag. To cement his heroic image, he commissioned monuments and palaces in his honor (he did this after the Iraq-Iran War as well). After we kicked the snot out of the Republican Guard during the Iraq War, we used it as our headquarters. The Air Force House (see blog 1) sits on the same lake (not pictured).

The district where the palace is located is absolutely beautiful even with some bombed out buildings still present. The palace is huge and imposing. When you enter the front doors you go through a large hall (with a lot of heavily armed security) and enter the impressive looking rotunda (see left picture). Although it looks very impressive, there is something off putting by it all. It feels fake and cheap... it is. 

Saddam ran out of money part way through the construction; it was originally only suppose to be half its final size. That meant substandard and faux materials were used. Cracks cover the building (not from the bombs) and the wiring had to be completely redone by coalition forces.

It is ironic that the very structures meant to preserve Saddam's legacy are doomed to crumble away just like his rule over Iraq. Saddam will never be remembered in the same vein as the great Arabic and Persian kings that came before. Sadly, in the process, the Iraqi people will lose some great cultural artifacts due to shoddy craftsmanship.

Picture Sources

http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2010/09/us-military-units-in-iraq.html

http://www.leecraker.com/wp/al-faw-palace-baghdad-iraq/al-faw-palace-rotunda-2