Thursday, November 24
FORMER PALACE NOW GOVERNMENT COMPLEX.....SORRY, SADDAM
| November 23, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq -- The Iraqi government took control of Saddam Hussein’s palace complex from U.S. Coalition Forces in a historic ceremony Nov. 22 in Tikrit. Three different U.S. Army units have used the complex as a forward operating base since 2003. “Now it is the property of the Iraqi people,” said Hamad Hamood Shekti, governor of the Salah Ad Din Province. “Tourists will be allowed to see the palaces.” Colonel Mark McKnight, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, handed the “key to the palace” to Shekti during the ceremony, signifying the release of U.S. control. “The passing of this facility is a simple ceremony that vividly demonstrates the continuing progress being made by the Iraqi government and their people,” McKnight said. “Two years ago, Coalition Forces fought to rid this nation of an oppressive regime. Since that time, Coalition Forces… have resided on FOB Danger, working alongside Iraqis to protect the four provinces of north central Iraq,” McKnight added. Although 24 other coalition operating bases have been turned over to the people of Iraq, ten of them in north central Iraq, the Tikrit palace complex is the most significant transition to date. The complex is on more than 1,000 acres of land along the Tigris River. There are 136 buildings on the property with a combined 1.5 million square feet of administrative and living space. The province was and will stay “a symbol of national unity and brotherhood in Iraq” Shekti said. “[Today], we celebrate the transfer of the presidential palaces to the patriotic Iraqi hands, signifying the many aspirations and goals of the great citizens of the Salah Ad Din province,” Shekti said. Shekti said he looks forward to Iraq’s independence, when all multi-national forces are able to leave Iraq, and wants to prove the people of Iraq can manage their issues independently. “These palaces are owned by not one person anymore,” he said, “and no one will be prevented from entering them in the future, because now it is the property of the Iraqi people.” The palace complex was initially secured by the 4th Infantry Division in 2003 and designated as Camp Iron Horse during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Saddam Hussein was captured near Camp Iron Horse in December 2003. The base was redesignated FOB Danger once it came under the control of the 1st Infantry Division out of Wurzburg, Germany. The 42nd Infantry Division, a National Guard unit based in New York, took over the FOB Feb. 14, and in July began the process of returning the complex to the Iraqi people. Many Iraqi officials attended the momentous event, including Lt. Gen. Shahid Aziz, commander of the 4th Iraqi Army; Rasheed Ahmad, chairman of the Salah Ad Din provincial council; and Judge Abd al Hussein Shandal, the minister of justice. U.S. Ambassador Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. George Casey, commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq were also in attendance. Weblog LINK |
