Report: Saddam Writing Poetry in Prison

ABC News ^ | 7/26/04 | AP

[Gucho]

LONDON July 26, 2004 — Saddam Hussein appears depressed and demoralized in solitary confinement, spending his time writing poetry, tending a garden and reading the Quran, according to a report published Monday in The Guardian newspaper. One of Saddam's poems is about George Bush, though the report did not specify whether that referred to President Bush or his father, Saddam's foe in the 1991 Gulf War.

The newspaper quoted Bakhtiar Amin, the human rights minister in the new Iraqi government, who said he had visited Saddam's cell on Saturday. Amin said he did not speak to the former Iraqi leader.

Bakhtiar said Saddam appeared "in good health and being kept in good conditions," but he "appeared demoralized and dejected," The Guardian reported.

Saddam's air-conditioned cell in a U.S. military prison is 10 feet wide and 13 feet long, Amin said. Saddam is not allowed to mix with other prisoners.

Amin had little to report on Saddam's poetry. "One of the poems is about George Bush, but I had no time to read it," Amin said.

He reported that Saddam was being treated for high blood pressure and a chronic prostate infection, and was gaining weight after losing 11 pounds during a time when he resisted all fatty foods.

Saddam and other detainees get an MRE (meal ready to eat) breakfast, and hot food twice a day, Amin said. Dessert might include oranges, apples, pears or plums, but Saddam also likes American muffins and cookies, The Guardian quoted Amin as saying.

Saddam is not allowed newspapers, TV or radio, but has access to 145 books mostly travel books and novels donated by the Red Cross.

Amin said Saddam tends a garden during his daily three-hour exercise period.

"He is looking after a few bushes and shrubs and has even placed a circle of white stones around a small palm tree," said Amin. "His apparent care for his surroundings is ironic when you think he was responsible for one of the biggest ecocides when he drained the southern marshes."

Amin, a Kurd from Kirkuk, was reportedly the first member of the new Iraqi government to visit Saddam.

During his visit, Amin said he met Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, who allegedly ordered the use of chemical weapons against Kurds in the late 1980s; Saddam's half-brother, Barzan al-Tikriti, a former intelligence chief who was Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva until 1998; and Saddam's personal secretary, Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti.

Amin said he was approached by al-Tikriti, who was standing next to Ali Hassan al-Majid.

"Minister, what am I doing here?" Amin quoted al-Tikriti as saying. "I am not like the others, I am not like Ali Hassan al-Majid." Al-Tikriti asked that the message be passed on to Kurdish leaders and to new Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

"I tried to control my emotions, but to be honest I wanted to vomit," The Guardian quoted Amin as saying.

"There before me were the men responsible for the industrial pain of Iraq mass murderers who were responsible for turning Iraq into a land of mass graves."

[gimme1ibertee]

Oh, that's great!

[gimme1ibertee]

Re the pic of Scumbag in cuffs-
Oh, if only it COULD be!!!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Thanks. Saddam is one of World Leaders that Kerry and Edwards keep talking about.

[Andonius_99]

you forgot the snap-clap that they do in all the jazz clubs...:-)

[ErnBatavia]

I like Haiku!

I try to write poems,
Hickory Dickory Dock,
I have lost my homes.

[Americanwolf]

Meek,

Quit teasing....showing Clinton in cuffs (either one actually) is my dream. Now if only to make it a reality and the get footage of him doing the perp walk for treason. Ah to dream! :)

[Allegra]

Saddam's air-conditioned cell in a U.S. military prison is 10 feet wide and 13 feet long, Amin said. Saddam is not allowed to mix with other prisoners.

Oh, my heart just bleeds for him. (sarcasm)

It's OK...we infidels who are posted on the same base where the prison is near Baghdad Airport (ooops, did I say that out loud?) yell taunts out the windows of our vehicles every time we drive by there. That's got to bug him....especially hearing female voices taunting him. :-)

[Americanwolf]

taunt away! very cool!

[Beaker]

That's got to bug him....especially hearing female voices taunting him. :-)

Mwahahaha. :-)

[Snowy]

How much we gonna charge for our poetry book and where will the signing be?

You need to include love poems. How about writing, "Ode to a Camel"?

[MeekOneGOP]

:^)

[MeekOneGOP]

haha ! Good one there on #45! You da man ! :^D

[Conspiracy Guy]

Thanks

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep! I am on FOX News right now.

The Michael Moore spot is up right after the commercial break!

[Happy2BMe]

I wasn't all that impressed with how Bill O'Reilly handled the moron.

He had several opprotunities to slam him hard and he just let them pass.

For example, Bill should have asked Moron this:

"Does it bother you at all that your film 9/11 demoralizes our troops who are at this very second fighting and dying to bring democracy to Iraq?"

[JustAmy]

"Poor Me"

I once had many palaces,
All over my great land.
I shredded many enemies,
Now buried in the sand.
I was beloved by many men,
Because they feared me so.
I had so many statues made,
So all the world would know.
That as a despot I was tops,
Since Hitler was the man.
I tried my best to out do him,
I really know I can.
Then Bush and Blair ganged up on me,
And kicked my little tail.
They found me in my spider hole,
And put me in this jail.
So here I sit and pray to me,
My freedom I will gain.
Vote Kerry Edwards then you'll see,
That I'll be free again.

Saddam Hussein 7/27/2004
As told to Conspiracy Guy

[tang-soo]

Here's some of my favorites ...

Eddie at Peterman's

It's a hot night.
The mind races.
You think about your knife;
the only friend who hasn't betrayed you,
the only friend who won't be
dead by sun up.
Sleep tight, mates,
in your quilted Chambray nightshirts.

And another piece still in the works ...

The Bengalese Galoshes

It's tough keeping your feet dry
when you're kicking in a skull ...

With special thanks to Jerry Seinfeld and the episode "The Fatigues"

[MeekOneGOP]

I wasn't too impressed either. At least he did argue against Moron's "Bush Lied" BS. Moore is saying Bush "lied" because of supposed faulty intelligence. 25 million people are free from Saddam's boot because of the war. Doesn't mean a thing to Mikey.

[xm177e2]

Give me a black suit
And a bottle of Johnny
Walker I'm the prez.

My name is Saddam Hussein
Inflicted lots of pain
I was Firm but fair,
no hat underwear
In my Ghraib, for Shame!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Amy,

Good picture.

RKBA

Ping yall be nice Amy runs a respectable forum.