Charlie Company Task Force rolls into Zawra Park in downtown Baghdad

AJC ^ | 4 7 2003 | AJC

[dennisw]

 

I remember these swords from before the war
_____________________________________

 

 

 

Brant Sanderlin / AJC

CHARLIE CO.
IN ZAWRA PARK

Charlie Company Task Force 1-64 of the 3rd ID rolls into a Zawra Park in downtown Baghdad Monday.

 

[x1stcav]

So do I. But I could've sworn the road under them was paved.

[Keith]

it is...we've been adding a little dust to the city lately.

;)

[RetiredArmy]

Street sweepers are on strike because of current working conditions.

[x1stcav]

Another of life's minor mysteries solved.

[RJL]

It would be great fun to mount a couple of the Saddam statues on the sharp ends of the swords shown in the picture.

[archy]

[Darksheare]

The pics above are a beautiful thing.
U.S. tanks driving under those swords.
Fills my heart with pride.

[archy]

The pics above are a beautiful thing.
U.S. tanks driving under those swords.
Fills my heart with pride.

I can't believe not a one of the gunners has put a round where those two toothpicks cross. They must have been ordered not to.

-archy-/-

[Go Gordon]

I can't believe not a one of the gunners has put a round where those two toothpicks cross.

It will be VERY interesting to see what the locals will do to many of the treasured sites that were created under Saddam's rule. Some may want to save them (palaces, etc) and some may want them erased from memory - sort of like the confederate flag. Parallels will be drawn accordingly...

[Leroy S. Mort]

"The colossal Hands of Victory monument has dominated Baghdad's skyline since the end of the Iran-Iraq war. Built in duplicate, it marks the entrances to a large new parade ground in central Baghdad. The triumphal arch is shaped as two pairs of crossed swords, made from the guns of dead Iraqi soldiers that were melted and recast as the 24-ton blades of the swords. Captured Iranian helmets are in a net held between the swords. And surrounding the base of the arms are another 5,000 Iranian helmets taken from the battle field. The fists that hold the swords aloft are replicas of Saddam Hussein’s own hands."

Baghdad 33°20'19"N 44°23'38"E

[Darksheare]

I think there are orders to leave them standing.
*Garn!*

[sonofatpatcher2]

"Captain, it is true Saddam had casts of his hands and arms taken to use as models for those crossed swords?"
"Yes Chekov. That is true and another fact that might interest you is Bill Clinton's plan to have his hands and arms sculptured for a set of crossed cigars at his Presidential Library."

Want a break from war news? Go to the Stark Trek Freeper Post or the New Stark Trek Website for a laugh or two. Then come back refreshed and loaded for bear!

[dennisw]

According to Samir Al-Khalil, author of The Monument: Art, Vulgarity and Responsibility in Iraq (1991), many of Iraq's war memorials were commissioned before the supposed victories they celebrate were even declared.

 The colossal Hands of Victory monument has dominated Baghdad's skyline since the end of the Iran-Iraq war. Built in duplicate, it marks the entrances to a large new parade ground in central Baghdad. The triumphal arch is shaped as two pairs of crossed swords, made from the guns of dead Iraqi soldiers that were melted and recast as the 24-ton blades of the swords. Captured Iranian helmets are in a net held between the swords. And surrounding the base of the arms are another 5,000 Iranian helmets taken from the battle field. The fists that hold the swords aloft are replicas of Saddam Hussein’s own hands

[San Jacinto]

They must have been ordered not to.

That's my guess as well. They are probably saving that job for some Iraqis as soon as the fighting stops. Good little propaganda piece.

[Darksheare]

D'oh!

[archy]

They must have been ordered not to.

That's my guess as well. They are probably saving that job for some Iraqis as soon as the fighting stops. Good little propaganda piece.

Probably. But there is a little voice inside me that hopes to see it get one final use as a field expedient gallows.

-archy-/-