Palaces are oases of prosperity often surrounded by squalor

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

VICTORY CAMP, Iraq --- Evidence of the vast contrast in living conditions in Saddam Hussein's Iraq remain evident.

Every day, soldiers of the 1133rd Transportation Co. drive past an area where children play in rubble outside dilapidated houses.


Not far away, tucked behind the walls of a compound, a man-made lake surrounds one of 72 palaces built by the former Iraqi ruler.

The palaces, located throughout Iraq, have become a signature of the former dictator.


more: http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2003/12/31/news/top_news/1235b411ba46f41c86256e0d004c0a63.txt

And now, instead of Saddam occupying the palaces, occupying forces occupy them and "common" Iraqis still cannot access them. I'm sure that the Iraqis are much more content with this arrangement.

[Racenut20]

1. I think it is real impressive

To have the occupying forces in the palaces. We should be proud of that...oops, my tongue stuck to my cheek.

[cosmicdot]

2. I'm surprised that one of our corporate hospitality chains hasn't

moved in to create timeshares or other get-away treats for the super-rich ... the resort-like infrastructure is there ... add a couple of golf courses, some casinos, a huge Mall with duty free shopping ... how many flags over Baghdad(?) amusement park ... voila ... call it Babylon ...

[bluedeminredstate]

5. LOL!!

I must admit until you mentioned it the idea never crossed my mind, but I can see it... A Vegas/Ritz Carlton-esque/Paramount theme park/Rodeo Drive kind of thing. Good ole Amurcan ingenuity bringing low-paying service jobs for the Iraqis. No French or Germans allowed, right?
How long before your idea is ripped off by Halliburton or Bechtel?

:crazy:

[SoCalDem]

7. Six Flags over Babylon.. That's perfect...

Think of the rides...

The "Real" Revolution

"Bush Country U.S.A."

"Wacky Iraqi Fun House"

"The Haunted Palace"

"Explosive Bumper Cars"

Rides so scary, they will scare the Shi'ite out of you..

[Cocoa]

3. I can't imagine such a thing

as an American, the concept of such vast inequalities is just alien to me.

[bleedingheart]

4. They exist in this country...Bill Gates lives in a $100 million

dollar house and there are people who live out of their cars...there are people cleaning houses for minimum wage and the houses they clean have kitchen countertops worth in excess of $30K...more than the maid cleaning it makes in a year...

[Turbineguy]

6. Palaces surrounded by squalor

sounds like the Bush vision for this country's future too.

[Stanchetalarooni]

8. Anyone been to D.C.?

Not much difference between Iraqi squalor and D.C. squalor. Or has something changed in the America that I know over the last 50 yrs.
Go ahead. Wander off the beaten path in the U.S. capitol and see for yourself.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. Good point...

It seems as that's the case with many of the state capitals today. People living in near poverty adjacent to magnificent office buildings and gold domed edifices.