Fox News reports that Iraqis are atonished to discover how opulent and decadent the lifestyle of Saddam's family was. The regime's reign of terror was sufficiently stifling that even gossiping about the ruling clique was dangerous; hence most Iraqis had only the vaguest ideas of Saddam's wealth. Iraqis share Gen. Tommy Franks' reaction to the sight of one of Saddam's palaces:

"Visiting Baghdad last week, Gen. Tommy Franks, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, inspected the gold toilet-paper dispenser and the gold-handled toilet bowl brush in one of Saddam's palaces and mockingly spoke of 'the oil-for-palace program' — a reference to the U.N. oil-for-food program that was supposed to provide Iraqis with humanitarian aid."

Saddam was, of course, a consummate thief, but he was probably not the most thoroughgoing plunderer among the world's despots. That honor belongs to Fidel Castro, whose personal fortune--while only $110 million--represents 10% of Cuba's GDP. Even Saddam was not that greedy.

Posted by John at 10:44 PM  |    |  

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Tracked on February 12, 2005 12:07 AM