Staind Video 'Outside'

Thursday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Stainds 'Outside'.
Complete list of Rock Videos.

Staind Video 'Its Been Awhile'

Tuesday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Stainds 'Its been Awhile.'

Complete list of Rock Videos

A Couple Cartoons Appropriate for the Times

I could not resist. Both of these cartoons are appropriate for the current political climate. What with the war in the Middleast and Hugo Chavez's world tour.
Hat tip to the Beloved Leader.

Hat tip to Real Clear Politics.

News From Jerusalem Channel 2

Some news casts from Israeli television channel 2. A view of the war from the Israeli press point of view.

Note: This video updates once daily from the nightly news cast in Israel, so you can come back the next day and view the updated newscast.

Channel 2

Also see links below for more info on the war in the middleast.
Iran Announces It Sent Suicide Bombers to Assist Hezbollah
Middle East Update
Beltway Traffic Jam

Black Sabbath 'Iron Man'

Thursday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Sabbaths 'Iron Man'.

Complete list of Rock Videos

The 'Duke' Has a good Question

This one is pretty self explanatory.

Should We fear Hezbollah attacks in U.S.?

Some seem to think so, including the FBI. Previously on this site we reported on the FBI and the Justice Department as having identified hard-core Hezbollah supporters in the New York area in May of this year. Now the FBI is concerned about the possibility of attacks on U.S. soil. That does not seem so far fetched as Iran's Hezbollah on Tuesday made the threat that "it stood ready to attack Israeli and U.S. interests worldwide".

Iranians demonstrate in support of Hamas and Hizbollah in Tehran, July 18, 2006. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

FBI eyes Hizbollah in US as tensions with Iran rise
By Caroline Drees, Security Correspondent
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The FBI is trying to ferret out possible Hizbollah agents in the United States amid concerns that rising U.S.-Iranian tensions could trigger attacks on American soil, FBI officials said.
Relations between Washington and Tehran, which soured after the 1979 Islamic revolution, have deteriorated further recently over Iran's nuclear program and its support for Hizbollah, the militant Islamic group whose capture of two Israeli soldiers last week prompted Israel to launch retaliatory strikes in Lebanon.
"If the situation escalates, will Hizbollah take the gloves off, so to speak, and attack here in the United States, which they've been reluctant to do until now?" said William Kowalski, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in Detroit. Read more.

Iran's Hizbollah says ready to attack US, Israel

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Hizbollah, which claims links to the Lebanese group of the same name, said on Tuesday it stood ready to attack Israeli and U.S. interests worldwide.
"We have 2,000 volunteers who have registered since last year," said Iranian Hizbollah's spokesman Mojtaba Bigdeli, speaking by telephone from the central seminary city of Qom.
"They have been trained and they can become fully armed. We are ready to dispatch them to every corner of the world to jeopardize Israel and America's interests. We are only waiting for the Supreme Leader's green light to take action. If America wants to ignite World War Three ... we welcome it," he said. Read the rest.

R.I.P. Mary Jo Kopechne (July 26, 1940 – July 18, 1969)

This story will undoubtedly be overlooked today in lieu of the hot topics on the burner today, such as the war in the middle east. Ted Kennedy should mark this occasion by coming clean on the events of that fateful evening in 1969, but since he is a Liberal/ Democrat/ Progressive do not expect that to happen as the truth rarely emanates from one of that ilk.

Mary Jo Kopechne, the daughter of an insurance salesman, was born in the village of Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, on 26th July 1940. After graduating from Caldwell College for Women in New Jersey, she moved to Washington where she worked as a secretary for George Smathers and Robert Kennedy. During this time she shared an apartment with Nancy Carole Tyler, who worked for Bobby Baker.
On 17th July, 1969, Kopechne joined several other women who had worked for the Kennedy family at the Edgartown Regatta. She stayed at the Katama Shores Motor Inn on the southern tip of Martha's Vineyard. The following day the women traveled across to Chappaquiddick Island. They were joined by Edward Kennedy and that night they held a party at Lawrence Cottage. At the party was Kennedy, Kopechne, Susan Tannenbaum, Maryellen Lyons, Ann Lyons, Rosemary Keough, Esther Newburgh, Joe Gargan, Paul Markham, Charles Tretter, Raymond La Rosa and John Crimmins.
Kopechne and Kennedy left the party at 11.15pm. Kennedy had offered to take Kopechne back to her hotel. He later explained what happened: "I was unfamiliar with the road and turned onto Dyke Road instead of bearing left on Main Street. After proceeding for approximately a half mile on Dyke Road I descended a hill and came upon a narrow bridge. The car went off the side of the bridge.... The car turned over and sank into the water and landed with the roof resting on the bottom. I attempted to open the door and window of the car but have no recollection of how I got out of the car. I came to the surface and then repeatedly dove down to the car in an attempt to see if the passenger was still in the car. I was unsuccessful in the attempt."
Instead of reporting the accident Edward Kennedy returned to the party. According to a statement issued by Kennedy on 25th July, 1969: "instead of looking directly for a telephone number after lying exhausted in the grass for an undetermined time, walked back to the cottage where the party was being held and requested the help of two friends, my cousin Joseph Gargan and Paul Markham, and directed them to return immediately to the scene with me - this was some time after midnight - in order to undertake a new effort to dive."
When this effort to rescue Kopechne ended in failure, Kennedy decided to return to his hotel. As the ferry had shut down for the night Kennedy, swam back to Edgartown. It was not until the following morning that Kennedy reported the accident to the police. By this time the police had found Mary Jo Kopechne's body in Kennedy's car.
Edward Kennedy was found guilty of leaving the scene of the accident and received a suspended two-month jail term and one-year driving ban. That night he appeared on television to explain what had happened. He explained: "My conduct and conversations during the next several hours to the extent that I can remember them make no sense to me at all. Although my doctors informed me that I suffered a cerebral concussion as well as shock, I do not seek to escape responsibility for my actions by placing the blame either on the physical, emotional trauma brought on by the accident or on anyone else. I regard as indefensible the fact that I did not report the accident to the police immediately."
At the inquest Judge James Boyle raised doubts about Kennedy's testimony. He pointed out that as Kennedy had a good knowledge of Chappaquiddick Island he could not understand how he managed to drive down Dyke Road by mistake. For example, on the day of the accident, Kennedy had twice had driven on Dyke Road to go to the beach for a swim. To get to Dyke Road involved a 90-degree turn off a metalled road onto the rough, bumpy dirt-track.Read more.

Lebanese bloggers weigh in on War

The Jerusalem Post has an article up featuring reactions from Lebanese bloggers, it is worth a read.

Lebanese bloggers express their views on the crisis
The six day crisis best described as a war being waged by Israel and Lebanon has taken a heavy toll on both sides. Below is a selection of blogs by Lebanese civilians as they live through yet another tragic chapter in their country's history.

Quiet Evening, but Borders Still Under Attack
Intro: This blogger explains how Shia communities in the south are becoming increasingly disheartened due to the IDF campaign and expresses concern that the Lebanese government may no longer be able to maintain sectarian peace in the country.
Background: I'm an information analyst, journalist, and graduate student in Beirut. I'm originally from the Bekaa, and I've lived in Lebanon, Africa, Europe, and North America.

Broken Heart
Intro: This blogger longs for the period, just a few weeks ago, when the most upsetting thing in her life was watching her team exit the world cup. She relates to the fear of living in what has become a war zone and contemplates how many more times her country can be destroyed and rebuilt.

What Comes Next?
Intro: This blogger believes Israel has little hope in removing the threat of Hizbullah due to its large body of support from within Lebanon.

Undersige thanks to Hezballah
Intro: A 28-year-old blogger that works in telecommunications expresses his anger with Hizbullah and its supporters for its recent action that triggered the crisis and caused suffering for the people of Lebanon.

Reasons behind Israeli brutal invasion
Intro: A blogger offers an insight into the Israeli and Hizbullah leaders' psyche, their reasons for attacking Lebanon and how the conflict may pan out.

Spin the war
Intro: A 27-year-old Beiruti doctor suggests an interesting marketing campaign to help rebuild Beirut once peace returns to the region.

Compiled by James Goldstein

Black Sabbath Video 'Paranoid'

Tuesday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Black Sabbath 'Paranoid.' Ozzy before he became the poster boy for "this is your brain on drugs".

Complete list of Rock Videos

Weather Scorching Hot across the U.S.

The heat continues to build across the US as indicated by the heat map below.
Click on the map for current conditions.

'Black Wedding' Iran and Syria

An appropriate toon for the times via Cox and Forkum. Look for the conflict in the middle east to spiral out of control as Israel doesn't have a choice and Iran and Syria will continue doing all they can to escalate it through Hamas and Hezbollah. Syria being an imminent target of Israel in the short term.

Syria, Iran Seen As Behind Kidnappings
By DONNA ABU-NASR
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - The fighting between Israeli forces and Islamic militants in Lebanon hasn't touched Iran or Syria yet, but many analysts think those countries were the hidden hand behind Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers.
At the White House and in Arab capitals, the belief is strong that the Mideast's top two hard-line states are playing a dangerous game to increase their influence. However, analysts say it could backfire and weaken Hezbollah, and by extension its two patrons.
``We would be idiots if we believed it was only about the Israeli captives,'' Hazem Saghieh, a senior Lebanese columnist with the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, told The Associated Press.
``The issue, at the end of the day, is all about Syria and Iran, and Hezbollah is just giving them more trump cards,'' Saghieh said.
Wednesday's seizure of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas came at a time of mounting tensions between the two Mideast powers and the West.
Iran is embroiled in a diplomatic fight with Europe and the U.S. over its nuclear program. Washington accuses Syria of sending insurgents to Iraq, interfering in Lebanon and hosting the Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.Read the rest.

Stone Temple Pilots Video 'Vasoline'

Thursday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Stone Temple Pilots 'Vasoline'. Yes I know I posted Thursdays installment yesterday, but that was when I thought I would have little time to post today. Anyway enjoy.

Complete list of Rock Videos

Ahmadinejad and Hizbullah bring war to Israel

Ahmadinejad and his puppets Hizbullah have joined Syria and their puppets Hamas in bringing war to the middle east as they attack and kidnap Israelis. Click on any of the links below to finish reading the story.

Bush, Merkel Call for Restraint in Mideast
By TOM RAUM
STRALSUND, Germany (AP) - President Bush said Thursday that Israel has the right to defend itself, as it launched fresh attacks on Lebanon after the capture of Israeli soldiers.
Bush, visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel en route later in the week to the G-8 summit in Russia, laid the blame for the escalation of violence along the border on Hezbollah, whose guerrillas mounted a cross-border raid earlier in the week and captured the two soldiers. He also said that Syria ``needs to be held to account'' for supporting and harboring Hezbollah.

Israeli Military Bombs Hamas, Warns Syria as it Seeks Soldier's Release
By IBRAHIM BARZAK
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 28, 2006; 2:09 PM
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Israeli warplanes buzzed the seaside home of Syria's president and bombed Hamas targets in Gaza on Wednesday to pressure Palestinian militants to free a kidnapped Israeli soldier.
Fighter jets also knocked out electricity and water supplies for most of the 1.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip. Three bridges also were destroyed to keep militants from moving Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19, who was taken hostage Sunday by three Hamas-affiliated groups.

Hizbullah wants soldiers moved to Iran
By YAAKOV KATZ
Israel has information that Hizbullah guerrillas who captured two Israeli soldiers are trying to transfer them to Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.
Regev did not disclose the source of his information.
The IDF released the names of the two soldiers on Thursday. According to the IDF Spokesperson, the two reserve are Ehud Goldwasser, 31, from Nahariya, and Eldad Regev, 26, from Kiryat Motzkin.
Hizbullah guerrillas, who are backed by Iran, seized the soldiers Wednesday in a cross-border raid.

The Hezbollah's History
The history of Hezbollah begins with the 1982 occupation of Beirut and southern Lebanon by Israel. Israel had re-invaded the country in an effort to control members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) who had settled there and were carrying out attacks on Israel. In response Shi'ite Muslims with the assistance of Iranian Revolutionary Guards formed Hezbollah to combat the Israeli presence, and ultimately to assist the Palestinians in their fight for statehood.
The group began to execute a series of operations against Israeli and U.S. targets; the U.S. forces were in Lebanon as part of a UN Peace-keeping mission, and between 1983 and 1985, elements of Hezbollah attacked the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, car-bombed the U.S. Embassy and later attacked the embassy's annex.

Shades of 2000 U.S. Election- Mexican leftists Mass

Reminiscent of the 2000 presidential election(how Bush stole the 2000 election) in the US, even after a recount the Left, Libs, Democrats, Socialists, and the like in Mexico can not believe that they could have lost an election. They of superior morals, intellect, and policies could not have gotten fewer votes than the opposition "somebody miscounted, we were robbed"!

Supporters of Mexican leftist begin massing
Presidential election protests will call for ballot-by-ballot recount
Updated: 12:08 a.m. CT July 12, 2006

MONTERREY, Mexico - Supporters of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador headed to Mexico City on Wednesday, leaving mountain towns and sprawling industrial cities to demand a ballot-by-ballot recount.
Protesters gathered outside the country’s 300 electoral districts before heading to the capital, where a mass rally is planned for Sunday to denounce official results showing conservative Felipe Calderon as the apparent winner of the July 2 election.
Carrying signs that read “Vote by vote! No to electoral fraud!” and wearing yellow, the color of Lopez Obrador’s Democratic Revolution Party, dozens of the candidate’s most fervent supporters began a 60-mile walk from his home state of Tabasco.
Lopez Obrador has filed legal appeals challenging the nearly 244,000-vote advantage Calderon had after an official tally of the more than 41 million votes cast. His party has submitted dozens of boxes stuffed with videos, campaign propaganda and other alleged proof of election misconduct.
Throughout his political career, Lopez Obrador has used street protests to pressure the government and the courts.
Last year, as Mexico City mayor, he led huge street protests that eventually forced President Vicente Fox’s administration to drop a legal case that would have kept Lopez Obrador out of the presidential race. Fox and Calderon are from the same party, the National Action Party.
On Saturday, more than 100,000 of his supporters gathered in Mexico City’s central plaza to hear his allegations of fraud.

Stone Temple Pilots Video 'Interstate Love Song'

An early Thursday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Stone Temple Pilots 'Interstate Love Song'.

Complete list of Rock Videos

Birds of a Feather- Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong IL

The two evil dictators, one who wants to wipe Israel off the map and the other that starves his own people to get humanitarian aid that he converts to currency to make weapons with, are continuing to combine resources to create weapons.(hat tip to Drudge)



Iran military engineers on hand for N. Korea missile launch

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, July 12, 2006

LONDON — Iranian military representatives attended North Korea's Taepodong-2 missile launch, according to Japanese news reports.
At least 10 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attended the Taepodong-2 intermediate missile launch. Japan's Sankei Shimbun and South Korea's official Yonhap news agency reported the IRGC personnel were senior engineers who sought to learn from Pyongyang's missile program.
Yonhap reported on July 1 that the IRGC engineers participated in the preparation for the Taepodong launch. The news agency said the IRGC has been examining Chinese-origin missile technology for Iranian procurement.
South Korean sources said Iran and North Korea could be planning a project for the joint development of new liquid missile propellant. Yonhap quoted the sources as saying that the propellant could be used for both Iranian and North Korean missiles.
Teheran and Pyongyang were said to be major partners in missile and nuclear weapons development. Western intelligence sources said Iran has been financing North Korea's intermediate-range ballistic missile program.Read the rest.

Pink Floyds Syd Barrett is Dead

The "band of the week" on this site last week has lost one of its founders Syd Barrett.
Syd Barrett, Founder of Pink Floyd, Dies at 60
Troubled Genius Composed Many of the Band's Early Songs
By JILL LAWLESS
AP
LONDON (July 11) - Syd Barrett, the troubled genius who co-founded Pink Floyd but spent his last years in reclusive anonymity, has died, the band said Tuesday. He was 60.
A spokeswoman for the band said Barrett died several days ago. She did not disclose the cause of death. Barrett had suffered from diabetes for many years.
The surviving members of the band - David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright - said they were "very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett's death.''
"Syd was the guiding light of the early band lineup and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire,'' they said in a statement.
Barrett co-founded Floyd in 1965 with Waters, Mason and Wright, and wrote many of the band's early songs. The group's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced, multimedia "happenings'' made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene. The 1967 album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' - largely written by Barrett, who also played guitar - was a commercial and critical hit.
However, Barrett suffered from mental instability, exacerbated by his use of LSD. His behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968 - five years before the release of the group's most popular album, "Dark Side of the Moon'' - to be replaced by Gilmour.Read more.
The original Pink Floyd -- Nick Mason, Richard Wright, Syd Barrett and Roger Waters -- at BBC Studios in 1967. David Gilmour would replace Barrett in the Floyd lineup.
In tribute here is another Floyd video- Flaming from 1968.

Complete list of Rock Videos

Stone Temple Pilots Video 'Plush'

Tuesday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Stone Temple Pilots 'Plush.'

Complete list of Rock Videos

Kim Jong IL Continues Provocations.

Dictator Kim kept up his rhetoric this week as well as firing off a half dozen or so missiles with more apparently on the launch pad.

N.Korea May Try Launching Another Long-Range Missile
North Korea has another long-range Taepodong-2 missile of the kind that crashed into the ocean after launch on Wednesday, according to a confidential report by South Korea's National Intelligence Service. That means another test launch is likely once the North figures out how to fix the defect that scuppered the first attempt. Officials also contradicted reports Wednesday that the missile blew up in midair 42 seconds after launch, saying it actually traveled for seven minutes after veering from its original trajectory.

The report was submitted to the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee on Thursday. Committee members quoted it as saying North Korea at the beginning of May moved two Taepodong-2 missiles from Pyongyang. Based on the hypothesis that the missile failed due to a technical defect, there is a A very strong possibility that the North will launch the second missile once the problem has been scrutinized and fixed.
Meanwhile South Korea's leftist President Roh Moo-Hyun maintains his silence on the matter as he continues to send aid to his comrade in the North.
President Keeps Mum on N.Korea's Missile Launch
President Roh Moo-hyun maintained his public silence Friday about North Korea's test launch of seven missiles two days earlier. Roh appeared in public for the first time since the test launches to preside over a forum for innovation in public organizations, but did not mention the missile issue. Including the time since intelligence about an imminent launch became more concrete in mid-June, Roh has been silent on an issue that drew condemnation from global leaders for 19 days now. At a celebration for Korean War veterans on June 25, he merely said, As the North Korean missile issue shows, the security situation on the Korean Peninsula can change at any time.
Critics feel Roh is not doing enough as head of state of North Korea's immediate neighbor, saying the silence is particularly marked coming from a usually outspoken president. By contrast, Roh has been vocal in favoring the North, telling Koreans in Los Angeles in November 2004 that there was some sense in Pyongyang's attempt to obtain nuclear weapons, and promising many concessions to the North during a Mongolia visit in May this year.
Bush attempts consensus building on the matter. Good luck accomplishing that at the U.N. or with getting any Chinese or Russian support.

Bush Wants Clear Lines Set for N. Korea

By JENNIFER LOVEN
CHICAGO (AP) - President Bush said Friday he wants to rally world support in confronting North Korea over its missile tests to send an unmistakable message to the leader of the communist regime.
``It's your choice, Kim Jong Il. You've got the choice to make,'' Bush said.
Bush sought to explain why he was committed to seeking U.N. Security Council support on dealing with North Korea, whereas he launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003 after failing to obtain the council's support.
``All diplomatic options were exhausted as far as I was concerned'' in confronting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, Bush said.
At the same time, Bush conceded that awaiting U.N. consensus, both on dealing with North Korea and Iran, was adding to delay.
``You know, the problem with diplomacy: It takes a while to get something done. If you're acting alone, you can move quickly,'' Bush said
He said he wanted to make clear to the North Korean leader ``with more than one voice'' that the world condemned the test firing this week of seven missiles, including a long-range missile that failed.

Fertilizer aid bound for the North Korean city of Haeju is loaded at Ulsan Port on Thursday.Yonhap

Beltway Traffic Jam
Hot Air Vent with Nichelle Malkin

Pink Floyd Video 'Money'

Thursday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Featuring Pink Floyd's 'Money'.

Complete list of Rock Videos

Soldier Surprised to see a Special Superior Officer!

The following article appeared in the Omaha World Herald recently. I mention it because the soldier is the son of one of this blogs contributors, Ruzz. This is the second son Ruzz has had serve in Iraq. I am sure he is very proud of the two of them and may we thank them for their service and pray for their safety.

Published Tuesday June 20, 2006
Soldier surprised to see a special superior officer
BY C. DAVID KOTOK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - Spc. Kraig Shaw of Lincoln initially thought his eyes were deceiving him as he entered the Camp Shelby medical records building Monday to clear the way to go home.
In the doorway stood his mom. After a hug, Shaw told his mom he loved her. And while those are not words an enlisted soldier often says to a noncommissioned officer, this was an exception.
Sgt. 1st Class Lynn Barnes is part of a group from the Nebraska National Guard dispatched to Camp Shelby to make sure the demobilization of Troop A, 1st Squadron of the 167th Cavalry proceeded smoothly.
Barnes hadn't told her son she was coming.
Shaw was a late replacement to the unit, arriving in February at its base in Ramadi, Iraq.
If he insisted on volunteering, Barnes had preferred that Shaw be
assigned to one of the other Nebraska Guard units stationed at a safer base. "But she knew that was not going to happen," said Shaw, 20. "I like the Cav."
Shaw likes it so much that he already has volunteered to return to Iraq to serve with the rest of the squadron, which is stationed at Camp Anaconda north of Baghdad.

Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom
Omaha World-Herald
Camp Shelby
Balad Airbase/Camp Anaconda / LSA Anaconda
"Mortaritaville"

Pink Floyd Video 'Comfortably Numb'

Belated Tuesday installment of "Rock Band of the Week". Featuring Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'.


Complete list of Rock Videos

Fourth of July!!!

May you all have a safe Holiday!

The History of July 4th: America's Birthday
Summertime: the smell of the barbecue, the roar of holiday crowds at events throughout the land, family, picnics and the beach. It's America's annual birthday party and everyone is invited.
Although July 4th is celebrated as America's official split from Britain's rule and the beginning of the American Revolution, the actual series of events show that the process took far longer than a single day.
The original resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7, 1776, and called for the Continental Congress to declare the United States free from British rule. Three days later a committee headed by Thomas Jefferson was appointed to prepare an appropriate writing for the occasion.
The document that we know as the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress on July 4th, although the resolution that led to the writing of the Declaration was actually approved two days earlier.


All of this had occurred with some of the delegates to the Congress not even present. New York, for example, didn't vote on the resolution until July 9th.

Even more interesting is the fact that not a single signature was appended to the Declaration on July 4th. While most of the fifty-six names were in place by early August, one signer, Thomas McKean, didn't actually sign the Declaration until 1781.

Nevertheless, July 4th was the day singled out to mark the event of the United States establishing itself as a nation.
Video- Faith Hill's -Star Spangled Banner

AN ARTIST'S FREEDOM IN IRAQ

AN ARTIST'S FREEDOM IN IRAQ
Until recently, Kalat, an Iraqi artist, spent his talent making statues of Saddam Hussein. Two Kalat statues of the deposed Iraqi leader on horseback were dynamited by American soldiers when they took control of Saddam's palace at Tikrit.

Kalat melted the statues down and created a memorial to fallen U.S. soldiers. Members of the 4th Infantry Division paid $18,000 for the work, which will be taken to Ft. Hood, TX.









Kalat, a local Iraqi artist, pauses to look at a memorial he has been working on to honor the fallen soldiers of 4th Infantry Division. The new statue stands in a former palace of Saddam Hussein that currently serves as the 4th ID headquarters at Forward Operating Base Ironhorse.