October 13, 2005
Rally the Troops
Today, in an event to rally the MOI Commando forces before the October 15 referendum, the Minister of Interior hosted a parade. Shown front row from left to right: The Minister of Defense Saadoun al-Dulaimi, the Minister of Interior Baker Jabor, the commander of the MOI Commando Forces General Adnon Thabit and the Deputy Minister of Interior for Police General Ali Ghalib. 
Never before have I seen a “Welcome to the Ministry of Interior Commando Base” restaurant sign. Only in Iraq! 
And what is a parade without a band? Too bad they were stuck behind a fence the entire time. 
And no, this isn’t a riot. The Commandos are just happy to see the Minister. 
Saddam Heads
Contrary to wild rumor, the copper Saddam heads which used to rest on top of the former Presidential Palace have not been melted down into coins, shipped off to the Smithsonian or stored at the Baghdad Museum. They are currently placed at Camp Prosperity and have become a low grade tourist site. A friend from grad school, Russell Anderson recently arrived in Iraq and so I took him to see some of the heads. Only the best in Baghdad! 
