(Saddam) Hussein’s Gun May Go on Display at Bush Library

[sabra]

Source: NY Times

Many American presidents have kept prized possessions within reach during their White House years. Franklin D. Roosevelt cherished a 19th century ship model of the U.S.S. Constitution. One of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s favorite gifts was an engraved Steuben glass bowl from his cabinet. And sitting on John F. Kennedy’s desk in the Oval Office was a paperweight made from a coconut shell he had carved with a distress message after his PT-109 was sunk during World War II.

The objects have been bequeathed to the American public, accessible through a visit to each man’s presidential library and museum. And so when the library for George W. Bush opens in 2013 on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, visitors will most likely get to see one of his most treasured items: Saddam Hussein’s pistol.

The gun, a 9 millimeter Glock 18C, was found in the spider hole where the Iraqi leader was captured in December 2003 by Delta Force soldiers, four of whom later presented the pistol to Mr. Bush. Among the thousands of gifts Mr. Bush received as president, the gun became a favorite, a reminder of the pinnacle moment of the Iraq war, according to friends and long-time associates.

Before Mr. Bush left the White House in January, he made arrangements for the gun to be shipped to a national archives warehouse just 18 miles north of his new home in Dallas. His foundation said a final decision had not been made on including the gun in the presidential library. But his associates and visitors to the White House said Mr. Bush had told them of his intention to display it there.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/us/06gun.html?hp

[Kutjara]

1. I guess Saddam's shrunken head wasn't available?

Why doesn't it surprise me that, where other former Presidents kept mementos, Shrub keeps fetishes?

[DebbieCDC]

11. You beat me to it - my thought exactly

[lk9550]

20. ROFL

Good one.

[havocmom]

2. They gotta figure that will get SOMBODY to come by

[thereismore]

3. That's the real reason we went to war - bush wanted his gun. IMHO. nt

[TexasProgresive]

4. Oh! BOY

Another gun in Texas- we need that like we need a hole in the head. Oh! Wait that thing can give us a nine millimeter hole in the head. Sign me up!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Bah. Ya seen one Glock, ya seen ...

They need to display that Mauser-looking hunting rifle that Saddam used to announce that he was about to speak to the gathered throngs.

Sort of an 8mm gavel.

Do they have any books at the GWB Libary?

[asjr]

6. What is in his head as a substitute for a brain?

[lk9550]

21. A bunch of rocks, maybe?

Haha.

[Retrograde]

7. I'm not a psychologist

so I won't comment on the Freudian aspects of displaying the conquered enemy's gun...

[yellowcanine]

8. People will be writing all kinds of snarky comments on stickies and attaching them to the

display case.

The "Weapon of Mass Destruction" which Bush went to war over, etc.


I give that display about 1 week and the staff will demand that the gun be removed.

[grilled onions]

9. Is That Possession Legal?

Do "we" really own it? Does it belong to the people here? Or does it belong to the people in Iraq? Either way it doesn't sound like Bush has any rights to this piece of property.

[YDogg]

12. I wonder the same thing ...

[benld74]

10. When I visit the museum(nt) thats the first thing I want to see(dripping with sarcasm)

[lindisfarne]

13. .

:puke:

[AlphaCentauri]

14. this is another psycho episode n/t

[Stellabella]

15. That's just sick.

But since it's about Bush, it doesn't surprise me.

[No Elephants]

16. How many black humor jokes can you make about this quote from the OP:

"Among the thousands of gifts Mr. Bush received as president, the gun became a favorite, a reminder of the pinnacle moment of the Iraq war..."

Pinnacle momemnt? Out of the six years, three months and some days that we've been there, we had a pinnacle MOMENT? Which moment was that exactly? When we captured this gun? If so, why did we stay?

This guy LIKES reminders of the Iraq War.

God, how delusional can anyone be?

[gauguin57]

17. Pardon me while I turn around and puke.

Ugh.

[pinniped]

18. This POS was too chicken shit to face Sadaam in a duel to get it himself.

.

[lk9550]

19. Agreed

What a retard Dumbya is.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Euromutt]

23. I have to wonder about the legality of this

The Glock 18 and 18C are capable of three-round burst fire, and are therefore "machine guns" fr the purposes of federal law. Which means that, under the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986, it's illegal to import one except for military or law enforcement use. At first glance, I'd say it should be illegal for Bush to keep the gun privately, unless it's deactivated.