Saddam writes poems, gardens in prison

LONDON – Saddam Hussein appears depressed and demoralised in solitary confinement, spending his time writing poetry, tending a garden and reading the Quran, according to a report published on Monday in The Guardian newspaper.

One of Saddam’s poems is about George Bush, though the report did not specify whether that referred to US President George W Bush or his father, former US President George Bush, Saddam’s foe in the 1991 Gulf War. The newspaper quoted Bakhtiar Amin, the human rights minister in the new Iraqi government, who said he had visited Saddam’s cell on Saturday.Amin said he did not speak to the former Iraqi leader.Bakhtiar said Saddam appeared “in good health and being kept in good conditions”, but he “appeared demoralised and dejected”, The Guardian reported.Saddam’s air-conditioned cell in a US military prison is three meters wide and four meters long, Amin said.Saddam is not allowed to mix with other prisoners.Amin had little to report on Saddam’s poetry.”One of the poems is about George Bush, but I had no time to read it,” Amin said.Saddam and other detainees get an MRE (meal ready to eat) breakfast, and hot food twice a day, Amin said.Dessert might include oranges, apples, pears or plums, but Saddam also likes American muffins and cookies, The Guardian quoted Amin as saying.Saddam is not allowed newspapers, TV or radio, but has access to 145 books – mostly travel books and novels – donated by the Red Cross.Amin said Saddam tends a garden during his daily three-hour exercise period.”He is looking after a few bushes and shrubs and has even placed a circle of white stones around a small palm tree,” said Amin.”His apparent care for his surroundings is ironic when you think he was responsible for one of the biggest ecocides when he drained the southern marshes.”- Nampa-APThe newspaper quoted Bakhtiar Amin, the human rights minister in the new Iraqi government, who said he had visited Saddam’s cell on Saturday.Amin said he did not speak to the former Iraqi leader.Bakhtiar said Saddam appeared “in good health and being kept in good conditions”, but he “appeared demoralised and dejected”, The Guardian reported.Saddam’s air-conditioned cell in a US military prison is three meters wide and four meters long, Amin said.Saddam is not allowed to mix with other prisoners.Amin had little to report on Saddam’s poetry.”One of the poems is about George Bush, but I had no time to read it,” Amin said.Saddam and other detainees get an MRE (meal ready to eat) breakfast, and hot food twice a day, Amin said.Dessert might include oranges, apples, pears or plums, but Saddam also likes American muffins and cookies, The Guardian quoted Amin as saying.Saddam is not allowed newspapers, TV or radio, but has access to 145 books – mostly travel books and novels – donated by the Red Cross.Amin said Saddam tends a garden during his daily three-hour exercise period.”He is looking after a few bushes and shrubs and has even placed a circle of white stones around a small palm tree,” said Amin.”His apparent care for his surroundings is ironic when you think he was responsible for one of the biggest ecocides when he drained the southern marshes.”- Nampa-AP