Hands of Victory

The Swords of Qādisīyah, also called the Hands of Victory, are a pair of triumphal arches in central Baghdad, Iraq. Each arch consists of a pair of hands holding crossed swords. The two arches mark the entrances to a parade-ground constructed to commemorate then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's declaration of victory over Iran in the Iran-Iraq war (though the war was considered by many to have ended in stalemate). The arches were opened to the public on August 8, 1989. It is one of Baghdad's sights and monuments.

History

In 1986 (two years before the war's end) the government of Iraq began the construction of a festival and parade ground in Zawra Park, near the extensive presidential complex in the center of Baghdad. Known as "Grand Festivities Square", it comprised a large parade ground, an extensive review pavilion, and the two arches. The official name of the arches, the "Swords of Qādisiyyah", is an allusion to the historical Battle of al-Qādisiyyah.

Iraq's leading sculptor, Adil Kamil, won the commission to design and execute the construction of the arches, which were based on a concept sketch made by president Saddam Hussein. The design consists of a pair of massive hands emerging from the ground, each holding a 140 foot (43 m) long sword. A small flagpole rises from the point where the swords meet, at a point about ft to m|130|precision=0 above the ground. Kamil used photographs and plaster casts of Hussein's forearms to model for the design of the hands. When Kamil died in 1987, with the monument incomplete, his position was assumed by fellow artist Mohammed Ghani. Ghani personally took an impression of one of Saddam's thumbs, and the resulting fingerprint was added to the mold for one of the arches' thumbs.

The arches were made by an international consortium led by the German foundry H+H Metalform. The blades of the stainless steel swords weigh 24 tons each. Cast in Iraq, they are partly composed of metal from guns and tanks of Iraqi soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq war. The hands and arms of the monument are cast in bronze, cast in the United Kingdom at Morris Singer Founders. [ [http://www.msaf.co.uk/ Morris Singer Art Founders - Bronze Foundry for fine art casting and sculpture foundry work including modelling, enlarging, casting in bronze and other metals and installation ] ] The arms rest on concrete plinths, the form of which make the arms appear to burst up out of the ground. Each plinth holds 2,500 helmets of, what Saddam claimed, Iranian soldiers killed during the war, and are held in nets which spill the helmets on to the ground beneath.

On the day the monument was dedicated in 1990, Saddam rode under the arch astride a white horse. It has been suggested this was an allusion to the slain Shiite martyr Hussein, killed in Karbala in AD 680. The martyr Hussein's death caused the rift between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

The site was also home to the Museum of Gifts to the President and a performing arts center. The museum was located on the ground floor of the grand reviewing pavilion where Saddam was known to review the Republican Guard while firing a weapon in the air. The museum contained ordinary items donated by Iraqis during his rule. Items included cheap plastic ornaments and drawings donated by Iraqi children. [ [http://www.american-interrupted.com/pages/duffelbag/duffel_index.htm American, Interrupted: Explore Thompson's duffel bag from Iraq ] ]

The Grand Festivities Square also contained a large reflecting pool. The surrounding grassy areas hosted Iraqis during military parades. Adding to the festive appeal of the grounds were three refreshments booths that sold ice cream, cold beverages, and candy.

Samir al-Kalil's book "Monument: Art, Vulgarity, and Responsibility in Iraq" [cite book| isbn=0-520-07376-2| authorlink=Samir al-Kalil| first=Samir| last=al-Kalil| title=Monument: Art, Vulgarity, and Responsibility in Iraq| coauthors=aka Makiya, Kanan| location=Berkeley| publisher= University of California Press| year=1991] describes the Hands of Victory and Saddam's programme of producing lavish monument celebrating his reign.

The monument was not destroyed during the 1991 Gulf War, though General Norman Schwarzkopf wanted to. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/baghdad-monuments.htm Baghdad Monuments ] ] As of 2005 the arches remain standing in what is now the Green Zone of Baghdad. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1239873,00.html Fate of Saddam relics sparks debate | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited ] ] The hands are hollow and many troops and other coalition visitors have climbed up into them in order to protrude from the point at which the swords meet the hands, generally to have souvenir pictures taken.

Controversy

In February 2007, it was reported that the new Iraqi government had organized the Committee for Removing Symbols of the Saddam Era and that the Hands of Victory monument had begun to be dismantled. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17247398/site/newsweek/ Iraq Dismantles Saddam’s Big Monument - Newsweek: World News - MSNBC.com ] ] The demolition of the Hands of Victory began on Tuesday, February 20th, 2007. At that time, 10-foot chunks had been cut out of the bronze monument. Numerous Iraqi bystanders and coalition troops were seen taking Iranian helmets and bits of the monument away as souvenirs. The decision to remove the monument, made by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, was challenged by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who blocked the demolition on February 21st.

While no official statement was released by either the Prime Minister's Office or the U.S. Embassy, it is speculated the demolition was halted due to concerns the dismantling of the monument might further deepen the rift between Iraq's Shiite majority and its Sunni minority. Also, it was suggested the news images of U.S.-led coalition troops "looting" the monument might have negative effects on the mission in Iraq.

As of February 24th the demolition has been postponed.

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References

External links

* [http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/facility/baghdad.htm FAS page on Baghdad]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/baghdad-monuments.htm Baghdad's monuments]
* [http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0306/feature3/images/mp_download.3.pdf Map of central Baghdad]
* [http://www.morrissinger.co.uk/news-1.htm Sydney Morning Herald story about Saddam's thumbprints]
* [http://www.digitalglobe.com/images/baghdad/baghdad_unknown_soldier_april1_2003_dg.jpgDigital Globe satellite photograph] showing the Hands of Victory area in the bottom left (from [http://www.digitalglobe.com/press/imagesinthenews.shtml] )
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1239873,00.html Fate of Saddam relics sparks debate ]

Video

* [http://www.american-interrupted.com/media/video/saddam_museum.wmv Video of ransacked Museum of Gifts to the President at the Hands of Victory complex]
* [http://www.american-interrupted.com/media/video/Baghdad%20Parade%20Grounds.wmv Video of Hands of Victory and Grand Festivities Square]