Headquarters is a palace

FLTLT Kara Warner settles in to palace life. Photo by CPL Darren Hilder

By CAPT Phil Pyke
IT was certainly a palace fit for a king. Well, a former Iraqi president at least.
The palace on the outskirts of Baghdad has become the temporary home for ASNHQ Baghdad as the Australian Government assists in the rebuilding of Iraq.

Set up in a large marbled hall, with ornate carvings in the domed ceiling, ASNHQ works side by side with the Coalition Force Land Component Command also in the building.

Despite its opulence, the palace suffered bomb damage in the early stages of the war with Coalition aircraft targeting Saddam’s bedroom and other buildings within the extensive complex. Looters also caused damage.

The ASNHQ Baghdad reconnaissance group spent many hours clearing the rubble and debris to establish the headquarters before the arrival of the main party.

ASNHQ Baghdad Commander Group Captain Ian Meyn said although the contingent was living in a palace, it was “on stretchers and sleeping bags, eating US Meals Ready to Eat and every day cleaning up” dust and dirt blown in to the damaged building.

Rumour among Coalition forces said that Saddam never stayed in the low-order palace, which appeared to be still under construction. He allegedly chose a much smaller house within the country club-style complex for personal safety.

Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill and Chief of Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove recently visited the palace after meetings with the then US administrator, retired General Jay Garner, in Baghdad.

They inspected ASNHQ and the damage caused to the palace by the 500lb bomb, as well as meeting ADF personnel who make up the tri-service headquarters. Senator Hill took the opportunity to thank them for their highly professional and successful mission.

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