A new U-S government report says Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is spending billions of dollars on luxury palaces and imported whiskey, while at the same time complaining about a lack of food and medicine for his people. The State Department report relies on newly declassified spy satellite photos that show how much progress has been made on several large palaces. Officials say five of nine major palace complexes are located near Baghdad, and feature elaborate gardens, man-made lakes and waterfalls. State Department spokesman James Rubin says more than two-billion dollars has been spent on palace construction in Iraq since the gulf war. In these types of palaces, they feature marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and according to eyewitnesses, gold plated faucets and other excesses.
Declassified photos show ships lining up near the refinery.
About 700 were found to be carrying illegal cargo, but officials confess they do not know how much is sneaking though.