Saddam Dedicated one of His Poems to A Guard, Al Hayat Obtains Part of His Memoirs

The pan-Arab newspaper al Hayat says it obtained part of Saddam Hussein's memoirs which were written while being held in Iraq. In his memoirs, Hussein wrote about the Iraqi doctors treating him for high blood pressure after his capture and noted that they've "spent real effort…and I think they're honest."

He also wrote about his guards and recounted how he joked with them. He also dedicated a poem he wrote to one of the guards, writing at the bottom of the page "to my friend, the human being Hocky. I knew you under difficult conditions in prison. You're a loving human being and friend and you're dedicated in doing your duty. I wish you and your family well and pray to God to make you succeed in your job."

Hussein also wrote that he washed his clothes himself so that he doesn't get "sexual diseases," but a military source denied this to al Hayat, explaining that the clothes were washed in specific places and Hussein was never given detergents or other things needed to wash clothes.

Al Hayat says Hussein knew he was being held in one of his palaces. As he was leaving his prison, he told the person accompanying him "I used to love this place, but it has changed," according to al Hayat. The paper does not specify how it obtained the memoirs. (go to the al Hayat article)