Pressure growing on IRA to make convincing move that war is over

ABOUT the only thing missing from the American triumphalism and razzmatazz in Baghdad was a press release saying that Hello! magazine had secured the photographic rights to Saddam’s numerous palaces.

It would have been entirely appropriate had the magazine negotiated a deal for exclusive rights to bring to the world the obscene luxury that Saddam enjoyed while his people wallowed in poverty.

As it was, we saw some marines gawking in awe at the 24-carat taps and showers and the gold-bordered mosaics in one of the palaces which had been stripped from floor-to-ceiling of furniture.