BAGHDAD, July 4: The US embassy in Iraq celebrated on Tuesday American Indepen-dence Day in a ballroom of Saddam Hussein’s former Republican palace, where the ousted leader’s sayings remain engraved in marble.

The event was hosted by US ambassador in Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and was attended by several Iraqi officials, including President Jalal Talabani.

Even as the Iraqi president and the ambassador gave speeches about the importance of democracy and the difficult transitions ahead for the country, they were surrounded by aphorisms, signed ‘The president and leader Saddam Hussein’.

A sampling follows:

— “If you are away from work or battle for some reason, make sure your presence is always felt through your shadow or your spoken words.”

— “Seize the opportunity and do not wait for it to be presented to you.”—AFP