I'm so surprised
The Times (UK) reveals that Saddam defends palaces against arms inspectors:

IRAQ and America were locked in confrontation last night as Saddam Hussein rejected US attempts to give weapons inspectors access to his presidential palaces.

The Iraqi President told the UN he would accept inspectors on condition that they did not violate Iraq's "rights, sovereignty, security". The demand was immediately rejected by the US, which accused him of trying to "lure the world down the same dead-end road" it has travelled before.

Watch the weasel boy dance.

Earlier, it had emerged that Washington wants the inspectors to be given new powers to search Saddam?s eight presidential palaces. Under current rules of engagement, they have restricted access to the sprawling complexes.

Only eight? Saddam seems to have "palaces" everywhere. Most estimates are around 50 - see 1, and 2. And what palaces they are. Tharthar covers 2.5 square miles with a 1 square mile presidential compound with 45 structures.

This is all crap. Saddam is a bazaar huckster who cons the gullible. He's fortunate that they don't seem to be in short supply.