Saddam Hussein's Belongings Up for Sale Online

Haitham Wihaib, once the right-hand man of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, is selling gifts that he claims Saddam gave him in an effort to raise over $700,000 for Iraqi schools. Wihaib worked for more than a decade as the Iraqi Chief of Protocol under Saddam Hussein, and has now set up a website where he is accepting bids for a variety of Saddam's former possessions, including watches, jewelry, clothing, and pens.

The highlight and centerpiece of Waihaib's collection is a custom-made gold Rolex watch, featuring dozens of diamonds laid into the watch face and bracelet. UK newspaper, The Mail on Sunday, confirmed the watch is real and asserts that his $200,000 valuation is accurate.

Wihaib also claims that Saddam was partial to French designer accessories, such as his Christian Dior sunglasses and Cartier pens. As expected, these items are also up for grabs. The Dior sunglasses are being offered for $12,000, and a Cartier pen he claims Saddam used to sign death warrants is going for about $5,000.

Wihaib has no way to prove that the items did in fact belong to Saddam Hussein, but he has built up an international reputation as an expert on his former boss, conducting lectures in the U.S., Japan, South American, and Australia.

So far none of the souvenirs have sold, but Wihaib did say, "This is for a good cause so I am not going to stop. People may say these things didn't belong to Saddam and that I cannot prove it, but they are wrong."

The items for sale are listed on Wihaib's personal website, which you can access here.