Feds Seize Armor-Plated Car Bought in Iraq (by Army reservist )

Feds Seize Armor-Plated Car Bought in Iraq
By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Federal agents seized a Mercedes-Benz from an Army reservist who said the armor-plated, bulletproof luxury car probably belonged to Saddam Hussein.

First Sgt. William von Zehle said he bought the car while serving in Iraq. U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement agents said the car, which was also equipped with loudspeakers and hidden microphones, was being treated as a "possible war trophy."

"It belonged to the former Iraqi regime," ICE spokesman Dean Boyd said. He said investigators were unsure whether the former Iraqi dictator actually owned it.

Von Zehle was quoted in news stories last summer as saying he bought the car for about $5,000 in 2003 while serving in Baghdad with the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion. "I can't prove it, but yeah, this was Saddam Hussein's car," he said.

The car was seized Thursday. A call to von Zehle's home in Ridgefield on Friday was not immediately returned.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060519/ap_on_re_us/iraqi_car_seized

The sidearm has made its way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Sources say that the military had the pistol mounted after the soldiers seized it from Saddam and that it was then presented to the President privately by some of the troops who played a key role in ferreting out the old tyrant.

...

"He really liked showing it off," says a recent visitor to the White House who has seen the gun. "He was really proud of it."