Victory Base Complex (VBC) was a cluster of
U.S. military installations surrounding the
Baghdad International Airport
Baghdad International Airport , previously Saddam International Airport ( ar, مطار بغداد الدولي, Maṭār Baġdād ad-Dawaliyy) is Iraq's largest international airport, located in a suburb about west of downtown Baghdad in the ...
(BIAP). The primary component of the VBC was
Camp Victory
Camp Victory was the primary component of the Victory Base Complex (VBC) which occupied the area surrounding the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). The Al-Faw Palace, which served as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps – Iraq (and la ...
, the location of the
Al-Faw Palace
The Al Faw Palace (also known as the ''Water Palace'') is located in Baghdad approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) from the Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Saddam Hussein commissioned its construction in the 1990s to commemorate the Iraqi forces' ...
, which served as the headquarters for the
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Multinational may refer to:
* Multinational corporation, a corporate organization operating in multiple countries
* Multinational force, a military body from multiple countries
* Multinational state, a sovereign state that comprises two or more na ...
, and later as the headquarters for the
United States Forces - Iraq
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
.
Installations
Camp Cropper
Camp Cropper was a holding facility for security detainees.
Camp Dublin
Camp Dublin was part of VBC and was the headquarters of the
Iraqi Federal Police - Special Training Academy, including a secluded part in which an Italian
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri (, also , ; formally ''Arma dei Carabinieri'', "Arm of Carabineers"; previously ''Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali'', "Royal Carabineers Corps") are the national gendarmerie of Italy who primarily carry out domestic and foreign polic ...
Contingent was hosted. The scope of the latter was to provide a Gendarmery training to the Iraqi Federal Police (IFP), as part of the
NATO Training Mission - Iraq and according to the prerogatives of this Italian Armed Force which performs police functions in its homeland. Italy withdrew its Carabinieri, terminating the training after a long and proficient cooperation with the Iraqi, in 2011.
FOB Ferdinand
FOB Ferdinand was a U.S. Army Special Forces and Iraqi Special Forces base created in 2007 on Camp Liberty.
Camp Liberty
Sather Air Base
The base was operated by the United States Air Force and attached to Baghdad International Airport.
Camp Slayer
The base contained the former
Al Radwaniyah Presidential Complex and contains several man-made lakes, a man-made hill (result of the man-made lakes), the Ba'ath Party House, the Victory Over America Palace, Perfume Palace, and dozens of smaller luxury homes for Ba'ath Party notables.
During the
Iraq War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق ( Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict and the War on terror
, image ...
, it was most notable for being the headquarters of the
Iraq Survey Group until 2005.
Perfume Palace
The Perfume Palace was untouched during the US
shock and awe
Shock and awe (technically known as rapid dominance) is a military strategy based on the use of overwhelming power and spectacular displays of force to paralyze the enemy's perception of the battlefield and destroy their will to fight. Though ...
bombing campaign due to its circular dome, which closely resembled a mosque. Following the invasion, the Palace was used as the main headquarters of the Iraq Survey Group and received minor damage from insurgent mortar fire, during the US occupancy.
Ba'ath Party Recreation Palace
Ba'ath Party Recreation Palace was located in the center of a manmade lake, just southeast of Baghdad's International Airport. The building was split into four main quadrants, one of which suffered a direct hit during the US shock and awe campaign. The four quadrants are separated by two covered, air conditioned boat landings. The quadrants consisted of a theater, ballroom, conference room and swimming pool. Shortly after the 2003 US invasion, the building was heavily looted.
Victory Over America Palace
Construction of the Victory Over America Palace was commissioned by
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein ( ; ar, صدام حسين, Ṣaddām Ḥusayn; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolutio ...
following his assertion of victory over the US, ending the 1991
Gulf War
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
. Construction was brought to an abrupt halt during the shock and awe campaign of the US in 2003, receiving a direct hit and leaving one of the construction cranes standing limp, with its boom collapsed from the explosion. The Victory Over America Palace was constructed immediately behind, and adjacent to, the smaller Victory Over Iran Palace. The two palaces are frequently confused for a single building, and one or both are sometimes mislabeled.
Uday House
One of many homes of
Uday Hussein
Uday Saddam Hussein ( ar, عدي صدام حسين; 18 June 1964 – 22 July 2003) was an Iraqi politician and the eldest son of Saddam Hussein. He held numerous positions as a sports chairman, military officer and businessman, and was the head ...
, Uday House was located just southeast of Baghdad International Airport. Uday House is famous for being one of, if not the only, private residence that was targeted and hit with cruise missiles during the US shock and awe campaign. (Not to be confused with the villa owned by Nawaf az-Zeidan, where Uday and his brother Qusay were killed by US forces.)
Flintstone House
With much of Saddam Hussein's palace complexes shrouded behind stone walls, few knew much about the facilities inside. The Flintstone House received notoriety with US soldiers due to its unique appearance and was thus named since little else was known about the facility prior to the US occupation of the site. The facility is best described as an elaborate playhouse for children, in its prime having running water, operable kitchen and elevators. The name "Flintstone" conveys a comparison to the animated sitcom ''
The Flintstones
''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the activities of the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighb ...
'', due to the facilities
Stone-Age appearance.
Camp Striker
Camp Striker was one of several logistical and life support bases within the Victory Base Complex, Baghdad,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
(near
Camp Victory
Camp Victory was the primary component of the Victory Base Complex (VBC) which occupied the area surrounding the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). The Al-Faw Palace, which served as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps – Iraq (and la ...
). Amenities on Camp Striker include a Burger King, Pizza Hut and Green Beans Coffee cafe, as well as an AAFES
Base exchange
An exchange is a type of retail store found on United States military installations worldwide. Originally akin to trading posts, they now resemble contemporary department stores or strip malls. Exact terminology varies by armed service; some examp ...
and several third-party markets. The Dining Facility (DFAC) was purported to be the second largest in Iraq. In November 2007, the 1.2 mile main road on Striker was paved.
Camp Striker was established in 2003 by the 2nd Brigade,
1st Armored Division (United States), known as the "Strike Hard" Brigade. Members of the brigade are referred to as "Strikers". Although the spelling of the camp has been at times spelled as "Stryker" (as in the armored vehicle), the spelling was officially fixed as "Striker" in January 2009 by order of the Victory Base Complex garrison commander.
Camp Victory
The camp contained the
Al-Faw Palace
The Al Faw Palace (also known as the ''Water Palace'') is located in Baghdad approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) from the Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Saddam Hussein commissioned its construction in the 1990s to commemorate the Iraqi forces' ...
, which served as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps – Iraq and later United States Forces – Iraq.
Logistics Base Seitz
Victory Fuel Point
The Victory Fuel Point fuel thefts were a series of thefts of diesel and
jet fuel in 2007 and 2008 from the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
's Victory Fuel Point and Camp Liberty fuel depots in the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. In the thefts, a group of Americans and Nepalese using fake military identification cards and forged requisition documents tricked US military personnel into allowing them access to the depot to fill up tank trucks with millions of gallons of fuel. The thieves would then drive the trucks to downtown Baghdad and sell the fuel on the Iraqi
black market.
In 2008, after an investigation by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...
and the
National Procurement Fraud Task Force
National may refer to:
Common uses
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* National, Maryland, c ...
, Lee William Dubois, 32, of Lexington, South Carolina pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in the fuel scam. On August 25, 2009 Dubois was sentenced to three years in prison. Dubois had paid $450,000 to the government he had made through his participation in the crime.
On April 24, 2009 12 more Americans, including Robert John Jeffery, 55, of Neosho, Missouri, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia for the same offense. The indictment alleges that the twelve stole at least of fuel from the Iraq depot. Jeffery's trial is set to begin on August 10, 2009.
On July 24, 2009 Robert Young, 56, pleaded guilty to stealing $39 million of fuel between October 2007 and May 2008 from Camp Liberty of which he kept $1 million in personal profit. Young's sentencing was set for October 30, 2009.
On July 27, 2009 Michel Jamil, 59, of
Annandale, Virginia
Annandale () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia.[Chief Warrant Officer
Chief warrant officer is a military rank used by the United States Armed Forces, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Pakistan Air Force, the Israel Defense Forces, the South African National Defence Force, the Lebanese Armed Forces and, since 2012, th ...]
Joseph Crenshaw, went on trial in 2009 and 2010. Key has pleaded guilty. Crenshaw was acquitted of the charges on January 6, 2010.
['']New York Post
The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com.
It was established ...
'', "Vet Cleared In Iraq Scam", January 7, 2010, p. 8.
See also
*
Iraq War order of battle 2009
Below is an estimated list of the major units deployed within the Multi-National Force – Iraq and other United States military units that were operating in Iraq under the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) in 2009, during the Iraq War.
In militar ...
References
External links
Camp Slayerfrom Globalsecurity.org
Defense Video and Imagery: Victory Base Camp drawdown from Iraq. Operation New Dawn(October, 2011)
{{coord, 33.243822, N, 44.219979, E, region:IQ-BG_type:landmark_source:dewiki, display=title
Installations of the United States Army in Iraq