Al Rasheed Hotel
Encyclopedia
Hotel Al-Rasheed (Arabic,فندق الرشيد) is an 18-story hotel
in Baghdad
, Iraq
, favored by journalist
s and media
personnel. It is named for Harun Al-Rashid
.
In 1982, in the midst of the Iran-Iraq War, in an attempt to show the world that Iraq was stable and safe, Saddam Hussein was planning to host the international Non-Aligned Movement
Conference in the hotel. Legendary Iranian general and fighter pilot ace Abbas Doran led a large air attack on Baghdad to prove Saddam wrong, and hit military targets all over the city. When his F-4 Phantom fighter plane was badly hit, rather than ejecting and being taken prisoner (or possibly murdered), he crashed his fighter jet into the building, badly damaging it. The conference was hosted that year in New Delhi rather than Baghdad, and Doran is revered today as a legendary pilot and martyr in Iran.
It gained worldwide fame during the 1991 Persian Gulf War
when CNN
conducted their newscasts from the hotel, propelling the network's senior war correspondent Peter Arnett
to the apex of journalism fame. Between the Persian Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, the building was the main housing facility for Western businessmen and diplomat
s, as well as foreign press.
After the invasion, the hotel was converted into a base for the Coalition
and the American military. On October 26, 2003 twenty-eight 68 mm and 85 mm Katyusha rockets were fired at and struck the hotel, killing Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Buehring and injuring 17 others. An additional 12 rockets failed to fire and remained in their tubes in the improvised launcher which was located less than 250 meters from the hotel. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz
was staying in the hotel the night of the attack but was unhurt while author and Department of Labor official Craig Davis
was injured.
A tile mosaic
depicting U.S. President
George H.W. Bush with a look of astonishment on his face was installed on the floor of the lobby after the Persian Gulf War. This was intended to force any visitors to walk over his face to enter the hotel (a serious insult in Arab
culture). The mosaic was smashed by U.S. soldiers after the invasion, who replaced it with one of Saddam Hussein
.
Before the 2003 invasion of Iraq
the hotel housed a shopping centre. The shops offered handmade items, souvenirs, carpets and jewellery shops. The hotel also housed an internet cafe in 2002. From 2005 through 2006 when a U.S. military Dining Facility (DFAC) was located in its lobby restaurant, the shops did a brisk business with American servicemembers. As of 2009, the shops and the internet cafe have returned, as well as a cafe. The hotel hosts meetings for economic development. Its position astride the International Zone ("Green Zone") boundary allows relative ease for meetings that can be attended by Iraqis residing outside the International Zone.
The hotel was renovated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the help of local manpower and renovations were completed in 2008.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, favored by journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s and media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
personnel. It is named for Harun Al-Rashid
Harun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
.
In 1982, in the midst of the Iran-Iraq War, in an attempt to show the world that Iraq was stable and safe, Saddam Hussein was planning to host the international Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
Conference in the hotel. Legendary Iranian general and fighter pilot ace Abbas Doran led a large air attack on Baghdad to prove Saddam wrong, and hit military targets all over the city. When his F-4 Phantom fighter plane was badly hit, rather than ejecting and being taken prisoner (or possibly murdered), he crashed his fighter jet into the building, badly damaging it. The conference was hosted that year in New Delhi rather than Baghdad, and Doran is revered today as a legendary pilot and martyr in Iran.
It gained worldwide fame during the 1991 Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
when CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
conducted their newscasts from the hotel, propelling the network's senior war correspondent Peter Arnett
Peter Arnett
Peter Gregg Arnett, ONZM is a New Zealand-American journalist.Arnett worked for National Geographic magazine, and later for various television networks, most notably CNN. He is well known for his coverage of war, including the Vietnam War and the Gulf War...
to the apex of journalism fame. Between the Persian Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, the building was the main housing facility for Western businessmen and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
s, as well as foreign press.
After the invasion, the hotel was converted into a base for the Coalition
Multinational force in Iraq
The Multi-National Force – Iraq was a military command, led by the United States, which was responsible for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Multi-National Force – Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United...
and the American military. On October 26, 2003 twenty-eight 68 mm and 85 mm Katyusha rockets were fired at and struck the hotel, killing Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Buehring and injuring 17 others. An additional 12 rockets failed to fire and remained in their tubes in the improvised launcher which was located less than 250 meters from the hotel. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz
Paul Wolfowitz
Paul Dundes Wolfowitz is a former United States Ambassador to Indonesia, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, President of the World Bank, and former dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University...
was staying in the hotel the night of the attack but was unhurt while author and Department of Labor official Craig Davis
Craig Davis (author)
Craig S. Davis is an international development and anti-corruption specialist, expert on the Muslim world, and author of multiple publications, including the Middle East for Dummies . He has worked extensively in the developing world, primarily the Middle East and South Asia, as a government...
was injured.
A tile mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
depicting U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George H.W. Bush with a look of astonishment on his face was installed on the floor of the lobby after the Persian Gulf War. This was intended to force any visitors to walk over his face to enter the hotel (a serious insult in Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
culture). The mosaic was smashed by U.S. soldiers after the invasion, who replaced it with one of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
.
Before the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
the hotel housed a shopping centre. The shops offered handmade items, souvenirs, carpets and jewellery shops. The hotel also housed an internet cafe in 2002. From 2005 through 2006 when a U.S. military Dining Facility (DFAC) was located in its lobby restaurant, the shops did a brisk business with American servicemembers. As of 2009, the shops and the internet cafe have returned, as well as a cafe. The hotel hosts meetings for economic development. Its position astride the International Zone ("Green Zone") boundary allows relative ease for meetings that can be attended by Iraqis residing outside the International Zone.
The hotel was renovated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the help of local manpower and renovations were completed in 2008.