Saddam's Snacks vs Flatbread with Sweet Onion

Raisin Bran Crunch for breakfast and Doritos as a snack food appear to be favorites of Saddam Hussein, according to the young solders of the Pennsylvania National Guard who had been keeping an eye on him for a year.  Right. Of the American processed foods he is offered, these he prefers.
We have no idea what else is on the menu but a steady diet of American snack foods is probably still acceptable under the Geneva Conventions.
( Yes, the guy is  scum--let him eat Twinkies!)

What the American public is learning about Iraqi customs, Muslim religion, folklore, and history, let alone cuisine, could probably be inscribed on the head of a pin, with room to spare. But then...
Cucumbers grew lushly in the hanging gardens of Babylon, for example.  Babylon is Iraq, what??!!

We heard on the radio the other day great shock and horror expressed at the notion that Saddam, once  ready  to do his business, as it were, did not use toilet paper!!!!!!! Ohmygawd. Squeeze the Charmin, NOT!
Thirty plus years ago serving in the Peace Corps in Iran, we were introduced to the middle eastern custom of pouring water on one's business region, post business,  no t. paper involved.
Seemed sensible at the time and still does today, in truth.
Now go wash your hands.

Back to food---Pomegranate soup, spiced eggplant stuffed with meat, chickpea fritters, flatbreads with sweet onions, cold yogurt and tomato soup, minced meat mixed with nuts and raisins, lamb marinated in yogurt and cooked as kebabs, rice seasoned with saffron.......pastries made with rosewater......