Since April of this year I've had a reprint of an article called "Kalat's Iraqi Comfort" on our website, SKOnline! in the "Letters From Iraq"

I recently received an update on this story from reader P. Jarvinen.  The information in the original story is correct up to a point.  Yochi J.Dreazen, reporting for the Wall Street Journal, fleshed out the story in the March 8, 2004 edition.  While the full story isn’t quite as touching as the original, in a sense, it’s better.  Mr. Alussy, better known as Kalat, had the opportunity in the free Iraq to do some things he could not have sculpting under Saddam. 

According to the sculptor, "I made the statues of Saddam — even though I didn't want to — because I needed money for my family and to finish my education.  And I decided to make statues for the Americans for the exact same reasons."

He had the freedom to say no, had he wanted to, to the US request.  Try telling Saddam NO!  Kalat has now the freedom to criticize the current government and occupying forces, many under Saddam who so much as told a joke about Saddam, or even looked at the dictator in a manner perceived as disrespectful were severely punished, maimed, or even killed.

Finally, under Saddam, Kalat/Alussy received several hundred dollars for his work on a pair of huge Saddam statues, under the Americans, he could exercise capitalism and initially got $8000, and when an addition to the statue was requested, the little girl, Kalat demanded, and received, an additional $10, 000.

So is this additional information taking the “bloom off the rose” of the original story?  No, honestly, the original story seemed almost too sweet to be true in as harsh an environment as Iraq.  The full story is far better.  Those soldiers that Alussy reportedly despises are responsible for his freedom to speak out, his freedom to exercise his business acumen and free market trade and he is now able to choose whether to take work or refuse it without retribution.  I’d say that is evidence that the efforts of our soldiers in Iraq have been successful and beneficial for the Iraqi people.

Also, in February 2004 the statue was flown to the 4th Infantry Division's museum at Fort Hood, TX. See "Memorial to Honor Fallen Task Force Ironhorse Troops" on the Armed Forces Information Service. 

For the full story and background see "Thanks, Kalat" on Snopes.
Also, “Winning the Bronze” on BreakTheChains.org
 
The WSJ site is only available via subscription. While a search of the site failed to turn up a hit for the article, Dreazen does write for the Journal and I located a few other references on the web to it, all essentially giving the same information.

Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq