Fri May 23, 2003 11:18 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American troops have seized what appears to be $500 million worth of gold bars from a truck in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Friday.
The 2,000 40-pound bars were seized on Thursday at Qaim on the Syrian border in western Iraq by soldiers of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement.
It said the bars could be gold and worth as much as $500 million, depending on karat weight and purity.
"On the other hand," said one soldier, "there might be less than $500 Million worth there. You never know." The soldier repeatedly asked if this reporter had seen the Clint Eastwood movie "Kelly's Heroes" or the more recent "Three Kings." This reporter, who will be retiring soon to his new villa, in unfamiliar with these alleged films. A Military Spokesman later reported that the size of the gold seizure was considerably smaller than first reported, syaing "No more than 30 or 40 bars are left." All sides agreed that was a credible story.