Old U.S. Prison Bases in Iraq

The United States used to have 505 prison bases in Iraq. They currently only own six, and plan to be rid of them by the end of the year. The U.S. has been handing these bases over to the Iraqi government and from there they have been used for a variety of purposes. Most become bases for the Iraqi military however others are being re-purposed in more creative ways. For example, one base, Camp Bucca, was purchased by an Iraqi company, Kufan Group, and converted into a hotel. Kufan hopes that this new hotel will be used by oil workers in the region.

Around 150 oil executives stayed in the hotel during an convention that was held nearby. They did not have a smooth start however, as many guests were unaware that they were staying in an old prison camp. A group of men from Sweden checked out early because they were not comfortable in the hotel. Kufan is not deterred however, and plans to continue to create a more "homey" environment for future guests.