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Saddam Hussein News

19 Mar 2023

Saddam's Rusting Yacht Serves as Picnic Spot for Iraqi Fishermen

(Photo: David Stanley / CC BY 2.0)

Capsized in a river in southern Iraq, the rusting wreck of a yacht that belonged to Saddam Hussein serves as a stark reminder of his iron-fisted rule that ended with the U.S.-led invasion two decades ago.The 121-metre (396 ft) "al-Mansur", a symbol of Saddam's wealth and power when it was built in the 1980s, is today a destination for sightseers and fisherman who clamber aboard the wreck to picnic and drink tea."When it was owned by the former president, no one could come close to it…

09 Feb 2021

How Will Biden's Iran Strategy Impact Shipping?

© Lotharingia / Adobe Stock

How will Biden read Iranian hostilities? Forceful diplomacy or reckless militancy?Anticipating the Biden Administration’s Iran strategy is crucial for understanding future risks for maritime operators in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and wider Indian Ocean.Though the new U.S. Administration and the Iranian regime have stated their willingness to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, they are unlikely to do so.

02 Nov 2020

US Sanctions: Spotlight on Russia

© Mikhail Perfilov / Adobe Stock

This article will focus on U.S. sanctions on Russia/Ukraine. The Russia/Ukraine sanctions program is a complex mix of comprehensive, noncomprehensive and “sectoral” sanctions. It includes both primary sanctions aimed at U.S. persons and secondary sanctions aimed at non-U.S. persons. It encompasses broad sectors of the Russian economy and significant dealings with sanctioned individuals and entities, while generally permitting most transactions with Russia. Accordingly, it stands alone in U.S.

22 Jan 2019

A Century on, Basra's British-era Shipyard Going Strong

Begun in 1918 by British troops, Basra's shipyard is surviving into old age with little maintenance, relying on its vintage machinery and the skill of its workers to keep going.Thousands of ships, including former dictator Saddam Hussein's yacht, have passed through the Iraqi shipyard's three docks, where a giant steam engine hauls them out of the water and up the century-old wooden tracks.There are no spare parts and no written manuals.Mohammed Adnan, who has been operating the huge steam engine for six years now, says it is not easy. It requires expertise and intuition to maintain the right pressure in the boilers, and to prevent the engine from overheating."British manufacturing is great quality ...

26 Jul 2018

Middle East Oil & Gas Shipping Routes are at Risk

© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was suspending oil shipments through the Red Sea after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked two crude tankers, underscoring risks caused by the conflict in the world's top oil exporting region.Iran, in its row with the United States over sanctions, has also threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, the other major strategic shipping route for oil from the region and the main route for Iranian crude exports.Below are facts about region's shipping routes:Bab al-MandebAny move to block the Bab al-Mandeb…

03 Aug 2014

Islamic State Takes Control of Oil Field & Dam in Iraq

Fighters of the Islamic State militia took control Sunday of the largest dam in Iraq, a reservoir of oil and three cities after breaking the biggest defeat the Kurdish forces since they began operations in the region in June. Capturing the Mosul dam after just 24 hours' offense could give the Sunni militiamen ability to flood the big cities, as part of its campaign to topple the Shiite government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The Islamic State, which considers the Shiite majority in Iraq as apostates who deserve death, also captured the site of Ain Zalah, adding four others who are already under their control, and three cities. The insurgents met with strong Kurdish resistance only at the beginning of his latest offensive, when they took the city of Zumar.

06 May 2011

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History - May 6

1796-Congress increased the monthly compensation of Revenue Marine officers: masters $50; first mates $35; second mates $30; third mates $25 and mariners $20. 1896-President Grover Cleveland placed the Lighthouse Service within the classified federal civil service. 1898-The cutter Morrill participated in an engagement at Havana, Cuba on 6 and 7 May 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Her officers were awarded Bronze Medals by the authority of a joint resolution of Congress that was approved on 3 March 1901. 1945-The Coast Guard-manned frigate USS Moberly (PF-63), in concert with USS Atherton, sank the U-853 in the Atlantic off Block Island. There were no survivors.

18 Jan 2011

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – January 18

1953- A Coast Guard PBM seaplane crashed during takeoff after having rescued 11 survivors from a ditched U .S. Navy aircraft shot down off the coast of mainland China. A total of nine servicemen lost their lives in this crash, including five Coast Guardsmen. 1974- Coast Guard units rescued 61 crewmembers from the 551-foot tanker Keytrader and the 657-foot Norwegian freighter Baune after the two vessels collided on the night of 18 January 1974 in dense fog. 16 other crewmembers did not survive. The Keytrader was carrying 18,000 tons of fuel oil. A 53-foot Coast Guard vessel assisted in fighting the ensuing fire. 2003- On 18 January the CGC Walnut departed from her homeport in Honolulu, Hawaii and began her 10,000 mile transit to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

03 Jan 2011

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – January 3

1882- The watch at Station No. 13, Second District, Massachusetts, reported at about 4 p.m., the collision of two schooners, two and a half miles east southeast of the station. Launching the surfboat, the crew proceeded to the vessels. The smaller vessel, the British schooner Dart, was boarded first. She was out from Saint John, NB and bound for New York with a cargo of lumber and a crew of four persons. The vessel was badly damaged, having her bowsprit, jib boom, and headgear carried away. The life-saving crew at once set to work. They cleared away the wreck and weighed her anchor, which had been let go in the collision. By this time, the steamer Hercules, of Philadelphia had come alongside and Dart’s master arranged for a tow to Vineyard Haven.

06 May 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – May 6

1796-Congress increased the monthly compensation of Revenue Marine officers: masters $50; first mates $35; second mates $30; third mates $25 and mariners $20. 1896-President Grover Cleveland placed the Lighthouse Service within the classified federal civil service. 1898-The cutter Morrill participated in an engagement at Havana, Cuba on 6 and 7 May 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Her officers were awarded Bronze Medals by the authority of a joint resolution of Congress that was approved on 3 March 1901. 1945-The Coast Guard-manned frigate USS Moberly (PF-63), in concert with USS Atherton, sank the U-853 in the Atlantic off Block Island. There were no survivors.

17 Jan 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – Jan. 18

1953- A Coast Guard PBM seaplane crashed during takeoff after having rescued 11 survivors from a ditched U .S. Navy aircraft shot down off the coast of mainland China. A total of nine servicemen lost their lives in this crash, including five Coast Guardsmen. 1974- Coast Guard units rescued 61 crewmembers from the 551-foot tanker Keytrader and the 657-foot Norwegian freighter Baune after the two vessels collided on the night of 18 January 1974 in dense fog. 16 other crewmembers did not survive. The Keytrader was carrying 18,000 tons of fuel oil. A 53-foot Coast Guard vessel assisted in fighting the ensuing fire. 2003- On 18 January the CGC Walnut departed from her homeport in Honolulu, Hawaii and began her 10,000 mile transit to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

15 Dec 2009

USS Wisconsin Transferred to City of Norfolk

Vice Adm. David Architzel, Principal Military Deputy Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, signed the donation contract officially transferring title and ownership of the historic battleship ex-USS Wisconsin (BB 64) to the city of Norfolk, Va. Wisconsin saw extensive action in the Pacific during the waning days of World War II and was decommissioned in 1948. The ship was recommissioned in 1951, returned to the Pacific where it saw heavy action in the Korean conflict and was decommissioned again in 1958. Wisconsin earned five battle stars during World War II service and one battle star during the Korean War. After many years in storage, the ship was modernized and recommissioned in 1988 and returned to war when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

26 Feb 2008

This Day in Naval History - Feb. 26

1811 - Congress authorizes the first naval hospital. 1944 - Sue Sophia Dauser, superintendent of the Navy's Nurse Corps, is the first woman in the Navy promoted to the rank of captain. 1991 - Navy A-6Es of USS Ranger's (CVA 61) Attack Squadron 155 and Marine aircraft bomb Iraqi troops fleeing Kuwait City to Basra in convoys after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announces a withdrawal from Kuwait. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

18 Sep 2000

U.S. Oil Prices Balloon To $37

U.S. oil prices ballooned to fresh decade highs on Monday as rising tension in the Middle East put traders on red alert over possible supply disruptions from key exporter Iraq this winter. October crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange bolted to a new high of $37.15 a barrel, up more than $1.20, as concern grew that Iraq could disrupt its supplies in the run-up to November's U.S. presidential election. Traders rushed to buy after a warning from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that fellow OPEC member states should ignore pressure mounted by "superpowers" on producers to rein in runaway prices. next year.

18 Jan 2001

Bush Comments Buoy Oil Markets

U.S. oil prices rose Thursday as traders jumped at buying opportunities after OPEC's agreement on production cuts sent prices falling Wednesday. Crude oil for February delivery traded up 28 cents at $29.88 per barrel early Thursday afternoon on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). "There's a feeling that perhaps we've run the course of the down side and the market could start making a move up, at least for the short term," said Nauman Barakat, vice president of energy futures trading at ABN Amro in New York. NYMEX crude ended 69 cents lower at $29.60 per barrel Wednesday, after moving down more than a dollar as traders pocketed profits.

18 Jan 2001

Bush Comments Buoy Oil Markets

U.S. oil prices rose Thursday as traders jumped at buying opportunities after OPEC's agreement on production cuts sent prices falling Wednesday. Crude oil for February delivery traded up 28 cents at $29.88 per barrel early Thursday afternoon on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). "There's a feeling that perhaps we've run the course of the down side and the market could start making a move up, at least for the short term," said Nauman Barakat, vice president of energy futures trading at ABN Amro in New York. NYMEX crude ended 69 cents lower at $29.60 per barrel Wednesday, after moving down more than a dollar as traders pocketed profits.

18 Mar 2003

Department of Homeland Security Implements Operation Liberty Shield

The Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, has made the decision to raise the national threat level from an Elevated to High risk of terrorist attack or Level Orange. The Intelligence Community believes that terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against U.S. and Coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S - led military campaign against Saddam Hussein. A large volume of reporting across a range of sources, some of which are highly reliable, indicates that Al-Qaida probably would attempt to launch terrorist attacks against U.S. interests claiming they were defending Muslims or the "Iraqi people" rather than Saddam Hussein's regime.

29 Nov 1999

Oil Prices At Nine-Year High As Iraq Suspends Exports

Oil prices rocketed to a new nine-year high Nov. 22 after Iraq suspended oil exports under its humanitarian exchange program with the United Nations. London January Brent futures opened at $25.90, the highest oil price since January 1991 when allied forces were preparing to eject Iraqi troops from Kuwait. Prices leapt as Iraq's Oil Minister Amir Mohammed Rasheed confirmed that Iraq had stopped oil deliveries under the latest six-month phase of its oil-for-food exchange with the UN. Baghdad protested the UN's proposal to extend by two weeks the sixth phase of the program and accused the United States of trying to push other Security Council members into accepting a draft resolution on weapons inspections.

15 May 2003

Cutters Complete Missions in Arabian Gulf

Coast Guard cutters Boutwell, a 378-ft. high endurance cutter homeported in Alameda, Calif., and Walnut, a 225-ft. buoy tender homeported in Honolulu, began heading home today after completing their missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Both cutters conducted a wide range of missions while serving in the Gulf, including maritime force protection, coastal and terminal security, and maritime interception and marine environmental response. "Without question, the skill and dedication of the crews of Walnut and Boutwell were instrumental to the overall success of our naval forces and underscored the importance of the Navy-Coast Guard team," said Vice Adm. Tim Keating, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

07 May 2003

Cutter Completes Iraqi Aid Mission

Coast Guard cutter Walnut, a 225-ft. buoy tender homeported in Honolulu, today completed its 20-day humanitarian mission of properly marking the navigational channel of the Khawr Abd Allah waterway leading from the North Arabian Gulf to Iraq’s critical port of Umm Qasr. The Walnut completely replaced 30 buoys and repaired an additional five along the 41-mile waterway, vastly improving the navigational safety of the waterway for humanitarian aid sailing to the port and providing a critical step towards the economic recovery of the people of Iraq. The majority of the equipment used in the navigational improvements was located in a warehouse in Umm Qasr and was inspected and upgraded to ensure that the buoys matched as closely as possible to the charted channel.