Latest news with #FirstGulfWar
Egypt Independent
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Iran's supreme leader could face similar fate to Iraq's Saddam Hussein, Israeli defense minister says
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could face a similar fate to Iraq's late dictator Saddam Hussein, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz cautioned Tuesday. 'I warn the Iranian dictator from continuing to commit war crimes and firing missiles at Israeli citizens,' Katz said at a meeting of senior Israeli military officials in Tel Aviv. 'He should remember what was the fate of a dictator in a country neighboring Iran who chose this path against the state of Israel,' Katz added. Some background: Hussein, who was president of Iraq from 1979 until his overthrow in 2003, invaded Iran in 1980 and launched a missile campaign against Israel in 1991. The Iran-Iraq war ended in a stalemate after eight years. Iraq's campaign against Israel lasted a little over a month during the First Gulf War, and Israel — under pressure from the United States — did not retaliate. After US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003, Saddam was quickly captured, put on trial and sentenced to death by hanging. Katz's comment came after a senior US official told CNN over the weekend that the Israelis had an opportunity to kill Khamenei, but the US communicated to Israel that President Donald Trump opposed the plan.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
How Iran's Key Gas Refinery Fire Evokes Memories Of 1991 Kuwait Oil Infernos
In the early hours of Saturday, a fireball lit up the Iranian skyline as an Israeli drone strike hit Phase 14 of the South Pars gas field, one of the world's most vital energy hubs. Within minutes, production came to a halt, choking off 12 million cubic metres of daily gas output. The strike threatened regional supply chains, and also stirred haunting echoes of another firestorm decades ago. Operation Desert Storm For months in 1991, the sky over Kuwait burned black. Not from nightfall, but from war. The air was thick with smoke, acrid and choking. The sun disappeared behind layers of soot. And across the desert, the horizon flickered in an eerie orange glow. Oil fields were on fire, hundreds of them. This was not a natural disaster. It was a deliberate act of destruction, the last time the Middle East's lifeblood, its oil, was turned into a weapon of vengeance. It happened at the tail-end of the First Gulf War, when Iraqi forces, under dictator Saddam Hussein, began retreating from Kuwait after a massive international military campaign, codenamed Operation Desert Storm, forced their withdrawal. But Saddam wasn't going to leave quietly. In a final act, his soldiers set fire to more than 600 oil wells across Kuwait. They used explosives, dynamite, and sophisticated traps. What followed was one of the largest man-made environmental catastrophes in history. A Man-Made Apocalypse The infernos began in February 1991. Within days, massive plumes of thick black smoke began billowing from the wells. The fires were not easy to extinguish. The intense pressure underground meant oil shot out of the wellheads like geysers, and burned non-stop. Some flames reached hundreds of feet into the air. It took nearly nine months and a global coalition of expert firefighters to control and extinguish them. The last blaze was capped on November 6, 1991. Each day, as much as five million barrels of oil went up in flames. Crude oil also gushed into trenches and formed vast oil lakes, some the size of football fields. Others drained into the Persian Gulf, creating slicks that stretched for miles along the coastline. One Kuwaiti scientist, Samira Omar, recalled seeing dead animals submerged in toxic pools of oil. "The sound of gushing oil and roaring fires is still in my memory," she said years later. These weren't only environmental disasters, they were strategic attacks. Iraqi forces dumped oil into the sea and set fire to it, hoping to prevent a beach landing by the US Marines. They torched refineries and oil terminals, leaving nothing usable behind. Life In The Fire Zone For those living in Kuwait, the war wasn't over when the tanks rolled out. Residents emerged from shelter only to find a landscape turned alien. It was a desert of fire. Daylight vanished. "The maximum you could see in front of you was two metres," said Sara Akbar, a chemical engineer who would later play a key role in firefighting efforts. "We didn't participate in the celebrations of the liberation. In the last days of the occupation, we ventured out to see our offices burning." Ms Akbar and other engineers began work immediately, not just to stop the fires but to restart production. "We needed oil for cars and power plants, which were damaged," she said. She led a survey team in North Kuwait, where 85 per cent of infrastructure were destroyed. Working in the heart of the smoke zones, she later developed severe lung damage. Firefighters from the US, Hungary, Canada, China, Russia, and elsewhere arrived in waves. They brought equipment and knowledge. Some used a bizarre tank-like vehicle nicknamed "Big Wind," with MiG-15 jet engines mounted on it, blasting water and steam at the fires. One by one, they capped the wells. But the work was dangerous. The terrain was full of landmines. There was no proper planning space. Government buildings had been torched too. The port was mined, the airport wrecked, and the sea polluted. The Aftermath In the years that followed, Kuwait tried to recover. Oil production slowly resumed. But many scars remained. From the air, even today, you can still see dark, dead patches where oil lakes once stood. Health issues continued to plague firefighters and engineers. And Kuwait's fragile ecosystem, already stressed by the desert climate, has still not fully healed. The Gulf War's oil fires changed global perspectives on warfare and the environment. The United Nations declared November 6 as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, largely in response to what had happened in Kuwait.
Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Four generations of my family have soldiered. This is the state of the Army today
The signing of the rare earth minerals deal between the US and Ukraine seems to be a significant watershed in the conflict. There now appears to be at least some likelihood that we will see a ceasefire, as America now has skin in the game and there is little doubt that the US could cripple Russia economically or militarily if it wished to. This has huge implications for the British Army, with Sir Keir Starmer pledging with the French to produce 'boots on the ground' powerful enough to deter Russian aggression or defeat any incursions and send the enemy packing. Though the Carrier Strike Group heading out of Portsmouth this week for the South China Seas looks mightily impressive, it has little relevance in deterring our number one enemy: Russia. Let us hope that the Strategic Defence Review, just about to drop, delivers military capability that deters our most likely aggressor, rather than projecting British power on the other side of the planet. This is a task which passed to others decades ago, or at least should have done. There are other reasons for me to discuss the state of the Army just now. Two huge events occur in the British military calendar this weekend: the Army-Navy rugby match at Twickenham on Saturday and the new intake at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Monday. The whole of the British Army today could sit down at Twickenham with enough seats left for most of the Royal Navy. This is the smallest force since Waterloo. Like most with naval or military service, I'll be following the match on Saturday keenly. But I have to admit I will be even more emotionally invested on Sunday. The latest batch of young men and women coming to learn how to 'serve to lead' at Sandhurst will include my son as the fourth consecutive generation of de Bretton Gordons to climb those hallowed steps. I buried my father last week, a 40-year veteran. Counting time in the reserves on top of my 23 years as a regular, I am at 37 years and counting. My grandfather served 35 years including the whole of WW2. It is with immense pride and just a hint of jealousy that I deliver the new generation to the place where I and so many others have learnt the business of soldiering. I can tell you from extensive personal knowledge that the men and women joining the Army today, be it at Sandhurst or the soldier training establishments around the country, are the finest we've ever had – in stark contradiction to those armchair experts who suggest the nation's youth are too woke to fight. Soon after I left Sandhurst I was fighting in a tank regiment in the First Gulf War, when we sent an armoured division with close on 200 tanks to smash the Iraqi Republican Guard. We had trained for 12 months in combined arms manoeuvre and formed a first-class outfit along with our US and French comrades – I'd say it may be time to get the old gang back together. The British Army was, however, twice the size it is today, and you'd have needed both Twickenham and Wembley to sit us all down. However, though we can only put a beefed-up brigade into the field today rather than a heavy division, that brigade is probably as powerful as our whole division was 35 years ago and it is ready to fight – do not believe the doom laden academics who have never engaged in combat but claim to know everything about it. We are ready to be part of a 26,000 strong 'coalition of the willing' force to deter Russian aggression. Do not, also, be hoodwinked by headlines in the Times yesterday saying that Europe cannot produce this force – it can. The Finns and Poles with their massive armies, right next to Russia, know that if Putin prevails in Ukraine he will attack them next, and hence their soldiers are staying put to oppose him. But with Germany now back in the military game and a little help from some of the other Europeans, 26,000 is viable, and viable over a long enough period to get the job done. Yes, the British Army is ready to fight, and Putin should remember it. The finest men and women are still keen to join in spite of the ridiculously clunky recruitment system, and politicians are beginning to realise you can't just wish away tyrants like Putin – sometimes you need heavy metal and enough of it, and well trained to ensure we can protect these Isles from the enemy at the door rather than some chimera way over the horizon. It won't be just on Saturday that I'll be cheering 'come on the Army!'
The National
25-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Money & Me: ‘My best investment is our family home in Dubai's The Lakes community'
Moving from the UAE to India with her family after the First Gulf War taught Kashish Sajnani not to take luxuries for granted and to be ready to hit the refresh button at any stage in life. Seeing her father's resilience as he adapted to difficult circumstances during middle age, she learnt to count her blessings and make the most of any situation. These lessons came in handy during the 2008 global financial crisis, which affected some of her family investments. She believes dealing with such challenges have helped to shape her outlook towards money. Ms Sajnani moved back to the UAE in the year 2000 after her graduation. Today, the 46-year-old Indian resident of the UAE is the founder and chief executive of interior design company The House of Kalaa. The company has been around for two years, but she has worked in the interior design industry for almost 20 years in the UAE and Mumbai. The entrepreneur has also introduced Design on Wheels, a mobile studio, to streamline the design journey. It offers a selection of premium interior and outdoor materials at no extra cost. 'After spending over a decade as an interior designer in Dubai, I noticed how the fast-paced lifestyle often makes it challenging for clients to visit multiple showrooms and co-ordinate design decisions,' Ms Sajnani says. 'With Design on Wheels, we're bridging that gap by bringing the entire design experience to clients and eliminating inefficiencies.' She lives in The Lakes, Dubai, with her two sons, husband and mother-in-law. Ms Sajnani completed her master's degree in business administration in marketing from the University of Missouri in India and has a degree in interior design from Edexcel London. Wealth was present, but it was never taken for granted. What stayed with me more was the understanding of value and simplicity and the importance of using what we considered meaningful. I also learnt to see money as an energy and to respect and use it to lift us up. My father was a businessman. It was only after the Gulf War hit that we realised luxury cannot be taken for granted, and you have to be ready to start again with a plan B at any point in life. After we moved to India, my father showed a lot of resilience by starting all over again at middle age. We learnt to appreciate what we had and to make the most of it. During my college days, when I was 17 years old, I took a sales job at a luxury boutique in Mumbai. But it really wasn't about the pay cheque, instead, the job gave me immense satisfaction – the thrill of understanding client needs and seeing them walk away happy. That experience stayed with me. It showed me the power of connecting with the market, reading people intuitively, and using that insight to sell gave me a taste of entrepreneurship at that age. I was earning 5,000 Indian rupees ($59) per month and also received commission for sales. There were pivotal moments, especially during the 2008 global financial crisis, where certain investments didn't deliver as we expected. There were unforeseen expenses then that really tested our resilience, but those challenges became turning points. They taught us to stay agile, think ahead and always have a plan B, and it also shaped our maturity with finances and helped us make wiser decisions. I grow my wealth through a blend of strategic reinvestments and strong relationship building. I consistently reinvest into my business. I nurture my brand and focus on expanding both horizontally and vertically. Earlier, my company was only handling interior design, now we specialise in landscaping, too. We are also investing in expanding our labour force and trying to offer all services in-house. As a family, we have a lot of property investments, both residential and commercial. But true wealth isn't just about assets for me. It's equally about goodwill, trust and emotional intelligence, these help to sustain long-term success. I'm a mindful spender. I enjoy good things and experiences, but I spend with a purpose, whether it is for personal or professional reasons. Mostly, yes. I've made bold decisions, some risky ones too, but I've learnt with each step. My relationship with money has evolved and I'm wiser now, more intentional and strategic. My current home at The Lakes. When we bought the property, it felt like the layout was outdated and it didn't resonate with us, but the view was unbeatable. We saw potential in it, made some structural changes, redesigned the interiors and turned it into our sanctuary. Today, its value has increased well above the market price, thanks to the design and energy we have infused into it. I indulge in some luxury product purchases on and off, but I really value the watches and different types of jewellery we invest in. Don't work for money, instead, learn how to make money work for you. We have to focus on building assets and confidence early in life. No specific milestone yet, but I feel deeply content with whatever I have built and continue to build, so every step has felt very purposeful. All of them. We enjoy luxuries mindfully. Luxuries are the fruits of our labour. I see them not as a goal, but as a celebration of our journey. However, we remember where our roots were and where we have grown, so everything feels like a blessing, and we have come to a position where we can enjoy those. To continue growing while also giving opportunities to those who work for us so they can grow alongside us. Shared success is very fulfilling.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hedge Fund Veteran Set to Lead Trump's Sanctions Strategy
(Bloomberg) -- A low-profile hedge fund executive who's among the dozens of disciples tracing their roots to the late investing legend Julian Robertson is poised to become the face of the Trump administration's sanctions strategy. If confirmed after his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, John Hurley will lead the Treasury Department's terrorism and financial intelligence arm, a pivotal post that tackles everything from terrorist financing to money laundering and drug cartels. The role, which oversees some 1,000 employees, has gained prominence in the past decade as Washington ramped up sanctions as a preferred tool to target adversaries. Moves by TFI, as the unit's called, have particular relevance to commodities traders as any hint of the US adjusting restrictions on oil-rich nations like Russia, Iran and Venezuela can swing the market. 'The TFI role is one of the most powerful positions in the US government,' said Justyna Gudzowska, a former Treasury official who's now executive director of The Sentry, which monitors corruption and human rights issues. 'Although the under secretary does not command an army, he has a powerful arsenal of economic statecraft tools at his disposal.' As they've increased in prevalence, sanctions in recent years have a mixed record in achieving US foreign policy goals. They're credited with bringing Iran to the negotiating table for the 2015 nuclear deal and costing Russia hundreds of billions of dollars after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But they've often had adverse effects, inflicting greater pain on civilians while agitating allies opposed to their unilateral use. In his hearing, Hurley touted the 'huge success' of the first Trump administration's maximum pressure strategy on Iran. He emphasized the importance of engaging with international allies and banks to properly implement any restrictions, and said he'd tighten focus on Chinese entities that could be exploiting critical US technology. Tiger Grand Cub After graduating with honors from Princeton, Hurley served in the First Gulf War, where he oversaw battlefield communications systems, later earning a Bronze Star. A Stanford MBA propelled him into the world of finance, first at Fidelity Investments and then Bowman Capital Management, which became one of the West Coast's top tech hedge funds under Tiger Management veteran Lawrence Bowman. In 2002, Hurley founded Cavalry Asset Management — a nod to his military service — making a name for himself with early wagers on many of the so-called Magnificent Seven tech stocks, such as Microsoft Corp. Alphabet Inc., Apple Inc. and Nvidia Corp. Like many Tiger Cubs and Tiger Grand Cubs — as Robertson's proteges are known — he favored concentrated long-term bets over the multi-strategy style in vogue today, according to Michael Tierney, a former investor who worked with Hurley at Bowman and Cavalry. Three years ago, Hurley was tapped for the inaugural board of the America's Frontier Fund — an effort backed by billionaires including Peter Thiel and Eric Schmidt to support tech breakthroughs deemed of national interest. 'John's an extremely intelligent guy,' said Kurt Lanzavecchia, an Austin-based money manager who worked for Hurley at Bowman and Cavalry. 'His secret sauce was analyzing the entire supply chain to understand who benefits from changes in technology.' A Treasury spokesperson said Hurley's successful track record as a market practitioner, decorated combat veteran, supply chain expert and academic makes him well qualified for the role. Hurley didn't respond to a request for comment. Nominees must divest holdings that can potentially pose a conflict of interest, usually within 90 days of confirmation although longer for more complex assets. Hurley could sell his stake in Cavalry or follow the example of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said he'd wind down his hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. China Lens Unlike the job's most recent occupants — Sigal Mandelker, Justin Muzinich, Brian Nelson and Brad Smith — Hurley has no formal legal training nor is he from the tight-knit world of professionals focused on countering illicit finance. But his experience in Asia — Cavalry had offices in Taipei and Hong Kong — could help him see national security issues through the lens of China, which many Trump officials have pegged as Washington's biggest long-term threat. Hurley has also been part of informal 'track two' diplomacy initiatives between retired US and Chinese military officials. Among the core challenges that recent US administrations have wrestled with is calibrating the right balance between leveraging the tools of economic warfare while maintaining the dollar's status as the global reserve currency, with the Chinese yuan seen as one alternative. Last year, China was the second-most targeted jurisdiction for US financial sanctions and faced more entity-based export controls than any nation, according to an analysis by the Washington-based Center for a New American Security. Since President Donald Trump's return to office, Washington has signaled its desire to cut off Iran's oil exports, set a deadline for Chevron Corp. to halt its Venezuela operations and quietly tightened restrictions on Russia's energy industry. His administration rattled markets in recent days by unveiling tariff rates of up to 50% on dozens of countries. Bloomberg News reported last month that the president's advisers are sketching out potential Russia sanctions he could lift or tweak — including the oil price cap — if there's progress in talks with Moscow on ending its war in Ukraine. Hurley echoed that sentiment on Thursday when asked about seeking to cease the fighting. 'If President Putin is resisting, I'd expect the president to look to me and the rest of the interagency to apply more pressure,' he said. 'And to the extent that we're heading in a better direction, they'll look to us to potentially relieve pressure.' --With assistance from Bill Allison. (Updates with Hurley's comments in sixth and final two paragraphs.) More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
