SADDAM YACHT HIT

mirror ^ | 3/28/03

[knak]

SADDAM Hussein's presidential yacht is believed to have been sunk in a coalition air strike.

The luxurious Al Mansur was the largest ship in the Iraqi Navy, despite having no military value.

It is thought to have been partially sunk during an attack by allied bombers on the port of Basra on Tuesday night.

Two large patrol boats and a supply ship were also left at the bottom of the Shatt Al Arab river.

With at least one other Iraqi patrol boat already sunk in the Persian Gulf, and six patrol boats under allied control at the port of Umm Qasr, Saddam has effectively lost his navy.

Though several speedboats are unaccounted for, the Royal Navy and US Navy have total control of the waterways.

Captain Michael Cochrane, commander of HMS Chatham, which is guarding both the mouth of the

Shatt Al Arab and two vast oil platforms, said: "It is reported the remainder of Saddam Hussein's navy in Basra has now been destroyed.

"There are reliable reports indicating in a blow to Saddam's presidential pride, the presidential yacht is among the ships sunk."

The Al Mansur bore more of a resemblance to a cross-Channel ferry than any other private yacht, reaching up to 400ft in length, towering eight decks high, and with a large helicopter pad. Sumptuously decorated, it boasted a huge glass-domed atrium.

[Rome2000]

Yakub Al-Mansur

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GREATEST OF THE MOORISH RULERS OF SPAIN (1149-1199)

YAKUB IBN YUSUF, better known as Al-Mansur, was the ablest and most powerful of the Moorish rulers who dominated Spain for 500 years. He was also one of the most enlightened, most just and magnanimous. His surname, Al-Mansur, means "The Invincible." This was no braggadocio. He defeated all his enemies and never lost a battle.

[Centurion2000]

We should have spared it. We could have auctioned it off, like Hitler's car, and then sent the money to the families of the coalition forces whose sons were killed by SH.

I'm sure there will be some NICE real estate in Baghdad avialable for auction later this year.

[phalynx]

That is a little bigger than I was thinking. I was hoping for something like the "Tidy Bowl Man's" boat.

[Pushi]

Has anyone seen anything about a bunch of Iraqis coming down the Euphrates in boats? My son said he heard about it on Night Line.

[Rocky]

Hope we didn't waste any valuable munitions on that rust bucket. Eight decks? Partially sunk? How many decks are still above water? Maybe after the war, Iraq can set up a tourist attraction, sort of like a poor man's Queen Mary.

[evolved_rage]

LOL. That's a keeper!

[NautiNurse]

Iraqis coming down the Euphrates in boats?

Rafts are more likely that boats.

[phalynx]

rafts = driftwood

[kcvl]

It takes one mean SOB to beat up and starve little kids and their families while owning hundreds of palaces and a YATCH!

Thanks to Smith288!

[blam]

"It's a real possibility that he will just disappear; no body will ever be found and speculation that he is in hiding somewhere will go on for years."

That's what I expect. Just like OBL.

In 30-40 years from now, there will be revealing books on how and why the US military kept this all secret.

[Alberta's Child]

Is "Al Mansur" Arabic for "Monkey Business"?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Teetop]

That's fine & dandy, but what about that lovely runabout he uses on the river? LOL You know....the inboard-outboard, 16ft..? LOL

[SamAdams76]

If Saddam makes it out of Baghdad alive, he can borrow my yacht for his next cruise. Just don't tell him about the C4 explosives rigged to detonate when he reaches the middle of the lake

[John Locke]

May sound French, but it's arabic. Mansura = "victory"; al-Mansur = "the victorious".

[Sir_Ed]

Actually, the Princess Patricia Light Infantry is one of the best forces in the world, and they helped us out a LOT in Afghanistan.

Ed

[Rome2000]

[Risa]

[Hildy]

Why didn't they just capture it? It must be worth something.

[I still care]

Put it on ebay...

[Xenalyte]

Ooh, maybe we'll hit his Caddy next.

Seriously, why is this considered news? If he's not on it, I don't care what we blow up. (Although the explosions are pretty cool.)