Damascus
As much as $3 billion in Iraqi assets, part of Saddam Hussein’s vast personal fortune, is sitting in Syrian banks, U.S. officials told Time magazine this week. Saddam was once named by Forbes as the third richest ruler in the world, bested only by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and the Sultan of Brunei. The U.S. fears the money could be used to fund attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, and has asked Syria to release it. Damascus publicly refuses to admit the money is there, though it says privately that unspecified accounts have been frozen. The U.S. is now threatening severe sanctions against Syrian banks that would bar them from world capital markets.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
June 28 editorial cartoonsCartoons Saturday's political cartoons include stupid wars, a critical media, and mask standards
-
Thai fish pie with crispy turmeric potatoes recipeThe Week Recommends Tasty twist on the Lancashire hot pot is given a golden glow
-
Palestine Action: protesters or terrorists?Talking Point Damaging RAF equipment at Brize Norton blurs line between activism and sabotage, but proscription is a drastic step
