Explosives 'moved to Iraq oil fields'

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/breakingnews/ ^ | February 11, 2003

[luv2ndamend]

IRAQI President Saddam Hussein was moving large amounts of explosives to the country's oil fields, in apparent preparations to destroy them in the case of a US-led military invasion, NBC News has reported.

Citing unnamed military officials, the report said Iraqi companies had been purchasing the explosives and moving them to production areas in order, presumably, to set the fields ablaze.

The Iraqis tried to make it appear the explosives were necessary to aid oil exploration, according to NBC News.

But US intelligence officials believed the amount of the explosives far exceeded normal needs, the report said.

In the event of war, the US military would try to secure Iraqi oil fields early in the operation, according to NBC News. But it was unlikely it would be able to get to all 1500 Iraqi oil wells in time.

In 1991, retreating Iraqi troops blew up 730 oil wells in Kuwait, dealing a heavy blow to that country's economy. It took Kuwait eight months and $US40 billion ($67.97 billion) to put out the fires.

Spokesmen from the Defence Department and the Central Intelligence Agency would not comment on the report

[AntiGuv]

Consider yourself pung!

[flaglady47]

Well, why in the heck don't we get our butts in gear now and nail those oil fields and secure them before he gets everything into place? Geez, the waiting is over, DO IT!!!!

[Torie]

The man needs killing in his bed.

[PhilDragoo]

Where are the defenders of the environment?

Defending Saddam.

Take their cars away.

[John Valentine]

Chirac or Schroeder?

[Torie]

I don't advocate homicide over policy disagreements actually. LOL. It takes a bit more for me to go there.

[PhilDragoo]

The man needs killing in his bed.

Chirac or Schroeder?

Yes, all three, one bed, one BLU-113.

Saddamized/atomized.
Nice, nice, very nice:
So many weasels in the same device.

[unspun]

A new American bomb was just announced, more powerful than the "daisy cutter." I wonder if oxygen depleting bombs could be dropped, that could put out oil mine and oil container fires.

[Mr. K]

hypothetical question: You go back in time to the 1940's... would you kill hitler?

back to the future: when you find saddam is just as evil... what do you do?

[Torie]

would you kill hitler?

Hitler easily pole vaults the bit more standard.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Ichneumon]

IRAQI President Saddam Hussein was moving large amounts of explosives to the country's oil fields, in apparent preparations to destroy them in the case of a US-led military invasion, NBC News has reported.

Ah yes, the old "don't attack me, I've put a gun to my own head" defense.

[Jeff Chandler]

"Do what he say. He mean it."

[Jeff Chandler]

He'll probably blow a few hundred before we can stop him, and they'll be up and running in a few months.

The magnitude of the Kuwait oil well fires surely resulted in a lot of new oil fire fighting technology.

[lonestar]

Boots & Coots/Intl Well Ctrl (AMEX) Profile News Chart

WEL Last: 0.39 Change: -0.05 -11.36% Volume: 7,273,500

[Irish Eyes]

I am sure tat they are getting packed as we speak or maybe they are already there.

[Irish Eyes]

tat = that

[DBtoo]

I don't understand why we are waiting and thereby giving Saddam more time either, unless the oil fields have been secured somehow but it's just not being talked about.

[nunya bidness]

Citing unnamed military officials, the report said Iraqi companies had been purchasing the explosives and moving them to production areas in order, presumably, to set the fields ablaze.