Iraqi oil pipeline on fire, rocket-propelled grenade attack suspected

[Nambe]

BASRA (AFX)

A pipeline a few kilometres southeast of Basra and described as non-essential to oil exploitation in southern Iraq is on fire, an official said.

The fire was probably caused by a rocket-propelled grenade attack, the official said.

A huge plume of black smoke is reported to have risen from the pipeline, which Saddam Hussein loyalists used before and during the US-led war in Iraq to fill trenches around the southern city of Basra with fuel. ---

Banish bush From Texas Too

[Journeyman]

1. Well, someone now knows it works. . .

and may seek essential pipelines next. Regretably, only a fool would think otherwise.

[ze_dscherman]

4. They already found the essential pipelines

They have been repeatedly sabotaged, as well as the oil fields. Last time I checked, oil production was less then a seventh of the pre-war production. Hardly more than needed for consumption in Iraq.

[yowzayowzayowza]

5. Gotta link?

How many rocket-propelled grenades are laying around Iraq?
How much does one go for in the black-market?
How long have the Iraqis been planning to sabotage these pipelines?
How much are we spending to keep the pipeline in Columbia open?
How many of troops are in effect aiding and abetting the pillage of our posterity?

"...in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."

How many of the actions of our Union fail to show reverence to our posterity?

Whatever..... Asprin time.

[Journeyman]

6. Yes, I knew this, ze_dscherman. . .

I was remarking on the new method and how the article seems to make light of the attack since the pipeline is "nonessential." Guess I didn't make myself clear.

[DagmarK]

2. That can't be true...........

I saw Bremer on Charlie Rose a couple of nights ago. And Bremer assured us that there was NO problem anywhere in Iraq.....no fighting or anything anywhere except a little baathist strip between Baghdad and Tikrit. That's what he said, with great certainty.

And your story talks about Basra.....and that's wayyyyyyy south of Baghdad.

So......this must be a fabrication.

/sarcasm off

[w13rd0]

3. Gen Garner...oh wait, now it's Consular Bremer...

...is a fabrication. A stuffed suit there to pave the way for Rummy's next handpicked strongarm, Chalabi...

[aquart]

10. Oh, come on. Let's install Chalabi now

And get his assassination over with.

[AdrianInOcala]

7. OH, GOD! NOT THE OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNKA DICK! HELLLLLLLPPPPPPP!

Heheh, Smirk's gonna have to give one of those "Steely Eyed, Stiff Jawed" speeches to scare the ungrateful Iraqis back into line. "Burnin' up that Oil is a war crime, 'Merican justice will find these evildoers and bring 'em to justice."

[BiggJawn]

11. "you people only hurt yourselfs when you hurt Halliburton..."

I can just hear it now, "blah,blah, that oil belongs to the Iraqi People, see how the stupid Ba'ath hangers-on are really against frredom for their fellow Iraqis, blah, blah, blah......"

[Sushi_lover]

8. two tankers due for Basra loading soon

If I recall correctly, it was Shell and BP that are slated to send tankers to Basra soon for oil pickups. Oil from the southern fields near Basra. This is key for Iraqi oil revenues and for oil futures.

[TahitiNut]

9. "oil exploitation"???

Interesting. They're getting so used to the corruption they're even unaware of how it's plainly shown in the language used.