Iraqi rage now directed at oil pipelines

[Nambe]

BAIJI, Iraq (AP)

Smoke still rises from an oil pipeline that was sabotaged weeks ago by embittered Saddam Hussein loyalists. Iraqis say there are many Saddam supporters in the nearby town of Baiji and others that formed the ousted president's power base-and they are bent on destabilising the country occupied by US and British troops.

"The Americans disbanded Saddam's army, intelligence and security services so all the men who benefited by joining up have now lost their power. So they fight back by destroying pipelines," said Abdel Hamid Ahmed, deputy governor of the neighbouring town of Siniya.
"Saddam used to patrol pipelines with helicopters. Now there is not enough security. So they just choose a spot on these long pipelines and light a match. ---

Attacks blamed on Saddam loyalists have killed 26 American soldiers since major combat was declared over on May 1. Pointing to a hole in the building left by a rocket-propelled grenade, the fifth such attack in a month, Lloyd said there were "too many pipe-bomb attacks to count". ---

Banish bush From Texas Too

[acmavm]

1. I suppose the fact that the United States has taken over their one

marketable commodity, oil, has nothing to do with it. Maybe some of them think that since we gave them their "freedom" we should allow them the liberty to manage their only asset as well.

[Old and In the Way]

2. They are not stupid....

They have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this tactic. If they can disrupt the flow of oil, the upside for an American occupation is taken away. They can't confront the US military machine directly, but, short of station troops every 1/2 mile on the pipeline routes, this will be the way to carry the battle to America.

My question is, didn't anyone in this administration consider this possibility when they planned the war? It amazes me that we'd be so naive (or maybe just plain arrogant) not to consider this in our analysis of taking over Iraq.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Oil production should be disrupted

The US was hoping to use Iraq's oil revenues to pay for reconstruction. By destroying pipelines and disrupting oil production, the Iraqi resistance are forcing the US to pay for reconstruction out of its own pocket (which we can't afford anyway) and prevents American corporations from profiting at the expense of an occupied nation.

This is a war of national liberation. Our only choice is to withdraw the troops ASAP, and let the Iraqis sort themselves out. We have done enough damage to that country in order to avenge Bush's "daddy".

[indictrichardperle]

4. oil pipe-lines impossible to guard 24/7

I think a smoldering guerrilla resistance will keep all of the corporations out of there. This is going to become a quagmire in many ways, economic, military, politically....

Either that or we better be ready to put 4 to 500,000 troops in there. Even then, nothing will be stable. Its over..declare victory and get the hell out.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. It's called resistance to colonial occupation

The Iraqis have every right to resist.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

13. like the 4th of July 1776-

We declared an end to colonial occupation...
and then we had to fight dirty...
guerilla warfare--
and we got our asses kicked..badly....and we begged France to help...and they did..and we won...and they gave us the staue of Liberty

[ward919]

8. Bush is happy to have Africa as a diversion...but it won't help him!

Iraq is carrying this administration and Iraq to hell in a hand basket!
Our media will be there to greet them!

[WhataBildeberger]

7. the roses they were supposed to throw

were not thought to be a threat to the pipelines.

[tabasco]

6. They know it's the only way to hurt Bush

They know he doesn't give a damn about dead and maimed soldiers. But I bet Bush grieves over every oil leak.

[KeepItReal]

11. Remember those oil leaks are money in the bank...

For Halliburton/KBR or Bechtel.

Never forget that. They just created more business (or a new market) for themselves via non-competitive, open-ended contracts awarded by the U.S. Govt. for Iraq.

I guess that's why they call it "black gold", huh?

[demdave]

15. You mean the Iraqi's are working for Halliburton?

Or are you just trying to cover all conceivable avenues?

[KeepItReal]

17. No, but they are indirectly giving them more business

A broke pipeline is a broke pipeline...Who's got the contracts to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure?

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. I'm only surprised that it took the Iraqis this long to start

One thing I'm not surprised at is that BushCo didn't take the probability of it into account...

[wabeewoman]

10. I think if you look at bush's history

it's evident he doesn't give a lot of thought to consequences. Guess that is what happens when you 'think' with your gut.

[ze_dscherman]

12. This Is What A Guerilla War Looks Like

This article at Znet covers the coordinated attacks/sabotage on the oil fields and piplines: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=3844

[IndianaGreen]

14. That's a very good article

and it clearly shows that the US has put itself in a quagmire, all thanks to Mister Bush and the PNAC gang.

If they had any decency at all, they would be forgetting about their boyish imperial dreams, and bring the troops home now.

[copithorne]

16. Good Znet Article

Good journalism.

I've been wondering when we are going to get the oil back on. Doesn't look like that's going to be reliable any time soon.