Oil trenches around Baghdad set afire?

FNC | 032203 | Fox News Channel, others

[dep]

Fox News Channel reports that smoke columns around Baghdad this morning may be the result of the oil trenches that Saddam had dug around the city being set afire by Iraqi soldiers.
Quoting Abu Dhabi television, Fox says that the fires are deliberate and defensive and not the result of any coalition actions
Reuter, however, claims that the fires result from recent airstrikes.
The trenches were dug in an apparent effort to create a smoke shield to reduce the accuracy of American weapons.

[demlosers]

10 seconds ago 2 more explosions in or around Bagdad.

[Clive]

We always must remember that Reuter has an agenda.

[dep]

Fox reports from the Pentagon that the fires are not created by any coalition action and that the smoke is definitely from petroleum.

[js1138]

ring of fire bump.

[craig_eddy]

Did you see what I describe here?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

FNC - Major Garrett says the fires are petrol-based and not likely to be from US airstrikes. Possible oil-filled trenches set on fire by Iraq.

[McGruff]

Makes a lot of sense that these explosions heard recently are bombs used to set off these fires although the media can figure that out.

[Brian Mosely]

The live web cams feeds are showing this now. Heavy, thick black smoke...

[dep]

no, but i've chiefly been listening to fox news rather than watching it.

dep

[dinasour]

Makes a lot of sense that these explosions heard recently are bombs used to set off these fires although the media can figure that out.

More likely, the reporter in Baghdad was being told what to say by a minder.

[AFPhys]

The trenches were dug in an apparent effort to create a smoke shield to reduce the accuracy of American weapons.

One must wonder at this time how it is possible that the Iraqis could possibly think our weaponry can be disturbed by this sort of thing nowadays. Are they still thinking in terms of Vietnam War technology?

[steveegg]

Did the Iraqis file an environmental impact statement?

[Thane_Banquo]

If we drop a fuel air bomb over the fire, wouldn't it suck out the oxygen and put out the fire?

[section9]

Did the Iraqis file an environmental impact statement?

Christie Todd Whitman must be pissed.

Goofy. This is like, real dumb. This won't stop the the Third ID and First Marines.

Allied forces are bombing the western approaches to the city. Methinks that this indicates an assault up the Karbala Gap. However, I believe that the 101st will be involved here. I think that Seventh Cav and Third ID will go up the gut on the south side between the Tigris and the Euphrates.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[per loin]

Perhaps they believe that a tank battle is near, and they believe that the smoke will deny us our close air support.

[js1138]

Perhaps they just don't get it.

[dep]

actually, i think that it's evidence of french weapons sales being burned -- which is why the fires are so big.

dep

[steveegg]

Don't ask me which way we're going to enter Baghdad, though I will say that if the Iraqis have any sense, it will be peacefully.

Methinks they torched a bit early, though.

[dep]

course, it could be someone careless with a cigarette . . .

dep