Fox tv reports oil wells burning outside of Basra

Reuters | Thursday, March 20, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

Fox tv reports oil wells burning outside of Basra

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Oil wells were burning outside of the Iraqi city of Basra, the Fox News television network reported on Thursday. The Iraqi Oil Minister denied the reports.

The network gave no further details of the report that came just hours after President George W. Bush unleashed a war to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with dawn air strikes on Baghdad.

Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Muhammed Rasheed denied the reports the oil wells were on fire near the southern Iraqi city.

Kuwait television also reported that several oil wells near Basra had been set alight by Iraqi troops, while Iranian media have reported U.S. jets bombing these oilfields.

"This report that was given to you is a film from the American gangs and is misleading and prejudiced," Rasheed told Reuters in a statement from his Baghdad office.

The reports from Iran and Kuwait, which have both waged war against Iraq, were not independently confirmed by Reuters.

Iraqi state-run media has made no mention of any oil well fires in Basra.

A U.S. official said earlier this month that Iraq had placed explosives at the Kirkuk oilfields in northern Iraq to prevent them being taken over in the event of a U.S. invasion.

[JohnHuang2]

Thursday, March 20, 2003

Quote of the Day by samtheman

[OneVike]

We all knew this was going to happen, It is just a matter of time before the gas attacks happen, unless Sadaam is already dead.

[BritExPatInFla]

Those b@stards. They are burning OUR oil. For all intents, we shall own the output of those fields for many years to come in order to pay for the war Iraq has forced us to carry out. Thieves.

[stuartcr]

Yeah, just like last time, and all the others that owe us?

[yoe]

Fox's Bridgett is asking Rick too many leading questions "where are you - which direction are you going in - how long before you move again etc. - and Rick identifying the military group he is with - when he transmits he can be traced and that ain't good. This War is not meant for entertainment.

[stuartcr]

There were some freepers yesterday that consider it entertainment, and judging by the internet responses, many, including the media certainly do.