Dire fight over Iraqi electricity: Saboteurs wreak chaos at nation's No. 2 oil plant

Chicago Tribune ^ | June 8, 2003 | Paul Salopek

[sarcasm]

BASRA, Iraq - In a significant escalation of political militancy against Iraq's interim authorities, saboteurs appear to be targeting the power grid of one of the country's largest cities with the aim of crippling a key oil refinery, local officials said Saturday.

A series of destructive attacks on carefully selected power lines around Basra in recent weeks has played havoc with the energy-hungry Basra Refinery, an important source of gasoline for the domestic market.

Looting wasn't a motive because no cables were stolen from the toppled electrical towers, the officials said, suggesting that holdouts from Saddam Hussein's vanquished Baath Party may be trying to disrupt Iraq's vital oil industry for the first time since coalition forces assumed power in the country.

[MEG33]

It doesn't matter to them that this oil will help the Iraqi people.

[tkathy]

They are brain washed by the religion of suicide, murder and hatred.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The people doing this are not every-day Iraqi people. They are simply terrorists. The infrastructure should be clandestinely watched and these subhumans shot like the mad dogs they are when they attempt sabotage.

[MEG33]

I agree.

[gcruse]

Suppose, just suppose, the US Army went in
to Watts and liberated it from the oppressive
police force of the man. How long would it take
for a vibrant, protestant work ethic, self-
governing society to emerge? Yeah, right.

Saddam wasn't the only dictatorship operating
in Iraq, just the one we got rid of.