Flames shooting from oil pipeline north of Baghdad, U.S. soldiers and tanks at scene

Associated Press ^ | 08-12-03

[Brian S]

Flames shot 200 feet into the air from a burst oil pipeline north of Baghdad on Tuesday, and U.S. forces fired warning shots to keep people from approaching the scene.

Two M-1 Abrams tanks and three soldiers crouched in firing positions ordered an Associated Press reporter and photographer to stay back from the blaze near Taji, a region of date groves, military compounds and chemical plants. Before the war, U.N. weapons inspectors were in the area almost daily.

[DittoJed2]

I think it is time that we tell the Iraqis either get your people under control, or we are leaving and whatever tyrant wants to take you over can. But we warn you, if you have a tyrant with WMD, we won't expend our troops next time to give you a better life but we won't allow the WMD to exist either. Figure it out.

[AdamSelene235]

If Iraqi oil isn't online when the House of Saud collapses, you can kiss the world economy goodbye.

We will be lucky to reach Saddam levels of production by 2005 at this rate.

[jacquej]

beginning to think that way myself, Jed!!

[jacquej]

Well, Adam, maybe that is what we need to wake up all the bleedin' heart "liberal" socialists around these parts......

those in Europe as well!

Can you imagine the screams of horror from that crowd if the "oil" stopped flowing?

[AdamSelene235]

Oil would still be available but Saudi is what keeps production levels elastic. With Saudi offline, oil is projected to be $100 - $150 a barrel.

Anyone who thinks the House of Saud is stable is probably dumb enough to believe we are going to bring democracy to Iraq.

If some flip-flopped jihadi blows the Abqaiq extralight crude complex, things are going to reaaaal interesting.

[ex-Texan]

JMHO -- I believe we will have problems with sabotage of Iraqi oil pipelines forever. The Saudis, for one, will only profit thereby. Time to develop alternative energy resources. What happens if terrorists light off a nuke in the Iraqi oil fields? DUH!

[Steven W.]

We will be lucky to reach Saddam levels of production by 2005 at this rate.

Are you kidding or just not paying attention again? They were already pumping over 1.5 million barrels a day several weeks ago and moving toward 2 million in coming month(s).

[Brian S]

Thats why I think it also laughable that the "rebuilding" of Iraq will be paid for with Iraqi oil...

[RightWhale]

when the House of Saud collapses

Doesn't appear imminent. Europe and Japan have a lot of interest in keeping Saudiland more or less stable. The US also has an interest, but not so directly.

[AdamSelene235]

Are you kidding or just not paying attention again?

Oil is at $32 a barrel and climbing.

and moving toward 2 million in coming month(s).

Is that the quantity expected to be burning or exported?

[AdamSelene235]

The 911 attacks didn't surprise the House of Saud, after all they have been funding terrorism for years. What surprised them was that it was the US not Saudi that got hit.

Saudi Arabia is the biggest sponsor of terrorism on the planet. WMD's? they've been there and done that.Where do you think dirt poor Pakistan got the money for their nukes?

[RightWhale]

Saud struck a deal with the devil over a century ago. Riding the whirlwind, the tiger ever since. Seriously, how are they to break the deal and live? They might be barbarian, but they're not stupid. They're in a heck of a predicament. They also think we are subhuman scum not worthy to work in their kitchens, but that's a different play.

[berserker]

A young Iraqi man watches a burning crude oil pipeline, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, in Al-Taji, 20kms north of Baghdad, Iraq. Flames shot 60 meters (200 feet) in the air from a burst oil pipeline in a chemical production region north of Baghdad on Tuesday, and American forces at the scene fired warning shots to keep journalists from approaching. (AP Photo/Borzou Daragahi)

[berserker]

A U.S. soldier guards a road as Iraqi firefighters extinguish a burning crude oil pipeline, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, in Al-Taji, 20kms north of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/Borzou Daragahi)

[AdamSelene235]

Unemployment is rising..The unemployed young spend all their time at the mosque learning how the House has betrayed Islam..the House of Saud is expanding rapidly...its currently at 30,000 and they mutliply like rabbits...Since their greed knows no bounds kleptocracy is also getting worse every day..Successful businessmen routinely have their restaurants,etc. seized by the HOS...The oil infrastructure is easily sabotaged. Once the oil is burning, the money stops flowing and the House is powerless.

Who knows when it will happen, but when it does its going to look like the French Revolution.

I'm assuming Saudi instability is the primary motivation for our occupation of Iraq.

[berserker]

A U.S. soldier guards a road leading to a burning crude oil pipeline, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, in Al-Taji, 20kms north of Baghdad, Iraq. Flames shot 60 meters (200 feet) in the air from a burst oil pipeline in a chemical production region north of Baghdad on Tuesday, and American forces at the scene fired warning shots to keep journalists from approaching. (AP Photo/Borzou Daragahi)

[justshutupandtakeit]

Rates are already at 1.7-1.8 million barrels a day and climbing. This is great progress. Things is Iraq are moving along towards success very well, contrary to RATmedia lies.

[AdamSelene235]

So why are oil prices climbing?

[justshutupandtakeit]

That is a false assumption.