Saboteurs blow up Important Oil Pipeline near KirKuk! June 9th!

[KoKo]

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0604/152101.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Saboteurs blew up an important oil pipeline Wednesday, forcing authorities to cut output on the national power grid by 10 percent, police and Iraqi officials said.

The blast occurred about 9:30 a.m. near Beiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad, said Col. Sarhat Qadir of the Kirkuk police.

Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad told Dow Jones Newswires that the attack would not affect exports from the northern oil fields. However, Jihad said the blast cut supplies to the Beiji electric power station, forcing a reduction of 400 megawatts.

Iraq now produces about 4,000 megawatts of power. Cuts in the country now last more than 16 hours a day, making it difficult to cope with soaring heat which is already topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The U.S.-run coalition had made its ability to guarantee adequate electricity supplies a benchmark of success in restoring normalcy to Iraq. However, sabotage and frayed infrastructure have impeded efforts to eliminate power outages, especially in the capital.

U.S. officials say the regime of Saddam Hussein (news - bio) had diverted power from other parts of the country to keep the lights on in the capital and that many areas of Iraq have more stable supplies than under the previous government.

Coalition officials fear that insurgents may step up attacks on infrastructure targets in the run-up to the June 30 transfer of sovereignty to undermine public confidence both in the U.S. occupation authority and the new regime.

In May, a main southern export pipeline was set ablaze in the Faw peninsula, stopping the flow of crude oil through one of the lines feeding the Basra oil terminal, a key export point. That attack forced Iraq to reduce exports to 1.1 million barrels a day from the south at a time when oil markets are highly concerned about tight supplies.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0604/152101.html

[diamond14]

1. PHOTO

An oil pipeline burns in the desert near Beiji, Iraq about 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad Wednesday June 9, 2004. Saboteurs blew up the pipeline Wednesday, forcing a 10 percent cut in output for the national electricity grid, Iraqi officials said. The attack appeared part of an insurgent campaign against infrastructure to shake confidence in the new government. (AP Photo/Mohammed Uraibi)

[Old and In the Way]

4. That picture symbolizes the Bush-Iraq Fiasco

Up in flames...

[hatrack]

2. But the Iraqis have full control of the oil now. Full Control!!

I suppose that means that after they fix the pipeline without foreign help, they'll start designating oil sales in Euros.

Say, this reallly IS the strongest cough syrup you can buy without a prescription!

[Spazito]

3. The Iraqis DO have full control, it is just not the Iraqis bush wanted...

it is the "other" Iraqis, the ones who want their country back.

[KoKo]

6. Agree, the Iraqi People realize that more puppets just replaced the IGC,

and they are saying F**k you..Bozo's what do you think we are...IDIOTS?

The other part that's not a good sign for stability in this article is that the electricity grid has been disrupted again. This was supposedly key to stabilizing Iraq. I heard Bill Krystol going on about how when the Iraqi's have electricity again they will be happy....:eyes:

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. 4000 Megawatts

What does that mean in Earth terms? How can we visualize that? Well, it's not much for a country the size of Iraq.

There's a Mirant power plant on the waterfront at the north end of Alexandria, Virginia. When you fly into Washington National Airport from the south, you can see the plant from the port (left side) windows. It is currently offline, but when in operation, it generates power at the rate of 540 megawatts. If you are familiar with that plant, imagine just seven of them supplying all of Iraq.

[Moderator]

7. Duplicate topic, please discuss here, thanks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x611785