Staunchest US ally in Gulf War Redux apparently getting payback

[BaliBabyDoc]

Florida Today
(select excerpts)
On May 25, while scanning the Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program images pipelined into his desktop from 450 miles in orbit, Hank Brandli skidded at a nighttime photo of Iraq. It looked familiar. But not exactly.

Brandli retrieved another DMSP image he'd archived from May 3. He compared the two. The most recent photo showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait, south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't there on May 3.

"It's going right up to Iraq's oil fields," says the retired Air Force colonel from his home in Palm Bay. "Maybe I'm full of s---. Maybe all they're doing is building a highway to put in McDonald's and sell hamburgers. But why go that way? I think we're in bed with Kuwait. I think we're pumping oil out of Iraq to pay for this war."

That's an audacious observation. Especially considering those labyrinthine lines of exasperated motorists waiting to gas up at the fuel pumps in Baghdad. Not to mention the fact that Iraq's infrastructure officially won't be capable of exporting oil for another week or so.

"If you're building pipelines, you've got to have power, you've got to have light -- trucks and personnel and food and all sorts of support. If I had to bet, I'd say it looks like we're running Iraqi oil through Kuwait. It would make sense, because Kuwait's got its infrastructure intact."

At the State Department in Washington, D.C., David Staples on the Future of Iraqi Projects desk says he doesn't know if Iraq's oil is flowing into Kuwait. He referred the query to the Defense Department. A DoD spokesman suggested contacting the Office of Coalition of Provisional Authority (OCPA) in Baghdad. OCPA was not immediately available for comment.

 

[drewshin]

so now we know where all that electricity's been going...

 

[lozina]

Interesting. I can see the dollar signs in Dick Cheney's eyes as the first oil tanker loads up with fresh Iraqi oil

 

[Moonbeam]

Wonder which of the left winged media will follow up on this.

 

[da loser]

I like the end of the article you can tell he's a real scientist

Brandli even views the 9/11 terrorist attacks through the lens of weather.

"They spent months, maybe years, planning this thing," he says. "But it had to come down to a last-second call, because there was a hurricane coming up the coast and a cold front moving out.

"Think about it: September is the worst month in the world to be planning anything in the air on the East Coast, because you're at the height of hurricane season. In fact, climatologically speaking, Sept. 3 is the worst day of the entire year to plan a flight. And yet, you had this day where the weather was perfect, from Maine all the way down to Washington. You can't plan that far out and hope you get lucky.

"What I'm saying is, I think they had a weather guy on their team to help set it up."

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: da loser
I like the end of the article you can tell he's a real scientist

Brandli even views the 9/11 terrorist attacks through the lens of weather.

"They spent months, maybe years, planning this thing," he says. "But it had to come down to a last-second call, because there was a hurricane coming up the coast and a cold front moving out.

"Think about it: September is the worst month in the world to be planning anything in the air on the East Coast, because you're at the height of hurricane season. In fact, climatologically speaking, Sept. 3 is the worst day of the entire year to plan a flight. And yet, you had this day where the weather was perfect, from Maine all the way down to Washington. You can't plan that far out and hope you get lucky.

"What I'm saying is, I think they had a weather guy on their team to help set it up."

What do you expect? His life is scrutinizing satellite photos all day...

 

[charrison]

The marines did build a pipeline into Iraq. It was however was for fuel for several gas hungry divisions.

 

[charrison]

linkage

 

[Moonbeam]

You call that a link?

 

[etech]

Pipeline

Umm Qasr, a gateway to southern Iraq, contains the nation's main oil pipeline terminals and allows access to the Persian Gulf.

My God he's right, there is a pipeline between the two regions and Umm Qasr is a main Iraqi oil center. How despicable!

 

[Ferocious]

LOL. Does anybody take Townhall seriously?

Talk about a Neo-Con site.

Anyways....the decision to goto war was heavily influenced by economics. This is obvious to all those that are not blind.

 

[etech]

Oh man, it gets worse. The DoD confirms there is a pipeline.

American Forces Press Service

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

So your argument is that ALL the activity noted in the satellite photos is for a water pipeline . . .

Note the date on your link . . .

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2003 ? With the help of the Kuwaiti government, fresh water is flowing into coalition-held areas of southern Iraq, and food is on the way, the American officer in charge of these efforts said today.

Coalition forces are coordinating delivery of water from a pipeline the Kuwait government set up into southern Iraq to the port city of Umm Qasr and other areas further north, Army Col. David Blackledge, commander of 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, said.

Now take a gander . . .

Brandli retrieved another DMSP image he'd archived from May 3. He compared the two. The most recent photo showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait, south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't there on May 3.

I guess they are building a NEW water pipeline to Iraq. Why would a fresh water pipeline run the entire length of Kuwait from the Iraqi border down to the Persian Gulf? Unless of course, there's a desalination plant at the end.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
You call that a link?

There are more, that was just the first i found.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
You call that a link?

There are more, that was just the first i found.

Psssttt - it doesn't work

<gasp> Moonbeam was right? :Q

CkG

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
So your argument is that ALL the activity noted in the satellite photos is for a water pipeline . . .

Note the date on your link . . .

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2003 ? With the help of the Kuwaiti government, fresh water is flowing into coalition-held areas of southern Iraq, and food is on the way, the American officer in charge of these efforts said today.

Coalition forces are coordinating delivery of water from a pipeline the Kuwait government set up into southern Iraq to the port city of Umm Qasr and other areas further north, Army Col. David Blackledge, commander of 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, said.

Now take a gander . . .

Brandli retrieved another DMSP image he'd archived from May 3. He compared the two. The most recent photo showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait, south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't there on May 3.

I guess they are building a NEW water pipeline to Iraq. Why would a fresh water pipeline run the entire length of Kuwait from the Iraqi border down to the Persian Gulf? Unless of course, there's a desalination plant at the end.

You first must consider real pipelines do not go up overnight. They take time and money to do right. The marines gas pipeline rolled off a truck and showed up overnight, but that is only for temp use. A real pipeline for moving large quantities of oil would take months/years to build.

Also consider that it was a couple months after the shooting stopped before oil started flowing from iraq. Consider that this oil that was exported went the US/EU buyers. Also consider initial oil sales still fall under the oil for food program. This story just does not have any legs.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
You call that a link?

There are more, that was just the first i found.

Psssttt - it doesn't work

<gasp> Moonbeam was right? :Q

CkG

linkage

Jalibah, Iraq - The US marines have set up a forward airbase in Iraq with a 100km pipeline transporting fuel from Kuwait to keep an array of aircraft flying in the assault on Saddam Hussein's regime.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Oh, I understand the logistics quite well. I'm not a conspiracy theorist but don't you think it's possible that the same Kuwaiti government drilling diagonal wells into Iraq might make a side deal with the US government to expedite the export of Iraqi crude (with a surcharge of course)?

There are certainly legitimate reasons to use the Kuwaiti infrastructure . . . then again it would make far more sense to use Syrian pipelines a full capacity if the goal was to provide rapid restoration of export potential.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Oh, I understand the logistics quite well. I'm not a conspiracy theorist but don't you think it's possible that the same Kuwaiti government drilling diagonal wells into Iraq might make a side deal with the US government to expedite the export of Iraqi crude (with a surcharge of course)?

There are certainly legitimate reasons to use the Kuwaiti infrastructure . . . then again it would make far more sense to use Syrian pipelines a full capacity if the goal was to provide rapid restoration of export potential.

I think it is possible as kuwait is still owed repartions for iraq from its invasion. But this so called sat photo of pipeline aint it.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Of course Kuwait is owed reparations . . . but aren't you inclined to believe the US government will at Kuwaiti liberation of Iraqi oil while exhorting the world community to forgive Iraqi debt amassed under a despotic regime? If the legitimate humanitarian/democratic goals of this administration are to be believed; it is imperative that every activity be above reproach. To date, I think we've failed that standard.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Of course Kuwait is owed reparations . . . but aren't you inclined to believe the US government will at Kuwaiti liberation of Iraqi oil while exhorting the world community to forgive Iraqi debt amassed under a despotic regime? If the legitimate humanitarian/democratic goals of this administration are to be believed; it is imperative that every activity be above reproach. To date, I think we've failed that standard.

Show me the pipeline. For that matter show me the pipeline in Afghanistan, but that one does not exist either.

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
So your argument is that ALL the activity noted in the satellite photos is for a water pipeline . . .

Note the date on your link . . .

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2003 ? With the help of the Kuwaiti government, fresh water is flowing into coalition-held areas of southern Iraq, and food is on the way, the American officer in charge of these efforts said today.

Coalition forces are coordinating delivery of water from a pipeline the Kuwait government set up into southern Iraq to the port city of Umm Qasr and other areas further north, Army Col. David Blackledge, commander of 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, said.

Now take a gander . . .

Brandli retrieved another DMSP image he'd archived from May 3. He compared the two. The most recent photo showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait, south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't there on May 3.

I guess they are building a NEW water pipeline to Iraq. Why would a fresh water pipeline run the entire length of Kuwait from the Iraqi border down to the Persian Gulf? Unless of course, there's a desalination plant at the end.

A blazing corridor of light does not a pipeline make.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: etech

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
So your argument is that ALL the activity noted in the satellite photos is for a water pipeline . . .

Note the date on your link . . .

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2003 ? With the help of the Kuwaiti government, fresh water is flowing into coalition-held areas of southern Iraq, and food is on the way, the American officer in charge of these efforts said today.

Coalition forces are coordinating delivery of water from a pipeline the Kuwait government set up into southern Iraq to the port city of Umm Qasr and other areas further north, Army Col. David Blackledge, commander of 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, said.

Now take a gander . . .

Brandli retrieved another DMSP image he'd archived from May 3. He compared the two. The most recent photo showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait, south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't there on May 3.

I guess they are building a NEW water pipeline to Iraq. Why would a fresh water pipeline run the entire length of Kuwait from the Iraqi border down to the Persian Gulf? Unless of course, there's a desalination plant at the end.

A blazing corridor of light does not a pipeline make.

Did you bother reading any of the article? You don't even have to, just use common sense... here let me help: What do you need in order to do some work outside on a dark night?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: etech

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
So your argument is that ALL the activity noted in the satellite photos is for a water pipeline . . .

Note the date on your link . . .

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2003 ? With the help of the Kuwaiti government, fresh water is flowing into coalition-held areas of southern Iraq, and food is on the way, the American officer in charge of these efforts said today.

Coalition forces are coordinating delivery of water from a pipeline the Kuwait government set up into southern Iraq to the port city of Umm Qasr and other areas further north, Army Col. David Blackledge, commander of 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, said.

Now take a gander . . .

Brandli retrieved another DMSP image he'd archived from May 3. He compared the two. The most recent photo showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait, south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't there on May 3.

I guess they are building a NEW water pipeline to Iraq. Why would a fresh water pipeline run the entire length of Kuwait from the Iraqi border down to the Persian Gulf? Unless of course, there's a desalination plant at the end.

A blazing corridor of light does not a pipeline make.

Did you bother reading any of the article? You don't even have to, just use common sense... here let me help: What do you need in order to do some work outside on a dark night?

And how do you determine what the pipeline carries from 26,000 miles away. During this time there were major convoys, fuel and water pipelines being laid to support advancing troops.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: etech

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
So your argument is that ALL the activity noted in the satellite photos is for a water pipeline . . .

Note the date on your link . . .

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2003 ? With the help of the Kuwaiti government, fresh water is flowing into coalition-held areas of southern Iraq, and food is on the way, the American officer in charge of these efforts said today.

Coalition forces are coordinating delivery of water from a pipeline the Kuwait government set up into southern Iraq to the port city of Umm Qasr and other areas further north, Army Col. David Blackledge, commander of 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, said.

Now take a gander . . .

Brandli retrieved another DMSP image he'd archived from May 3. He compared the two. The most recent photo showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait, south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't there on May 3.

I guess they are building a NEW water pipeline to Iraq. Why would a fresh water pipeline run the entire length of Kuwait from the Iraqi border down to the Persian Gulf? Unless of course, there's a desalination plant at the end.

A blazing corridor of light does not a pipeline make.

Did you bother reading any of the article? You don't even have to, just use common sense... here let me help: What do you need in order to do some work outside on a dark night?

And how do you determine what the pipeline carries from 26,000 miles away. During this time there were major convoys, fuel and water pipelines being laid to support advancing troops.

"It's going right up to Iraq's oil fields," says the retired Air Force colonel from his home in Palm Bay.