Startling Accusation from a Gulf War Vet Group
FEBRUARY 25. The American Gulf War Veterans Association, led by Joyce
Riley, has issued a press release that accuses US forces of setting
huge oil fires in Kuwait at the end of Gulf War One.
At the time, those fires—blamed on Saddam—burned a billion
barrels of oil over a seven-month period and raised a poisonous
lingering cloud over the Persian Gulf nations.
The ecological/health disaster persists to this day (see a story
posted by CNN on Jan.3, 2003).
From Riley’s release: “One [US] veteran has now stepped forward and
given a detailed account of how he and others in special teams moved
forward of the front…and then set charges on the [Kuwait oil] well
heads.”
This veteran, as yet unnamed, states, “We were mustered into the
briefing tent at which point a gentleman who I first had thought to
be an American began to brief us on the operation [to burn the oil
fields]. I was concerned because he was not wearing a US uniform and
insignias.”
The Gulf Wart Veterans’ release continues: “The information provided
over a series of meetings with this veteran corroborates reports from
other veterans who are totally unconnected with this individual. This
testimony brings into serious question the integrity of the US
government, as it [the government] provided information to the
American public and military during the last Gulf War.”
There could be several motives behind a secret US special ops venture
to burn the Kuwaiti oil fields. To further slam Saddam—blaming the
disaster on him. To create the appearance of an oil shortage. To keep
certain recalcitrant leaders in Kuwait in line—”see what we can do
if you try to dump `US support?’”
However, the US veteran who spoke with Riley may also be implying
that the operation to burn the oil fields was not, at the highest
levels, a US government plot, although it used small groups of US
soldiers. The briefer may have represented more shadowy power
players.
I’ve made queries, and I’ll let you know if anything more falls out
of the hopper.
JON RAPPOPORT www.stratiawire.com
