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
