NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2004 — 04-sept-oct — Viewing Item

Iraq oil pipeline junction blown up Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040914_201.html http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040914_201.html Iraq Oil Pipeline Junction Blown Up Saboteurs Blow Up Pipeline Junction in Northern Iraq The Associated Press BEIJI, Iraq Sept. 14, 2004 — Saboteurs blew up a junction where multiple oil pipelines cross the Tigris River in northern Iraq on Tuesday, sending plumes of smoke leaping into the sky, officials said. Firefighters struggled to put out the blaze after the attack near Beiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad. U.S. military officials surveying the blast estimated it could take up to three days to put out the fire. Crude oil cascaded down the hillside into the river. Fire burned atop the water, fueled by the gushing oil. Beiji is the point where several oil pipelines converge, said Lt. Col. Lee Morrison of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "Beiji is the chokepoint," he said. "It's so easy to hit." The 3 a.m. attack came soon after engineers had completed a two-month project to install two critical valves that had been damaged in an earlier blast. Morrison, commander of the northern office Task Force Shield based in Kirkuk, said that U.S. soldiers had just dropped off barriers to guard the lines two days ago, but that Iraqi authorities had not yet erected them. Iraqi oil officials have been struggling to guard the country's vast oil infrastructure, deploying thousands of oil security officers to guard the lines. Insurgents, however, have largely acted with impunity and often inside knowledge. "They already know it's a critical point because they've blown it up before," said Morrison, of St. Petersburg, Florida. "They obviously know the system. But it's not rocket science." Militants waging a 16-month insurgency have attacked oil pipelines as part of a campaign to destabilize the interim government of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and drive coalition forces from the country. Allawi told the Arabic-language satellite channel Al-Arabiya on Monday that sabotage of oil pipelines had already cost the country about $2 billion in losses in all.

50 iraq soldiers slaughtered 6 US soldiers killed in iraq attacks 8 US marines killed west of baghdad Army reserve platoon refuses suicide mission { October 15 2004 } Baghdad clashes leave 40 iraqis dead Blast in baghdad rebel district kills 47 Blasts hit baghdad green zone Bombing kills 7 marines in fallujah Four marines killed in iraq Helicopter fires on crowd firing on bradley tank { September 13 2004 } Helicopters fired on crowd of unarmed civilians { September 14 2004 } Insurgency forces growing Insurgency grown and grown in funding { October 22 2004 } Iraq oil pipeline junction blown up Marines launch attacks in fallujah oct 14 Military kills scores in fighting near mosul { September 10 2004 } New offensives in iraq on hold till american vote New strikes in falluja Pipeline is attacked { September 4 2004 } Powell says iraqi security situation worsening Residents report aircraft strikes falluja Sadr peace deal could bolster iraq election plan September deadliest month for troops Surge of baghdad violence leaves 60 dead Thirteen US troops killed early september Two uk soldiers killed in basra UK troops redeployment necessary Unit refuses to go on convoy mission US destroys falluja arms dumps US forces pound fallujah and nearby villages US gunships fires on crowd US troops clash with insurgents in iraq Files Listed: 32

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