The Critical Battle for Iraq's Energy -WP

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD -- The armed men waited until at least 10 tanker trucks were in line outside the huge refinery in the Sunni Triangle city of Baiji, a major source of gasoline for Iraq. Then they made their move: Arriving in a blue Opel sedan, their faces obscured by checkered head scarves and wraparound sunglasses, the insurgents charged into the road and began moving from truck to truck....
...
Frustrated Iraqi and U.S. officials say insurgents in recent months have displayed an impressive capacity to cripple Iraq's most vital infrastructure.

"What they're doing is focusing efforts on intelligent attacks on infrastructure, especially oil and electricity," said a senior U.S. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The number of attacks is down, but the effectiveness of the attacks is up significantly."

The consequences have been evident across Iraq.

The biggest hit was on the national treasury. Almost the entire federal budget is generated by exports of crude oil, and, according to the Brookings Institution in Washington, revenue from oil exports in November dropped by nearly $700 million, almost 36 percent, from the previous month. The number of attacks on pipelines and other oil and gas infrastructure in November reached 30, almost tripling from October.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10690-2005Jan14.html

[NYC]

1. It is the occupying force's responsibility to take care of the people.

I wonder what will ever come of this.

[leesa]

2. The fault of these attacks lies with the US. If we did not launch an

unprovoked invasion to steal their oil, this would not be happening. It's cool they just take the paperwork.

[UL_Approved]

3. This is NOT what the MSM wants you to know...

The fact that the Iraqi opposition is leaving the truck drivers alone shows that the operation is done to stop petroleum distribution, not to cause terror. Apparently, some part of the Iraqi people are interested in a genuine resistance.

After all, in Normandy, the month preceding the D-Day invasion had massive infrastructure sabotage, and it was boasted that not one switch (a piece of railroad hardware to allow trains to "switch" which set of tracks it is on) was left in operable condition.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. kick

[Rose Siding]

5. Gas lines in Iraq

Iraqis wait in a queue to buy cooking gas in Baghdad's Sadr City January 13, 2005. A cylinder of liquefied gas for cooking now costs 5,000-10,0000 dinars ($3.50-7) compared with 2,000 dinars two or three months ago and 500 dinars during Saddam Husseins rule. An aura of resignation has settled over Iraqis as services deteriorate despite promises of improvement and not even U.S.-backed government officials expect an upturn any time soon. Picture taken January 13, 2005. REUTERS/Stringer