Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
NADA INTSUM 236-91/DIA WASH DC/23 FEB 91.
Filename:75125080
PATHFINDER RECORD NUMBER: 25080
GENDATE: 950605
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TEXT:
ENVELOPE CDSN = LGX390 MCN = 91054/09597 TOR = 910540805
OTTSZYUW RUEKJCS7403 0540801- --RUEALGX.
ZNY
HEADER O 230801Z FEB 91
FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEALGX/SAFE
O 230659Z FEB 91
FM DIA WASHINGTON DC//J2I-6C//
TO AIG 962
AIG 963
RKQCGSC/HNDGS ATHENS GR//SMA//
AIG 11847
RUWTFPA/13MWS CLEAR AFS AK//DOIN//
RUWMFLA/NW AD SECTOR MCCHORD AFB WA
RUETIAA/NSACSS FT GEORGE G MEADE MD//PO5/GO5/G6//
XMT COMSTANAVFORLANT
COMLANDSOUTHEAST IZMIR TU
BT
SIC UAJ
SUBJ: NADA INTSUM 236-91/DIA WASH DC/23 FEB 91.
PART 1 OF 2.
IRAQ-KUWA1T: SITUAT1ON UPDATE
AS OF 0500Z 23 FEB 91
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MAJOR POINTS
))
1. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
2. IRAQI FORCES HAVE CREATED SIGNIFICANT TACTICAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN THEIR APPARENT EFFORTS TO DESTROY
KUWAIT'S OIL FACILITIES.
3. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
))
MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
))
4. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
5. ON 21-22 FEBRUARY AT LEAST 145 OIL WELLS WERE IGNITED
THROUGHOUT KUWAIT. COMMENT: THE IRAQIS HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN
PREPARING DEMOLITIONS TO DESTROY KUWAITI OIL FACILITIES, PROBABLY
AS A DEFENSIVE MEASURE AGAINST COALITION ATTACK AND TO DEPRIVE
KUWAITIS OF THE OIL RESOURCE IN CASE OF WITHDRAWAL. SADDAM'S
DECISION TO ORDER THE FIRES COULD HAVE BEEN PROMPTED BY
OVERREACTION TO COALITION STR1KES AND MAY SIGNAL A REALIZATION
THAT KUWAIT WILL NOT BE HELD. REGARDLESS, THE FIRES, WITH THEIR
TOXIC, OBSCURANT, AND EXPLOSIVE EFFECTS, MAY COMPLICATE IRAQI AND
COALITION OPERATIONS.
6. IN ADDITION TD THE BLAST HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH AN
EXPLODING WELL HEAD OR OIL TANK, BURNING OIL CREATES CLOUDS OF
THICK, OILY, BLACK SMOKE; INTENSE HEAT: AND TOXIC FUMES AND GASES.
ALL THESE FACTORS ARE POTENTIALLY LETHAL TO TROOPS AND MAY IMPEDE
MANEUVER AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS. THE TOXICITY OF THE
BURNING KUWAITI OIL FIELDS IS AMPLIFIED BECAUSE OF THE HYDROGEN
SULFIDE-RICH CRUDE OIL THAT IS PREVALENT IN THIS REGION. KNOWN AS
"SOUR GAS," HYDROGEN SULFIDE IS A HIGHLY FLAMMABLE,
HEAVIER-THAN-AIR GAS THAT IS HIGHLY TOXIC AND IS NORMALLY REMOVED
DURING THE REFINING PROCESS. AN UNCAPPED WELL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
PRODUCE LETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE AT RANGES OF
1,000 METERS DOWNWIND AND 100 METERS UPWIND. AT LETHAL
CONCENTRATIONS, HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS, AS WELL AS ANHYDROUS AMMONIA
GAS WHICH IS ALSO PRODUCED, CANNOT BE COUNTERED BY COALITION
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING OR GAS MASKS. TACTICALLY, THE COMBINED IMPACT
OF THE TOXIC FUMES AND GASES: OILY, BLACK SMOKE: AND BROAD
DISPERSION THROUGHOUT KUWAIT PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT MILITARY
THREAT. APART FROM ITS TACTICAL EFFECTS, THE IMPACT OF THE IRAQI
OIL DESTRUCTION WILL BE FELT ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FOR
YEARS.
7. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
8. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
9. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
[ (b)(2) ]
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