The American press is reporting that U.S. warplanes

have launched major strikes against several missile

sites in various parts of Iraq.

But what hasn't been mentioned so far is that

virtually all of them were directed at military

targets in and around major Iraqi oil fields.

These "pre-emptive strikes" are done to eliminate any

threats to air support that would be needed to protect

troops on the ground.

This first step in invading Iraq and seizing control

of its oil fields is to destroy all military targets

that protect them.

Despite the charade going on between the imperialist

powers at the United Nations, the invasion of Iraq has

already begun.

Sincerely,

Duane J. Roberts

duaneroberts92804@yahoo.com



http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/stories/2003022602431400.htm

Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003

The Hindu

U.S. preparing ground to secure oil fields?

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA FEB.25. The U.S. fighter jets today raided

three Iraqi ground to air missile sites near the oil

city of Mosul ahead of a Parliamentary vote that will

make Turkey key staging post for a U.S.-led attack

through northern Iraq.

The air raids launched from Turkish bases are being

interpreted as part of preparations to demolish Iraqi

defences before the U.S.- led coalition launches a

full scale ground attack to seize Iraq's northern oil

fields. Iraqi oil reserves -- the second largest in

the world after Saudi Arabia -- are mainly located in

the north around Mosul and Kirkuk or around Basra in

the country's South.

The U.S. since the last few weeks has also intensified

air attacks around Basra -- a move that could help its

forces to capture Iraq's southern oil fields and

undermine the possibility of Iraq positioning its

surface-to-surface missile launchers in this area.

Analysts point out that there is a general agreement

among the U.S., Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds residing in

northern Iraq, so far, that the U.S. troops should

quickly establish direct military control over Mosul

and Kirkuk soon after the war begins. The

implementation of this plan has acquired some urgency

as there are reports that the Iraqis might blow up the

oil fields in the north and the south soon after the

war begins.

The U.S. has justified the intensification of its air

raids, by pointing out that they are meant to enforce

the no-fly zone provisions of the early nineties in

northern and southern Iraq....