US Expects Saddam Hussein to Order Destruction of Oil Fields

Broadcast: Jan 24， 2003

 

If there is a new war with Iraq, the Bush administration expects Saddam Hussein to order the destruction of his country's oil fields, creating an economic and environmental disaster.

There is little doubt that the Bush administration is concerned about a variety of hazards ¹⁾stemming from a possible new war with Iraq. Deputy Defense¹ Secretary Paul Wolfowitz puts it this way. "There are real dangers in confronting a tyrant² who has and uses weapons of mass terror and has links to terrorists," he said.

Mr. Wolfowitz and others are chiefly concerned about Iraq's ²⁾potential use of chemical and biological weapons against U.S.-led coalition³ troops.

But a senior defense official says another concern is Iraq's possible use of oil as part of a ³⁾scorched earth policy. This official, speaking on condition of anonymity⁴, says a variety of intelligence sources have left the Pentagon with the belief that Saddam Hussein has the capability⁵ and the intent to destroy Iraq's oil fields. The official says there are indications some explosives may have already been planted at selected oil wells.

The officials says destruction of the oil fields would, as he puts it, truly be an act of terror. He recalls Iraq ordered the destruction of Kuwaiti oil fields in the 1991 Gulf⁶ war, ⁴⁾triggering an environmental disaster.

The official says that destruction involved some 700 oil wells. He says Saddam Hussein could double the size of that disaster by ordering the destruction of Iraq's 1,500 wellheads. He estimates it would cost $30 to $50 billion to reconstruct Iraq's oil infrastructure⁷ if the oil fields are destroyed and says Iraq's economy would lose $20 to $30 billion a year in oil income.

The senior defense official says the U.S. military is crafting plans to prevent destruction of the oil fields. He declines for security reasons to give any details. But the official also indicates the United States will launch an information campaign aimed at convincing oil field workers and troops stationed near the wells not to follow any orders to blow up oil facilities.

The official denies the United States has any selfish interest in preserving the oil fields. He says their protection will be crucial to the country's economic well-being⁸ in the event of a war, ensuring that the Iraqi people have a viable⁹ future.

Alex Belida VOA news, Pentagon

 

1)    stem from 滋生, 阻止

2)    potential[pE5tenF(E)l]adj. 潜在的, 可能的

3)    scorch[skC:tF]v. 烧焦, 枯萎

4)    trigger[5tri^E]vt. 引发, 引起, 触发

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 tyrant   

n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a despotic tyrant.该国处在一个专制暴君的统治之下。
• The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves.暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 anonymity   

n.the condition of being anonymous

参考例句：

• Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密，书中的人用的都是化名。
• Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

6 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

9 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。