CENTAF-REAR DISUM 143 (U)

File: 120596_aacxu_03.txt
Page: 03
Total Pages: 4
SUBJ: CENTAF-REAR DISUM 143 (U)

PORTIONS FROM PAGES 3-10  WITHHELD. NOT HEALTH RELATED. 

[(b)(1)sec 3.4 (b)(1)]








BAGHDAD MAY BE REASSESSING ITS SRRATEGY FOR EMPLOYING SRBN,
ESPECIALLY WITH POSSIBLE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARHEADS, IN LIGHT
OF THE SUCCESS OF THE PATRIOT MISSILE IN ENGAGING AND DESTROYING
INCOMING MISSILES. [(b)(1)sec 3.4 (b)(1)]

[(b)(1)sec 3.4 (b)(1)]




PORTIONS FROM PAGES 11-17  WITHHELD. NOT HEALTH RELATED. 

	SABOTAGED KUWAITI OIL WELLS AND BURNING OIL IN THE IRAQIS'
DEFENSIVE TRENCHES COULD POSE HEALTH AND OPERATIONAL DANGERS TO
COALITION FORCES. ACCORDING TO US TECHNICAL PROJECTIONS, THE
CONCENTRATION OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE FROM UNCAPPED NONBURNING OIL WELLS
COULD BE HIGH ENOUGH TO CAUSE NERVE, EYE, AND LUNG DAMAGE WITHIN ZOO
FEET OF THE WELLS. BURNING WELLS AND TRENCHES WOULD PRODUCE SMOKE
PLUMES--SOME HIGH IN SULFUR DIOXIDE--THAT COULD EXTEND OVER TENS OF
MILES DOWNWIND AND 2 TO 5 MILES HIGH. HYDROGEN SULFIDE CONCENTRATION
WILL BE HIGHEST NEAR THE SOURCE, WHILE SULFUR DIOXIDE LEVELS WILL BE
HIGHEST WHERE THE PLUMES DESCEND TO THE SURFACE, PROBABLY SEVERAL
MILES DOWNWIND. KUWAITI WELLS HIGH IN HYDROGEN SULFIDE ARE PRIMARILY
IN THE AL MANAQISH AND UMM GUDAYR OILFIELDS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL KUWAIT.
PLUME DENSITY PROBABLY WOULD IMPAIR DAY AND NIGHT VISION,
ELECTRO-OPTICAL SYSTEMS, AND AIRCRAFT ENGINE PERFORMANCE. WINDY
CONDITIONS--COMMON DURING THE DAY--WOULD DISPERSE THE GASES AND
DIMINISHED THE DANGER, BUT THE LIGHT WINDS TYPICAL AT NIGHT WOULD BE
INSUFFICIENT TO DO SO.

PORTIONS FROM PAGES 17-21 WITHHELD. NOT HEALTH RELATED.