File: 970613_ww48090_90_txt_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 1
[b.2.] SECTION 001 OF 002 /*********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE ************/ SUBJ: AFMIC WEEKLY WIRE 48-90 (U) 1 GENERAL (U) THIS MESSAGE CONSISTS OF SCIENTIFIC, TCCHNICAL, AND GENERAL MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE. IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A TIMELY SUMMARY OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS THE REMARKS ARE PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO REVISION AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT AN AGREED DOD POSITION. A. IRAQ: THREAT POSED BY FLAME OBSTACLES [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c), (d)] E. POLAND: "WODNIK" HOSPITAL SHIP (U) 3. INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS (U) A. IRAQ: THREAT POSED BY FLAME OBSTACLES [b.2.] IRAQI FORCES IN THE KUWAITI THEATER OF OPERATION MAY HAVE WIRED OIL FIELDS WITH CXPLOSIVES, CONSTRUCTED FIRE TRENCHES. AND SUPPLEMENTED MINEFIELDS WITH DRUMS OF THICKENED GASOLINE OR NAPALM. THESE ACTIONS LIKELY ARE INTENDED TO CREATE FLAME BARRIERS IN THE PATH OF ADVANCING DESERT SHIELD FORCES. COMMENT: EXTENSIVE OIL FIRES, WHETHER AT WELLHEADS OR IN FIRE TRENCHES, WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR TACTICAL FORCES TO EXTINGUISH. SUCH FIRES WOULD GENERATE DENSE SMOKE PLUMES TO 3,000 FEET IN HEIGHT THAT MAY CONTAIN TOXIC OR CAUSTIC CHEMICALS IN ADDITION TO THE FIRE AND SMOKE HAZARDS ALLIED TROOPS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE THREAT POSED BY HYDROGEN.SULFIDE (H2S) GAS CONTAINED IN OIL DIVERTED FROM DEEP, HIGH PRESSURE WELLS TO FILL THE FIRE TRENCHES. H2S ALSO IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOUR NATURAL GAS WELLS. DEPENDING ON ATMOSPHERIC CONCENTRATION, H2S GAS CAN CAUSE DISORIENTATION, UNCONTROLLED VOMITING OR DEATH. H2S BUBBLES OFF AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND CONCENTRATIONS WILL BE HIGHER IF THE OIL IS NOT IGNITED. IF THE OIL IS IGNITED IN THE PRESENCE OF LARGE QUANTZTIES OF NATURAL GAS, THE EFFECTS WOULD BE SIMILAR TO FUEL AIR EXPLOSIVES (FAE). [b.2.] [b.6.] [b.1.] E. POLAND: "WODNIK" HOSPITAL SHIP (U) [b.1.] [b.2.] [b.6.]?
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