Baghdad oil refinery ablaze after rocket attack

[Robbien]

Source: AFP

Firefighters were on Monday battling a blaze at a south Baghdad oil refinery sparked by a rocket attack, a statement from the Iraqi government said. "Four rockets hit the benzine pipeline" in southern Baghdad's Dora refinery, the government said, adding, "the damage from this terrorist attack is still unclear."

Oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said a Katyusha-type rocket is believed to have caused the inferno. "A rocket thought to be of the Katyusha type struck a light fuel tank at the refinery, causing fire and material damage," Jihad told AFP. "There were no casualties.

"The fire is still burning but the situation is under control," he said mid-afternoon. "The extinguishing operation is still continuing. I cannot say when will it be put out, but the tank is isolated and we are waiting for the remaining fuel to finish burning."

The US military, however, disputed that the blaze was caused by rockets and put it down to an "industrial accident."



Read more: http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=071210124256.y9ohzdm2.php

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US news sites all lead with headlines stating this is an accident. The US will admit that rockets hit an Iraqi prison on the same day this refinery blew up, but refuses to admit that Iraqi oil is vulnerable to the same rockets.

[tom_paine]

1. LOL. The Bushies still cook the books like Soviet Communists.

If it was admitted that this was the result of a rocket attack, and the Bushies agreed, then it would go down as a violent terrorist attack.

Thsi is at odds with the Bushie Party Comrades, who MUST show a decrease in terrorist attack, therefore this couldn't have been a terrorist attack, simply couldn't. That's their story and they are sticking to it, staying "on message".

As we all know, when the needs of the Bushie Comrades conflict with reality, reality loses every single time.

Yawn. Bushies are like any other totalitarian scum, anywhere. Only the details are different.

[SpiralHawk]

2. "No problema. This will boost oil prices. Smirk." - Commander AWOL Bush

"And a boost in oil prices will mean a Big Boost in profits for my republicon homelander oil cronies. Perfect. Smirk, smirk, smirk."

- Commander AWOL Bush

[Eugene]

3. MNF Iraq: Baghdad refinery fire deemed accidental

Source: MNF Iraq

Baghdad refinery fire deemed accidental
Monday, 10 December 2007

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071210-03
December 10, 2007

Baghdad refinery fire deemed accidental
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multinational Division – Baghdad forces
determined that the cause of a fire at the Doura Oil
Refinery today was the result of an industrial accident.

The fire, which began around 9 a.m., was initially
believed to have been started by indirect fire, but when
units of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf.
Div. arrived on the scene, its cause was determined to
be the result of a pipe explosion.

Iraqi emergency personnel, Coalition and Iraqi Security
Forces arrived at the refinery within minutes and began
to get the fire under control.

The exact number of casualties is unknown at this time.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15716&Itemid=128

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So there! Iraq is under control. Our military tells us so.

[stillcool]

4. "industrial accident"...

they have a lot of 'accidents' in Iraq.

[Highway61]

5. Good to see

all is "going well" over there.