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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          

     

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    E. POLAND: "WODNIK" HOSPITAL SHIP (U)

3.           INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS (U)

    A.           IRAQ: THREAT POSED BY FLAME OBSTACLES       

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                                                          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).



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    E.           POLAND: "WODNIK" HOSPITAL SHIP (U)



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