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ECO-TERRORISM.
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Deliberate terrorist action by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Deliberate terrorist action by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Ordering vast amounts of crude oil pumped into the Persian Gulf as retaliation for defeat in Persian Gulf War of 1991. The largest oil spill in history. Environmental damage and air pollution caused by setting fire to oil wells. First known act of large-scale eco-terrorism.
Paper Introduction:
Gulf War Eco-Terrorism Still Menaces Gulf
On January 16, 1991, U.N. coalition air forces bombarded Iraqi military targets in Kuwait and Iraq. These actions were in response to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s failure to withdraw Iraqi forces from Kuwait. In retaliation, Hussein ordered the deliberate pumping of vast amounts of crude oil from the Sea Island Oil Terminal in Kuwait into the Persian Gulf. This act of eco-terrorism marked the largest oil spill in history, with more than 460 million gallons of oil contaminating the Gulf (Joyner and Kirkhope, 1992).
In addition to the forty mile oil slick this deliberate pumping created along the southern Kuwaiti and northern Saudi coastline, on their withdrawal from Kuwait defeated Iraqi troops purposefully set fire to 752 oil wells (Joyner, et al, 1992). The environm
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Sharp declineshave occurred in the millions of migratory birds that pass through thisregion of the globe. One geographicalfeature of Saudi's coastline that contributed to the damage is itsserpentine system of estuaries. The largest oil spillage in history,purposeful no less, single-handedly was responsible for wiping out theshrimp industry in the Gulf as fish and other marine life were decimated bythe disaster. In addition to the forty mile oil slick this deliberate pumpingcreated along the southern Kuwaiti and northern Saudi coastline, on theirwithdrawal from Kuwait defeated Iraqi troops purposefully set fire to 752oil wells (Joyner, et al, 1992). As such,it serves as an important foraging ground for marine life and waterfowl.The impact of the devastation on the intertidal zone was still painfullyevident years after the act of eco-terrorism took place. and Kirkhope, J. In retaliation, Hussein ordered the deliberate pumping of vastamounts of crude oil from the Sea Island Oil Terminal in Kuwait into thePersian Gulf. bombing strike. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, Vol. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) standards (Joyner, et al, 1992). While it may be said that all is fair in love and war,it is impossible to accept eco-terrorism as an appropriate retaliatoryaction to conflict. While coalition forces tried to stem the damagecaused by Hussein's forces, their efforts were too late to help save theenvironment. Gulf oil spill of 1991 War is evaluated - Saudi Beach areas remain 'paved' with crude oil, U.S. Regardless of such law, Hussein's actions unleashed a level ofenvironmental destruction that experts predict will take a minimum of fourdecades to abate. Such travesties against humankind and theenvironment must not be allowed in times of peace or war. Unprecedented environmental damage was unleashed on Gulf shores andwaters by Iraq's eco-terrorism. In March, 1989, offPrince William Sound, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez dumped millions ofgallons of oil into the waters of Alaska. A London-based group known as Amar Appeal studied theimpact on the marshes from the oil damage and noted that the "effect onclimate and wildlife habitat is similar in scope to the destruction of rainforests in Central and South America" (Holmes, 1995, A8). After the Gulf War, expertspredicted that the oil spills due to eco-terrorism were twelve timesgreater than the Valdez disaster (Joyner, et al, 1992). While many scientists were quick to blame the oilfor the destruction, others argue that it may have been the fires and airpollution that were ultimately responsible. The actions of one man are responsible for thedestruction of rich ecosystems, marine life, waterfowl, people'slivelihoods, and billions of dollars in economic damages including cleanupand abatement efforts. While a large portion of the Gulf's coral and deep-water ecosystems escaped significant damage, huge tracts of Saudi beacheswere devastated by the oil spills. These actions were in response toIraqi President Saddam Hussein's failure to withdraw Iraqi forces fromKuwait. Thedecline in temperature is thought to be responsible for the destruction ofKuwaiti coral reefs not direct contamination from the oil. More than 5 , tons of airpollution was generated by the burning of these wells, reaching aconcentration of airborne particles more than 4 times U.S. Fishermen in Kuwait and Iran who have made their living for decadespulling shrimp, mullet, and sea bream out of the Gulf reported "an 8 %decline in their catch" as late as 1995 (Holmes, 1995, A8). coalition air forces bombarded Iraqimilitary targets in Kuwait and Iraq. In order to put the Gulf War eco-terrorism into more perspective, wecan look at another enormous oil spill for comparison. It also proves that Hussein breaks laws at will to achieve hisnefarious aims. Such purposeful, widespread, and unconscionable destruction of theenvironment is evidence that Saddam Hussein will stop at nothing to retainpower, even if it means destroying the environment in neighboringcountries. The Atlanta Constitution, Aug 2, 1995: A8.Joyner, C. The economicdamage was estimated at $1 -$12 million a day, creating anotherenvironmental hazard from the formation of enormous oil lakes that formedin the desert (Joyner, et al, 1992). agency team says. The Gulf's extremely rich coral reef came close toextinction from the act. The fires took until November of 1991 to extinguish and when theworld's first known act of large-scale eco-terrorism was over, estimates torestore Kuwait's oil industry to pre-terrorism conditions were put at $1 billion (Joyner, et al, 1992). T. The environmentaldamage would also be much greater. The Persian Gulf War oil spill: Reassessing the Law of Environmental Protection and the Law of Armed Conflict. These estuaries have no exposure to wavesand the impact of tidal fluctuations on them is minimal. W. (Winter 1992). Marine life has also been impacted by the oil damage. The intertidalzone is the shore area that is exposed during high and low tides. The ecological damage caused to this region of the Gulf is alsoattributed to large concentrations of carcinogenic - cancer causing -compounds in sediment. This act of eco-terrorism marked the largest oil spill inhistory, with more than 46 million gallons of oil contaminating the Gulf(Joyner and Kirkhope, 1992). ReferencesHolmes, C. This argument posits thebelief that temperatures in the northern Gulf dropped sharply when Kuwaitand parts of Saudi Arabia and Iran were covered in the thick dome of smokein the air that remained for months as a result of the oil fires. More than a year-and-a-half after the oil spill over 375 miles ofSaudi Arabian beaches were still covered by foot-deep slabs of crude oil,leaving Saudi's intertidal zone devastated (Wells, 1992). A large percentage of the oilthat was deliberately pumped out of Kuwait production centers into thePersian Gulf originated from the Mina al-Ahmadi oil terminal in Kuwait.For over a week oil steadily pumped into the Gulf until coalition forcesstopped the deadly flow via a U.S. Because of this,experts from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) reported that "It may take up to 3 to 4 years for the mostsheltered bays to lose their oil pavements" (Wells, 1992, A5A). C. While many arguethat a significant portion of the Gulf's coral reefs were unscathed by theact of terrorism, others argue that 9 % of Kuwait's coral reefs weredestroyed by fires set to hundreds of oil wells (Joyner, et al, 1992). The environmental damage caused by thesedeliberate acts of eco-terrorism is vast. In reaction to the damage created by Hussein's eco-terrorism, AbdulRahman Awadhi, director of the eight-country Regional Organization for theProtection of Marine Environment (ROPME), warned: "The world should bedisturbed, because this is one of the greatest environmental disasters"(Holmes, 195, A8). Nevertheless,it was this heinous act of eco-terrorism that created the temperaturechanges responsible for this portion of environmental destruction. The 1978 Kuwait Regional Convention created environmentalprotection law that "Specifically obligates contracting parties to take allappropriate measures to prevent, abate, and combat pollution in the SeaArea caused by intentional or accidental discharges" (Joyner et al, 1992,33). While the economic impact of this act ofeco-terrorism was enormous, scientists and environmental experts feared thedamage to the environment would eclipse it. Yet there seems to be some controversyamong scientists as to the impact of the devastation. 24, No 6: 29-54.Wells, K. Focus on Kuwait: Five years after Gulf Crisis effects of war still menace gulf environment oil and water. Wall Street Journal, Apr 1 , 1992: A5A. Gulf War Eco-Terrorism Still Menaces Gulf On January 16, 1991, U.N. Yetthere seems to be some dispute as to what caused the destruction ofKuwait's coral reefs.
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