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Oil Fields Vulnerable to Saddam's 'Scorched Earth' Strategy

Some analysts say Saddam Hussein could once again attack Kuwaiti oil fields -- or wreck his own -- to try to slow any U.S. attack on Iraq. During the 1991 Gulf War, the Iraqi leader's retreating troops blew up many of Kuwait's oil fields, causing massive environmental and economic damage. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

Copyright 2003 NPR

Eric Westervelt is a San Francisco-based correspondent for NPR's National Desk. He has reported on major events for the network from wars and revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa to historic wildfires and terrorist attacks in the U.S.