Army Opens New Front on Fight to Restore Iraq's Fuel Flow 5/16/2003
CREAR: U.S. troops will provide security for Iraqi refinery workers. (Photo courtesy of office of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Going for the jugular of the fuel-supply problem that has created 2-km-long lines at gasoline stations, inflamed Iraqi tempers and drawn international criticism of the coalitions management of the country, troops from the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division on May 15 began providing security at the 100,000-bbl/day Dawra oil refinery near Baghdad. Protected by the army, refinery workers will resume their prewar practice of topping off tankers at night, allowing them to begin deliveries early in the morning, in time to meet the new days demand.