UK Documents: U.S. planned War for Oil in 1973

America preparing a war for the Gulf oil in 1973

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By Cahal Milmo

U.S. Planned to Seize Oil in '73 Crisis

Independent UK -01 January 2004

The British Government believed America was preparing for a lightning war in the Middle East to end the 1973 oil crisis, including an invasion of Kuwait, documents released today to the National Archives show.

The Joint Intelligence Committee, the body that acts as the link between the intelligence services and Downing Street, warned the Prime Minister, Edward Heath that Washington was planning to seize oil fields in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait to secure the Western economies.

The global economy was in the grip of the crisis caused by the decision of the Arab world to hike the price of oil exports to the West and cut production in retaliation for American support of Israel in the Yom Kippur war. The proposals, based on intelligence gathered by MI6 and described as "ominous" by No 10. Officials in Whitehall said the US, fearful that the Arab countries were rapidly realising the effectiveness of oil as a weapon, was ready to flex its military muscle in the Middle East without the agreement of its allies.

The plan would entail an airborne assault on strategic targets, the entire principality of Kuwait, the Saudi oilfields in Dhahran and the oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi, which had announced a total embargo against the US.

The 22-page JIC document, marked "Secret. UK eyes only", said: "We believe the American preference would be for a rapid operation conducted by themselves to seize oilfields."

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printed from UK Documents: U.S. planned War for Oil in 1973 on 2004-05-01 00:12:42