ccoleman@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Chuck Coleman) (10/23/90)
From: ccoleman@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Chuck Coleman) The news of Iraqi shortages of imported gasoline and motor oil additives shows the weakness of its economy with respect to at least a few goods. To what extent are strategic goods threatened by the embargo? What are the exact military effects of these shortages? Consider the motor oil additive shortage. If the lubricant in tank engines requires similarly unobtainable additives, for which there are no readily available substitutes, then it is only a matter of time before the armored components of the Iraqi war machine are eliminated. This would produce an easily winnable scenario for Allied forces. Covert operations could possibly create and intensify bottlenecks. The main danger in a shortage scenario would be the temptation for Iraq to strike at Allied forces before all is lost. What would Allied casualties be if this occurred? Chuck Coleman "Sorry, no concluding witticism" School: Work: Center for Study of Public Choice NPA Data Services, Inc. George Mason University 1424 16th St. N.W. Suite 700 4400 University Drive Washington, DC 20036 Fairfax, VA 22030 (202) 265-7685 BITNET: ccoleman@GMUVAX Internet: ccoleman@gmuvax2.gmu.edu