§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the case that coalition aircraft had bombed three tankers and various oil terminals in the Gulf before the big oil slick was announced; what became of the oil released; and whether it is their opinion that pollution by oil is an acceptable cost of coalition military activity but "environmental terrorism" when Iraq causes it. [HL Deb, 4th Feb, col. 972]
§ The Earl of ArranAllied forces sank one oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and small quantities of oil could have leaked from it. This is wholly different to subsequent Iraqi action when they began deliberately pumping large amounts of oil into the Gulf from oil terminals and laden tankers. The Allies carried out successful operations to halt the flow of oil. Whilst any environmental damage is regrettable, there is a need to differentiate between the unfortunate consequences of Allied military action in support of the liberation of Kuwait, and deliberate Iraqi acts of environmental terrorism.