Holy Crap
Posted by Ilan Goldenberg
If this story weren't so serious it would probably merit some kind of snarky remark about exporting American democracy Katrina style.
The largest dam in Iraq is in serious danger of an imminent collapse that could unleash a trillion-gallon wave of water, possibly killing thousands of people and flooding two of the largest cities in the country, according to new assessments by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other U.S. officials.
Even in a country gripped by daily bloodshed, the possibility of a catastrophic failure of the Mosul Dam has alarmed American officials, who have concluded that it could lead to as many as 500,000 civilian deaths by drowning Mosul under 65 feet of water and parts of Baghdad under 15 feet, said Abdulkhalik Thanoon Ayoub, the dam manager.
Also, I'm not a fan of suppressing journalism for the purpose of security. After all, pointing out problems like this in the public domain makes sure that they get fixed. But this story does make me a little uncomfortable in terms of pointing out a glaring vulnerability. I hope this dam has some serious security around it. If it doesn't. It should.
Ah, what symbolism. Holding back three trillion gallons of water with a dam which "could collapse any day" because it was built on gypsum, the stuff of drywall, which dissolves in water. Isn't it symbolic of a US foreign policy which perhaps has brought the US the danger of a great flood but definitely an "inevitable quagmire".
From a military writer: "With the passage of time, politicians imbued military action to destroy Islamist terrorism with a meaning it never had, equating the unnecessary and destructive American military occupation of Muslim-Arab Iraq with America’s special mission to spread freedom throughout the world. Worse, Iraq’s forced democratization unleashed reactionary forces Americans did not anticipate. These forces strengthened Iranian regional power and influence, precipitating a dangerous anti-American backlash abroad and creating economic vulnerability at home. We cannot easily reverse the outcome in Iraq, but we can avoid repeating the pattern of behavior that made the Iraqi quagmire inevitable."--Colonel Douglas Macregor (Ret.), Armed Forces Journal
http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2007/10/2865287
Posted by: Don Bacon | October 30, 2007 at 08:00 AM
fmivob qrxyvj stwhvgfm rymetn jrcinxvgd edbkvf bemsuptc
Posted by: wknxa yiejgvtk | May 29, 2008 at 12:29 PM
If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In
You are currently signed in as (nobody). Sign Out
Posted by: fake Tiffany Necklace | April 27, 2009 at 10:19 PM
The summer is coming,tiffany jewelry is your best choice.So you can choose a popular style tiffany jewelry for yourself.You will be more beautiful.
You may like 646-204 and 642-845,also you want to pass them.We can help you.
Posted by: asdasd | May 26, 2009 at 03:58 AM
I am so with you,rolex watch
luxury watch
Posted by: luxury watches | June 02, 2009 at 12:52 PM
UGG Boots is your best ugg boots sale online Outlet where you can buy the cheapest
Ugg Boots.
Posted by: ugg boots sale | June 09, 2009 at 03:48 AM
Authentic Products uggsline.co.uk provides all kinds of UGG Boots in high quality but lowest prices possible from UK. We frequently update the styles of uggsline Boots so please check back to choose your favourite Boots.
UGG boots sale
Posted by: zachariah7 | September 14, 2009 at 04:39 AM
Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!
Posted by: cheap coach handbags | January 29, 2010 at 12:53 AM
I am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: nike.com | October 30, 2010 at 04:08 AM
Thank you for sharing this ingredients,its gonna be a perfect treat for this coming valentines.
Posted by: tiffany jewelry | November 11, 2010 at 09:27 PM