Posted on 08/10/2014 11:51:39 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee
If , as some reports suggest, Islamic State forces have seized Mosul Dam, they might have stumbled on a weapon exponentially more powerful than any U.S.-made armored vehicle or Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun.
The Mosul Dam is Iraq’s largest dam and with its shoddy construction could, if destabilized, affect the lives of Iraqis as far south as Baghdad.
Located on Mosul Lake the facility provides electricity and irrigation to surrounding areas.
“If the dam fails, scientists say, Mosul could be completely flooded within hours and a 15-foot wall of water could crash into Baghdad,” Keith Johnson wrote in a Foreign Policy article from earlier this summer.
A 2011 article from the International Water Power and Dam Construction magazine indicated that if the Mosul Dam was destroyed the ensuing destruction could result in half a million deaths. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"There are peoples in this world who are not ready for democracy, and for religious and cultural reasons may never be ready. The best to be hoped for is a benevolent dictator, preferably one loyal to the US, not the Soviets."
-- Barry Goldwater, over half a century ago
Even when he's been dead for 17 years, in your heart you know he's right.
James Baker is the real architect.....He was a paid Saudi Agent who had the ear of both Bushes.
Because ISIS controls Mosul and parts of Northern Iraq that get electricity from the dam.
The Saudis were a part, but they have always needed us as much as we need them.
It has been a mistake to overthrow secular dictators in these nations because they are the lesser of two evils.
That being said, ISIS, for national and world security purposes, has to be exterminated.
Well, W did a great service to his country by being popular enough to keep Gore and Kerry out of the White House. What a disaster that would have been!
I think that's the saddest thing of all. That these are the choices that we were reduced to.
Remember that ISIS represents the demons released from Hell. If it looks like they are losing or have to retreat they will blow up the dam in a heartbeat or they might just do it anyway on a whim.
“The removal of Hussein from power was a major foreign policy blunder on our part, a blunder which I myself supported at the time. My excuse: I wasn’t being paid to know better.”
Back then, I knew better, but I was labeled a “Troll” when I said so.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1227083/posts
That is why a President with brain would authorize a mission to Mosul to free it, secure the dam, arm the Kurds and turn over security of the area to the Kurds.
I agree. Actually Bush I did that better than Bush II. Bush I shoved him back in his box. Of Course Saddam made the mistake of trying to assassinate Bush II’s father which IMO was a major factor into the invasion. Sure it was blamed on WMDs etc and 9/11 but I always believed it was also a personal matter with Bush II.
From what I read about the dam, all they have to do is NOTHING. Quit plugging the holes 24/7 and it will collapse by itself.
They control Mosul.
If they take out the dam they take out their own people.
A moabist proposal
Massive Ordinance Air Blast, aka "Mother of all bombs"
I've often said that most of us in the public don't know enough real intelligence to draw intelligent conclusions. I felt the same way about Saddam, myself.
What a different world this would be if the United States was a country that, in 1964, was capable of electing Goldwater for President.
The First Gulf War was based on lies....The Kuwaitis hired a PR firm to make up stories about the stolen incubators.
Also it was shown that indeed Kuwait was “Drinking Saddam’s Milkshake.”
“....Mosul Dam began in 1980 by a German-Italian consortium that was led by Hochtief Aktiengesellschaft.”
.
There is your problem.
They should have had the Dutch build it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.