Iraqi Dam Seen In Danger of Deadly Collapse ["it could lead to as many as 500,000 civilian deaths"]

The Washington Post ^ | October 30, 2007 | Amit R. Paley

[camerakid400]

AT THE MOSUL DAM, Iraq -- 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. "The Mosul dam is judged to have an unacceptable annual failure probability," in the dry wording of an Army Corps of Engineers draft report.

At the same time, a U.S. reconstruction project to help shore up the dam in northern Iraq has been marred by incompetence and mismanagement, according to Iraqi officials and a report by a U.S. oversight agency to be released Tuesday. The reconstruction project, worth at least $27 million, was not intended to be a permanent solution to the dam's deficiencies.

"In terms of internal erosion potential of the foundation, Mosul Dam is the most dangerous dam in the world," the Army Corps concluded in September 2006, according to the report to be released Tuesday. "If a small problem [at] Mosul Dam occurs, failure is likely."

[G8 Diplomat]

"it could lead to as many as 500,000 civilian deaths"

Hey leftoids--dams are a bigger threat to Iraqi civilians than the US troops!

[BGHater]

Gee, thanks for telling the world.

[Domandred]

If that thing goes bet that Bush and the USA get the blame when it was Saddam that built it and we are trying to prevent it from collapsing.

[BurbankKarl]

on the other hand....

oh nevermind

[endthematrix]

"Even in a country gripped by daily bloodshed"

Or, uh...opportunity, the pursuit of happiness?

[garyhope]

Gonna be Bush’s fault. That’s for sure.

Or maybe “global warming” on account of all of America’s SUV’s and Hummers.

Maybe it will wash away all of Islam’s sins against mankind.

No, I don’t think so. Nevermind.

[camerakid400]

of course the libs will blame bush. but if he fixes it, they wont praise him for saving 500,000 civilians.

[maine-iac7]

Gee, thanks for telling the world

Exactly my thoughts

[JRios1968]

...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...

And he'll be ready...

[camerakid400]

tell that to the washington post.

[DoughtyOne]

The Washington Post has become the largest hemorrhoid on the ass of this nation.

Anyone got a 30’ by 120’ tube of Anusol-HC Cream on them?

BTW terrorists, here’s a helpful hint... think blowing up damns why don’tsha...

[Mark]

Did the W.P. publish a Google Map to help the terrorists locate detonation points?

[taxesareforever]

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other U.S. officials.

Aren't these the same people who were clueless in New Orleans? What have they done lately that improves any legitimacy they have?

[NYFreeper]

I was at this dam back in January 2006. I was an adviser for the hydroelectric plant, so I didn't divulge into the structural aspects of the dam. This was a concern although there was not any talk of an immediate collapse back then. The problem can be managed though if they keep the water level behind the dam low. In fact, when I was there they did not have enough water to run the hydroelectric generators often enough to provide badly needed power for the Iraqi electrical grid.

Don't worry about the enemy blowing this thing up. It is a huge earthen dam. Short of a tactical nuke, they wouldn't even come close to causing a break.

[dangus]

Silly question, but if they kept the resevoir low, wouldn’t that prevent catastrophe?

[dangus]

IIRC, the Army Corps nailed it N.O.; it was Blanco who refused to move her lard, even though the Corps’ finding made her eligible for funds.

[tommix2]

Thank you for your expertise and report. The MSM can’t get away with inadequate reporting any more with Free Republic and similar websites being read by thousands of knowledgeable people.

[Joe Boucher]

And if Egypt gets froggy and jumps into any Mid-East fray against Israel there is that little aswan target.

[jveritas]

Thank you very much for the info.