Panama Canal expansion project: Have American fears come true?

BBC ^ | 13 Jan 2014 | Thomas Sparrow

[Theoria]

More than four years ago, when Panama awarded the lucrative contract to expand its inter-oceanic canal to a mostly European consortium, the United States was not pleased.

An American company whose bid was unsuccessful, Bechtel, thought the winning tender would barely pay for pouring the concrete and that the consortium would probably try to renegotiate the price at some stage during the construction process.

Some might argue that those American doubts have been justified, especially in view of the ongoing economic row between the European consortium and the Panamanian government agency that runs the waterway. The spat has threatened to bring work to a grinding halt, unless the two parties manage to resolve a $1.6bn (£1bn) dispute over cost overruns.

A series of WikiLeaks cables from the US embassy in Panama that were revealed by the Spanish daily newspaper El Pais in 2010 provided an inside view of the frustration that was felt in the US at not having been able to get that contract. Bechtel had been strongly backed by the US embassy, which was fully aware that the deal would have meant millions of dollars' worth of business for US suppliers.US ports expanding

Instead, the contract was secured by the GUPC consortium (co-led by Spanish company Sacyr and Italian Impregilo), which had offered considerably less money than other bidders but whose proposal, in the opinion of the canal authority, had the best value. GUPC stressed that the project would be built to the highest quality standards, but even so, the decision did not go down well in the US.

The cables also revealed that the US has retained a "fundamental interest" in the expansion project.

[Boogieman]

Liberals are great a making empty gestures that are appreciated only by themselves, aren’t they?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The PRC was the most surprised nation on earth when the Brits decided to honor the Hong Kong give-back.

[Cyber Liberty]

So I see. And there was also reference to “In Perpetuity” that I remember being argued in the Senate back in the ‘70’s.

[Cyber Liberty]

I was surprised too. I wonder what the back-story is on that? China promised not to kill the goose laying the golden eggs, and it appears they have not. Commie purists were not happy about that, and they expected Capitalism to spread like a disease if Hong Kong were left alone.

[CapnJack]

Bechtel Corp. The ones who were hired for the “Big Dig” in Boston and had almost 800% in cost overruns ... that Bechtel?

I wouldn’t hire them to do a brick walkway to my front door.

[minnesota_bound]

At least with this project you can see the hole where the money is being thrown into....

[TADSLOS]

Just went through the Panama Canal in November. The new dig is impressive and will be much wider than the current canal. Estimated completion date is April 2015.

[pluvmantelo]

At a time when the Middle East, Afghanistan and
China monopolize U.S. foreign-policy, Latin
America hasn’t received much attention. Until
today, that is, when Secretary of State John
Kerry declared the expiration of the nearly 200-
year old lodestar of U.S. diplomacy in the
Americas.
“The era of the Monroe Doctrine is over,” Mr.
Kerry said in a speech at the Organization of
American States in Washington, D.C.-Nov 18 2013

[Salvation]

I thought I had read that somewhere.

[chopperman]

I would think that a sea-level canal would have some horrendous currents.

[Organic Panic]

With Obama in office any country would be foolish to trust America.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

In essence we took and and then organized the taken land into the country of Panama. We then took a 99 year lease from the government we organized. Later, in Carter's administration the issue of the lease extension came up and a sick President, sick Congress and a sick people burped, passed flatulence, inserted their left index finger in the left nostril and let the canal go into foreign hands the leadership of which demonstrated themselves as drug dealers.

One might characterize our country today as worth flatulence in the wind! Governed by a group of elected clowns, tap dancers and shoe shine boys.

[jdege]

It has always had some ecologists worried about invasive species.

[Ozark Tom]

Speculation holds that ocean circulation changes resulting from the closing of a straight occupied by current day Panama started the current ice age.

http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/gladasked/gladice_ages.htm

Some believe reverting to the previous circulation pattern would be beneficial in the long view.

http://dissention.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/advantages-of-destroying-the-isthmus-of-panama/

Much closer to home and at a smaller scale, a similar event nearly came to pass in 1973.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2011/05/16/is-this-the-year-the-atchafalaya-river-captures-the-mississippi/

Tidal currents?

[Carry_Okie]

If they do dig such a trench, I hope they maintain a fresh water barrier between the two saltwater basins.

[okie01]

If they do dig such a trench, I hope they maintain a fresh water barrier between the two saltwater basins.

I doubt that a sea level canal is feasible. Much of the planned route is on Lake Nicaragua, whose surface is 107' above sea level.

Draining the lake probably wouldn't be a good idea...

[Hot Tabasco]

Here's some more only much older.....

Photos of the canal zone

[Carry_Okie]

Much of the planned route is on Lake Nicaragua, whose surface is 107' above sea level.

I hadn't even looked, assuming the engineers know what they're doing. Looking at the terrain, I would assume that coming in via Lake Managua then to Lake Nicaragua would be the correct course, but is sure isn't "sea level." 170' is a lot of material. Where the hell would they put all that dirt, out to sea?

[Hot Tabasco]

My daughter was born at Gorgas Army Medical Center in the old Canal Zone.

I was stationed in the Canal Zone from 11/69 - 1/72. When I first arrived, I was assigned to the 252 Sig. Co. on Flamenco Island and was there from 11/69 till about 6/70. That was a very cool place.....

Me and my buddies would often ride our motorcycles over to the French Cut and go swimming

[reg45]

And of course any “climate change” that occurred because of the change in the currents would be blamed on man made carbon dioxide.