Spain and Morocco to build train tunnel under sea

Reuters ^ | Sat 13 December, 2003 19:50

[Thinkin' Gal]

"Time to be great again, my lord."

[blanknoone]

They really ought to take a good look at the financials on the Chunnel...it ain't worth it, at least not until technology changes significantly.

[DoughtyOne]

I give this project about 24 hours of operation before some terrorist groups sinks it and all inside. What the heck is Spain thinking? Is overpopulation a problem there? ;-)

[yonif]

There is also a tunnel under the English Channel as well.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes that is true Yonif, but it doesn't connect on either end with a moslem state. I haven't checked, but I do beleive Morocco is a moslem state. I'm not against the concept of the new tunnel. I am against the reality.

[yonif]

I wasn't criticizing you. That english tunnel could also be a target of terrorists.

[DJtex]

This is just a "trail balloon" that will fall like a lead balloon. Niether Spain nor Morocco have the finances or the credit to make this happen. They just hope to get some interest started and maybe have someone else design it and pay for it.

[JayP56]

I am sure it won't last long......the Islamo wackos will blow it up.

[VU4G10]

The Illegal Immigration Express?

[eleni121]

This is the kind of project that will cost millions before construction ever starts if it ever does...thanks to the Euro schmucks that put up the money.

Just a symbolic way to mend fences with the Moroccans.

[BlazingArizona]

Yes that is true Yonif, but it doesn't connect on either end with a moslem state.

Yes it does - France!

[Willie Green]

Yes that is true Yonif, but it doesn't connect on either end with a moslem state.

So then what's France?

[Willie Green]

Ooooops! I shoulda read a little further down the thread!

Great minds, etc. etc.

[mountaineer]

I agree. It's hard to imagine the financial benefit or necessity of such a tunnel to either nation.

[Looking for Diogenes]

Here is a map of African railroads. As you can see, it would be possible to connect the chief ports and populated regions of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia to Europe through a rail link. Does that make it worthwhile? I don't know that there is enough shipping or tourism between those countries and Europe to pay for the huge cost.

This piece dates from April 2002.

Signing the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with the EU in 1996, trade with Europe has increased significantly and Morocco also has access to certain EU development funds. More than half of Morocco's trade now is with the EU. In 2000, Morocco exported goods with a value of 6,0 million euro to the EU and imported goods worth 7,7 million euro from the EU.

The CIA World Factbook reports some lingering sovereignty disputes between Morocco and Spain that might complicate matters.

Disputes - international: claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected other proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; Morocco also rejected Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands in 2002 to set limits to undersea resource exploration and refugee interdiction; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds.

[DoughtyOne]

I didn't think you were criticizing me. The English/French tunnel could be a target at some point, no doubt.

[DoughtyOne]

Heh heh heh... good point.

[DoughtyOne]

LOL

[DoughtyOne]

As much as I detest France, it's only about 20% Moslem if I remember correctly. Still, the point is made.