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Iraq's Mosul Dam Could Burst At Any Time (blastingnews.com)

MarkWhittington writes: The Mosul Dam, located near the city of Mosul in Northern Iraq, was started by Saddam Hussein in 1981 as a way to bolster his regime and provide power to the surrounding area. It was completed in 1986 and has since generated 3,420 gigawatt/hours per year. Unfortunately, the dam was built on an unstable foundation of gypsum and thus needs constant repairs to plug leaks and maintain its structural integrity. Even more unfortunately, such repair efforts have stopped since the Islamic State seized control of Mosul. The dam could burst at any time, as a consequence. The flood could kill a million people and render a million more homeless. Radio Free Europe reports that Italy's Trevi Group has been contracted to repair and maintain the dam, but it seems like there's a lot to catch up with. (Also at The Guardian and Mother Jones.)

2 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Re:could? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    what I was getting at is expressed later... the CIA ca go in and blow it and then blame the destruction on ISIL. ISIL would probably like to keep the energy production and freshwater, but when it fails, they'll be blamed for the local inconvenience and the downstream deaths.

  2. Re: could? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Actually, irresponsibly starting a war with absolutely no plan on what to do DOES make those who chose the war path responsible. If you were against the Iraq War, then no I wouldn't consider you responsible. But there is no question that the people who did support or start the war without any clear plan ARE responsible. And it wasn't like there were no warnings that starting a war there would destabilize the region.

    So, yes, starting wars irresponsibly makes those in charge and in support of it makes them responsible as well. This does not mean I'm arguing ISIS is not at fault. They are also at fault, moreso than the warmongers. It is possible for more than one party to be at fault.

    Soooo, are you holding Obama responsible for Libya turning into an ISIS controlled failed state too?

    Or did you buy Obama's risible claim that fighting a war to topple Gaddafi "wasn't hostilities"?

    Better yet, are you also holding Obama responsible for the rise of ISIS in Iraq because Obama IRRESPONSIBLY withdrew US troops before the region was stable?

    My guess is you're not. After eight years, you really believe it's STILL all on BOOOOOOOSH!!!!!!