Catastrophic Dam Collapse Feared In Iraq

(CBS)  If a dam north of Mosul, Iraq, collapses it could send a trillion-gallon wave of water roaring through Iraq's two largest cities - and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has warned that is perilously close to happening, CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reports.

The dam is on the Tigris River, 45 miles north of the city of Mosul.

A catastrophic failure, engineers believe, could unleash a 60-foot-high wall of water that would be inundate Mosul - and flood Baghdad to a depth of 15 feet.

The casualty count would be in the hundreds of thousands.

The United States has supplied $27 million worth of equipment to upgrade this aging machinery used for reinforcing, which has been a problem since the dam was built in 1984.

Nevertheless, a report to be released today says that because of potential erosion, the Mosul Dam is "the most dangerous dam in the world."

The problem is that it was built on a type of rock that dissolves when it comes into contact with water.

In a telephone interview, the Iraqi minister of water resources admitted there were, in his words "some problems," but added that his ministry was "planning to design a permanent solution."

In spite of the Iraqi government's professed confidence, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus sent a letter to the Iraqi prime minister in May stating that the damn presented "unacceptable risks."

Given that a break could trigger a flood of Biblical proportion, that may go down as a classic example of diplomatic understatement.

[morris61]

Several million more dead Iraq citizens will never stand in the way of neocon profits.After the dam gives way from the explosive charges attached to it an American Corporation that has already been selected,will rebuild it for only 5 billion dollars.

[barbaraf4]

"The United States has supplied $27 million worth of equipment to upgrade this aging machinery used for reinforcing, which has been a problem since the dam was built in 1984."

I can''t understand why we are sending money for Iraq to reinforce a failing dam, when our own infrastructure is crumbling.

[v_1618]

HEY G. BUSH SAVE YOUR PRAYERS MY FRIEND,
FOR WHEN YOU REALLY GONNA NEED''EM...

[newsreader2]

This could be the answer to our prayers.

[hungry1968]

We should send in blackwater!!

BAM!! POW!! BAM!! (picture "Batman" style graphics)

No more dam!! No more problem!!

[cbs_oliver]

It concerns me that some might think it convenient for US forces if this catastrophe were to occur.

It is interesting that this story is suddenly pushed to the forefront.

Surely it was a looming catastrophe two months ago or even a year ago.

Where were our probing journalists then - ever eager as they are known to be (NOT) to uncover the important news and especially the truth?

[glossypan]

Lucky for us that our government is on good footing with a couple of companies who can rush in and take care of this little problem.
What''s a few billion more US taxpayer dollars for our friends in Dubai and Kuwait?
I hope all you neocons are rejoicing at keeping those tax and spend Dems out of power. They would be frittering away your tax dollars on frivolities here in the USA if given the chance.

[watcher269-2009]

Maybe this would - as God says - wash away the sinners! The Green Zone too?

[downtowner97]

Would the breaking of that dam further raise the price of oil and increase the profits of Bush''s cronies? If so, then I''d rent a room on the top floor.

[grazinggoat]

If the Bush regime manages to kill another half-million Iraqis with a dam collapse, he will only have another 20 million, or so, more Iraqis to murder before the country is fully "liberated".
Posted by FeelFree1 at 08:38 PM : Oct 30, 2007

-Just wondering how for a sudden this dam is a danger. United Nations need to send inspectors in order to inspect the state of that dam. Check for holes, deep-drilled holes, in prevision of a gigantic biblical flooding...