Catastrophic Dam Collapse Feared In Iraq

U.S. Army Warns Tigris River Dam A Serious Threat To Baghdad And Mosul

(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.

[micma-2009]

Iraq is a never-ending disaster that will drain America of money and blood until we''re left bankrupt and defeated. It''s the single biggest mistake in U.S. history. Thanks Bu$h. Thanks Republicons.

[feelfree1]

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".

[griking]

Yeah, we''ll spend millions of taxpayer''s dollars to rebuild a dam in Iraq but the hell with the people in New Orleans. That''s our government.

[hungry1968]

Well the obvious solution is to give Cheney''s company, Haliburton, a big fat, multi-billion dollar no-bid contract. Of course we won''t expect any ROI - we''re just going to funnel them billions of dollars to pretend to work on the dam. Just like they''re pretending to build our new billion dollar embassy.

[feelfree1]

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we..."- GWB

[ontheleft]

An Iraqi dam needs to be fixed? Well, then let''s fix it. No expense is too much of an expense to ask the U.S. taxpayers to pick up. We already committed a trillion dollars for this war, what''s another few hundred million? As long as we get our permanent military bases in Iraq which will guarantee the safe flow of $100 a barrel oil to the U.S., it will have been well worth it.

[formrusmcsgt]

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

Kind of makes you wonder where the chief engineer''s degree was obtaind or whether a geologist was even consulted before construction, eh?

[formrusmcsgt]

THE WORLD WILL END ON 11-9

Posted by george2221 at 09:07 PM : Oct 30, 2007

True wisdom. Thanks for sharing that with us all.

[okie1963]

Just amazing comments from some folks. I would just bet they would blame the US for the dam breaking and probably blame the US for allowing it to be built in 1984. If you want a job done right, you go with the best company you can find - Halliburton is that company, Cheney or not. As far a spending money to rebuild one of this country''s nastiest cities that has one of the most dishonest city governments and is 15 feet below sea level to boot - sure does not make much sense to this tax payer.

[okie1963]

Just amazing comments from some folks. I would just bet they would blame the US for the dam breaking and probably blame the US for allowing it to be built in 1984. If you want a job done right, you go with the best company you can find - Halliburton is that company, Cheney or not. As far a spending money to rebuild one of this country''s nastiest cities that has one of the most dishonest city governments and is 15 feet below sea level to boot - sure does not make much sense to this tax payer.

[nothappyatall]

"f a dam north of Mosul, Iraq, collapses it could send a trillion-gallon wave of water roaring through Iraq''s two largest cities"

Oh EXCELLENT! provide the information so that the terrorists can plan an attack on this next!
Maybe it would be a good thing this dam does collapse, Imagine the trouble it would cause BUSH and his regime in the occupation when all hel1 breaks loose.

[okie1963]

Just amazing comments from some folks. I would just bet they would blame the US for the dam breaking and probably blame the US for allowing it to be built in 1984. If you want a job done right, you go with the best company you can find - Halliburton is that company, Cheney or not. As far a spending money to rebuild one of this country''s nastiest cities that has one of the most dishonest city governments and is 15 feet below sea level to boot - sure does not make much sense to this tax payer.

[iceman_1960]

That"s Iraq for you.

One dam thing after another.

[formrusmcsgt]

Just amazing comments from some folks. I would just bet they would blame the US for the dam breaking and probably blame the US for allowing it to be built in 1984.

Posted by okie1963 at 09:22 PM : Oct 30, 2007

Blaming America and blaming an administration are tow very different things.

Neocons love to try to convert criticism of the administration into criticism of Amerca, trying to falsely claim patriotic high ground.

It doesn''t work except on FNC viewers.

[iceman_1960]

Funny typo in the CBS story. (I need to rescue it with an asterisk to evade the software censors)

"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 d*amn presented "unacceptable risks."

I"m sure the letter said "dam," not "d*amn"

[okie1963]

Just amazing comments from some folks. I would just bet they would blame the US for the dam breaking and probably blame the US for allowing it to be built in 1984. If you want a job done right, you go with the best company you can find - Halliburton is that company, Cheney or not. As far a spending money to rebuild one of this country''s nastiest cities that has one of the most dishonest city governments and is 15 feet below sea level to boot - sure does not make much sense to this tax payer.

[okie1963]

Just amazing comments from some folks. I would just bet they would blame the US for the dam breaking and probably blame the US for allowing it to be built in 1984. If you want a job done right, you go with the best company you can find - Halliburton is that company, Cheney or not. As far a spending money to rebuild one of this country''s nastiest cities that has one of the most dishonest city governments and is 15 feet below sea level to boot - sure does not make much sense to this tax payer.

[hungry1968]

If you want a job done right, you go with the best company you can find - Halliburton is that company, Cheney or not. As far a spending money to rebuild one of this country''''s nastiest cities that has one of the most dishonest city governments and is 15 feet below sea level to boot - sure does not make much sense to this tax payer.

Posted by okie1963 at 09:20 PM : Oct 30, 2007



If you want the job done effectively, you open the job for competitive bidding, while checking the applying companies references and prior jobs. Throwing billions of dollars at one company, with no oversight, and hundreds of millions of dollars in cost over runs is not only incompetent and ignorant, but it should be illegal too.

And I would rather throw my tax money into the Grand Canyon rather than spend one dollar on a foreign, oil rich country.

[iceman_1960]

okie1963, keep the dam politics out of this.

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by okie1963 at 09:31 PM : Oct 30, 2007

do you really find your comment to be so profound that it merits 8 or 10 repostings?

I certainly do not.

[iceman_1960]

Wouldn"t it be awful if the dam broke and ruined that magnificent pink elephant, the lavish new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, symbol of the Western Occupation ?

Some over there would see it as Allah"s judgment, I''m sure.


"...In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea..."

[okie1963]

Just amazing comments from some folks. I would just bet they would blame the US for the dam breaking and probably blame the US for allowing it to be built in 1984. If you want a job done right, you go with the best company you can find - Halliburton is that company, Cheney or not. As far a spending money to rebuild one of this country''s nastiest cities that has one of the most dishonest city governments and is 15 feet below sea level to boot - sure does not make much sense to this tax payer.

[formrusmcsgt]

you have the concept wrong. It is so unimportant it requires 8 or 0 postings.
tpical neocon logic. Say it enough times and it becomes true ......bunch a brain dead losers.

Posted by ainttaken at 09:39 PM : Oct 30, 2007

Of course, that''s their intent. What amazes me is that they think it works on those who don''t watch FNC.

[iceman_1960]

RE: Post by okie1963 at 09:42 PM : Oct 30, 2007

Just amazing how some folks spam the same message over and over again, just begging to be kicked off the forum.

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by okie1963 at 09:42 PM : Oct 30, 2007

Don''t fret okie, Halliburton will get the no-bid contract to rebuild the dam. And that $27 million figure will become $200 million in un-audited overruns before it''s all said and done.

[iceman_1960]

"Just amazing how some folks spam..."

It"s obnoxious stuff like that, put Robert Goulet in an early grave.

[formrusmcsgt]

Just amazing how some folks spam the same message over and over again, just begging to be kicked off the forum.

Posted by Iceman_1960 at 09:44 PM : Oct 30, 2007

Not much to worry about in that vein, Ice.

Radio and I have both reported theferrier for his non-stop Ron Paul spam to no avail.....

[hungry1968]

you have the concept wrong. It is so unimportant it requires 8 or 0 postings.
tpical neocon logic. Say it enough times and it becomes true ......bunch a brain dead losers.

Posted by ainttaken at 09:39 PM : Oct 30, 2007

Of course, that''''s their intent. What amazes me is that they think it works on those who don''''t watch FNC.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 09:43 PM : Oct 30, 2007



Too much O''Reilly in that boys diet. It''s like when old Bill asks a guest a question and then shouts them down, because he doesn''t want to hear the answer. That''s all that okie is doing - it''s the same as a little kid that puts his fingers in his ears and says, "NAH, NAH, NAH - I CAN''T HEAR YOU!!"

Nothing but childish.

[formrusmcsgt]

It''''s like when old Bill asks a guest a question and then shouts them down, because he doesn''''t want to hear the answer.

Posted by hungry1968 at 09:48 PM : Oct 30, 2007

And still there are a sufficient number of morons watching that drivel that he stays on the air. Scary, isn''t it?

[iceman_1960]

"Catastrophic Dam Collapse Feared In Iraq"

Just what they need over there.

A dam collapse flooding a d*amn quagmire.

"Bring the troops home within a year" - the demand of 64% of the American people, a bigger percentage than preferred Ronald Reagan over Walter Mondale.

Source: Rasmussen

"Tuesday, October 16, 2007

For the second straight week, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 64% of Americans would like to see U.S. troops brought home from Iraq within a year. Prior to this week"s results, support for bringing the troops home had increased in three consecutive weeks.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) want the troops brought home immediately. That"s unchanged from a week ago but up from 20% five weeks ago."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/the_war_in_iraq/iraq_troop_withdrawal

[hungry1968]

And still there are a sufficient number of morons watching that drivel that he stays on the air. Scary, isn''''t it?

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 09:52 PM : Oct 30, 2007


I''m an Olberman guy myself. I Would rather watch an info-mercial instead of O''Reilly, but I do have to admit that his garbage is so outrageous at times, that it is pretty funny. Funny in a scary way, but funny none the less.

Just for kicks:
http://www.noob.us/miscellaneous/fox-news-exposed-by-employees/

[formrusmcsgt]

I Would rather watch an info-mercial instead of O''''Reilly, but I do have to admit that his garbage is so outrageous at times, that it is pretty funny.

Posted by hungry1968 at 09:55 PM : Oct 30, 2007

I find all FNC programming to be hilarious, although they obviously would wish that it be taken seriously.

[iceman_1960]

"Radio and I have both reported theferrier for his non-stop Ron Paul spam to no avail....."
- Posted by formrusmcsgt at 09:47 PM : Oct 30, 2007

A lot of good that will do, since "thefarrier" is the screenname of Katie Couric.

(My confidential CBS sources told me that)

[iceman_1960]

"...since "thefarrier" is the screenname of Katie Couric..."

Just kidding.

It"s just a coincidence that both are in favor of frequent colonoscopies.

[formrusmcsgt]

Just for kicks:
http://www.noob.us/miscellaneous
/fox-news-exposed-by-employees/

Posted by hungry1968 at 09:55 PM : Oct 30, 2007

Thanks, hungry. i took a look and while most of what''s stated is just plain common sense, I really was impressed with the gaul of Fox''s CEO stating "we just want to do fine, profssional journalism".

With a penchant for telling lies as he demonstrates, it''s no wonder he''s a neocon supporter, eh?

[formrusmcsgt]

It"s just a coincidence that both are in favor of frequent colonoscopies.

Posted by Iceman_1960 at 10:03 PM : Oct 30, 2007

I wrote CBS and told them they were out of their mind when I read Couric was being considered. Their ratings since prove that I was right.

[cdfoxtrot]

This dam would make an obvious target for Al Queda & Co. If it really would cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of civilians, whoever would take it out would achieve in hours or days what it took months for the US military to "accomplish".

[jetranger7]

Ohhh Don''t Worry, shucks, Bush & Cheney will take care of it, umm people we need another 900-Billion to Fix this ***, how about it, Like its only 900-Billion,, what the heck !!!!

[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...

[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.

[watcher269-2009]

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

[skyk-2009]

I wonder how much THIS is going to cost American Taxpayers. We have Bridges falling down, roads that we can''t drive on and so much more that needs to be fixed. We can''t afford that according to Republican''s but we can afford to fix Dam''s in OTHER nations. What people will do for Greed is without bounds.

[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.

[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?

[hungry1968]

We should send in blackwater!!

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

No more dam!! No more problem!!

[newsreader2]

This could be the answer to our prayers.

[v_1618]

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

[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.

[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.