We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:01:05 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification [Kat] Never before has so vast a reconstruction program been attempted in the face of enemy fire or managed in the shadow of geopolitics - Unknown Continued follow-up on FbL's great Iraq Economy Series, this is a look at Iraq's electricity situation. The fact is that it is growing, and large projects are underway to continue to improve the flow of electricity. Second to the Hydro-Carbon Law (development of oil infrastructure and revenue sharing), electricity effects the over all political and economic development of Iraq. While oil may bring in the money, electricity may be the gauge by which the... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:41:07 -0600 OK Roger - Thanks http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70899 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70899 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:15:33 -0600 What I know right now is that the USACE is working with the both the ministry of electricity, the ministry of water resources and the dam's management team. Apparently, the focus at the dam has been in spending money and resources to develop its irrigation potential. Something that is very important to the economic survival of farms in the area. Apparently, little resources or attention or even cooperation has occured on developing its electricity output. These three groups with the USACE are meeting with the provincial governor to come up with a plan to increase its output. It is supposed to be able to serve upwards of 160,000 homes on a sustained basis if it is in full operation. In regards to any breach, that report, dated february of this year, did not mention any other technical or physical issues with the dam. I'll look for some additional information from the USACE and other resources to see what else is going on. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70898 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70898 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:44:11 -0600 Kat, The hydro-electric dam north and west of the city was reported to be close to breaching. Emergency repairs are trying to save it. That would be a huge loss. Do you have an update on repairs? My info via Fox News is a couple months old. I think they have a battalion size unit protecting it. Fishmugger http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70896 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70896 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:43:29 -0600 Awesome work, Kat! There was so much more I wanted to say about this stuff when I wrote about the interview, but it was such a gigantic mound of info. Thanks for tackling this; it needs to be out there! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70895 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/iraq_economy_re.html#comment-70895 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:19:06 -0600