There isn’t much mention in Sun Tzu about the tactical and strategic use of water, other than its passive uses as a barrier. Which doesn’t mean it can’t be used as a weapon – or, more accurately, its denial can be used as a weapon.
"Due to [the] lack of water and the drying up of both the Sirwan and Alwan rivers, several officials in the Garmian area in the southern parts of the region fear they may have to evacuate citizens from affected areas."
It’s no big secret over here – even the Iranian bloggers are posting about it (but not going so far that they arouse their gummint’s wrath).
The Kurds are obviously *not* happy. See page 3.
All of this might just be a minor footnote in the ongoing Iranian effort to keep Kurdish nationalism from rising to a threatening level on the Iranian side of the border if it weren’t for one small topographical quirk.
Guess what’s downstream of the rivers that are no longer flowing through the northeastern part of
The eastern part of
In simpler terms, the part of the country that depends on water to grow *food*.
Baghdad
“No.”
This could get interesting. And soon...
They'll ignore it this time -- Israel's not the one damming the rivers over here.
BTW, we're the first ones downstream up here, and for the past couple of months, we've been under "Water Conservation In Effect -- Three Minute Combat Showers Mandatory!" rules.
The AF guys asked me how I felt about that. My reply: "Cool -- that means I get to spend an extra ninety seconds in the shower."
Maybe, it's time for those Iranian dams to mysteriously break.
So what are we doing about this? I see there is a problem, but no where do I see someone proposing a solution (except Ledger). Where is the United States' response to this? Where is General Marshall? I am peeved beyond my ability to express it that we are letting that twerp "Im-a-dinna-jacket" hold our allies hostage. Why isn't someone going before the UN with this?
I think it's highly ironic that on this 45th anniversary of Kennedy speaking in West Berlin about "that offense against humanity" we are discussing this matter. How can it be on the 60th anniversary of the Soviets cutting off surface traffic to West Berlin that we are even skipping a beat in circumventing the Iranian's vile plan.
Just what exactly are we waiting for?
There was plenty of killing for the access to water.
I am also interested that someone else has noted the Israel/palestinian issue is just about land borders or where people get to return to, but is also about the over all survivability and security of any Palestinian state that would very much be at the mercy of Israel's control of the water. But, don't get me wrong, it's the same for the Israelis because the proposed borders cut the river at the mid way point.
Yeah. Wars have started for a drink of water.
They won't give me any C-4...
I am not talking about blowing them up. But don't tell me we can't do a work-around.
What are we waiting for? General George Marshall to show up like the ghost of Christmas past????
Huh. Carborundum must be awful busy playing hide the C-4 from Bill.
Sometimes it takes months for the damage to be evident.
Just saying.
So the Iranians have built dams. What are they doing in the way of diverting all that water. If they are not diverting it, eventually the dams fill and it still has to go down stream. If they argue that the dams are for flood control, or irrigation, they have some sort of legitimate "cover" for doing so. If they are diverting the water to some other watershed, that is an act of war.
Grumpy
Honestly, this is a job for the Iraqis. We give them the means, they do the work. A few LACM. Some intelligence. Invite the ME news media. Let them do it. It's a sovreignity issue. On the international relations level this amounts to "It ain't about you" for us Americans. It isn't about us or looking small to the world. It's about helping Iraq. So, would it be better to let the Iraqis do it? Fark yes. On so many levels. So put 'yer ego away for a few seconds.
Oh, and I thought we were supposed to be scared because they had a nuclear program or something. Which is supposed to make standing up to them soooo much harder.(Look at the relative size and strength between PRC and ROC, and that China's nuclear armed. And the Taiwanese found a way to neutralize the nuclear dificiency. 'You nuc us you lose 20m people, a busload of industrial capacity, and a years worth of rice. Go ahead, we dare you.') Yeah, let's just be afraid because someone said the word 'nuc'.
The PRC leadership wouldn't be upset about losing the people (as long as *they* weren't included) --- that's just another "agrarian revolution" in a narrower timeframe. It's the indusrial capacity and rice crop that's keeping them relatively neighborly.
As for letting the Iraqis do it, they just might. One way or another. I can see part of Iran from here when the dust settles -- problem is, the dust never settles. The local guys tell me this is the first year they can remember that the dust has been this persistent.
So we have to kill them all dead, right now! There's no other options! Except there are. Cheaper and better one's actually. Such as letting the Iraqis, with a little help from their friends, do it themselves using means that deter the use of nuclear arms by Iran in retaliation, which, the Taiwanese example shows *do* exist. Some people just don't wanna see that. As I told Sigger some months ago I'm just as likely to find myself in Righteous Anger and frothing at the mouth to Do Something as others around here but with John sitting on me I tend to think before I act, and that's typically been a good thing.
ANd I hope to Gawd that Carbo ties you up with 50 rolls of duct tape(it fixes everything) if the Iraqis decide to do a commando op or anything even remotely fun that you'd volunteer or otherwise just decided to show up for, Chief. Let someone else be the hero for once, wouldja?(Can't you see the line formed behind 'ya?) You're there to make more and younger "Tuttles!", and not be Head Lunatic having all the fun.
Yeah, I know the rhetorical device. But they -- the Ruling MullaJunta -- *are* borderline Apocalyptics and their sock puppet certainly is, so you don't have the self-preservation motive the PRC's rulers *do* have.
You're there to make more and younger "Tuttles!"
Nope. KtLW would kill me.