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| Iraq |
| Iraq builds 45 forts on its border with Iran |
| 2006-04-25 |
| The Iraqi Interior Ministry is constructing 45 forts along the nearly 1,000-kilometer border with Iran. Officials said the forts were part of a system designed to reduce the influx of insurgents and weapons from Iran. And reduce traffic for pilgrims from Iran coming to worship Mars, the god of war. The forts would be built with aid from the U.S. Army. Officials said the Interior Ministry and the U.S. military have been determining the location of the forts. So far, officials said, 39 forts have been completed along the Iranian border, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said they were constructed along ancient routes through the mountains of the north. Bottle up the easy ones and make the infiltrators work harder through the rougher routes. Most of the forts were based on a British design. The facilities contain living space for guards and commanders as well as offices, kitchen and armory. Each fort has been protected with observation posts. Each post also contains a 50 kilovolt generator with another 50 kV generator as a backup. I think that they mean 50 kilowatt. 50,000 volts would be quite a surprise when you turn on the lights. "Iraq's self-governing is dependent on its ability to manage its boundaries," David Crumpton, an engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said. "These border forts provide facilities which will allow them to do just that." Officials said the forts would facilitate observation and reconnaissance missions to prevent smuggling and infiltration. They said the forts would also serve as bases for training and patrols. In 2005, the Interior Ministry oversaw the construction of dozens of forts along the Iraqi border with Syria. Officials said infiltration from Syria has been significantly reduced over the last six months. I would certainly hope so. Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, reported 251 border forts and 20,000 border enforcement personnel. Lynch reported a huge increase in the number of facilities over the last 14 months. The forts have come under the authority of the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement. "[They're] on a glide path to have 28,000 people to occupy these border forts and secure Iraq's sovereign borders," Lynch said. I hope that the Iraqis are getting have a bunch of kick a$$ border guards now. They certainly need them. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #8 I suspect a far deeper motive for these forts, assuming they are part of the contingency plan for a war with Iran, which they very might well be. For example, the Iranians might be planning to set up defenses in depth in the North to preclude a quick advance on Tehran. Then they would plan for considerable unconventional attacks in southern Iraq to try and bog down US and British forces there. A chain of forts would prevent any northern unconventional infiltration into Iraq, which would simplify things for us. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-04-25 23:52 |
| #7 mud huts? Troll, only Iranians in earthquake zones live in those |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-04-25 23:09 |
| #6 Each mud hut fort is also well marked on the roof for an easier target reference point for the Iranians. The Iraqi forts not only provide wonderful target reference points for the impending Iranian cross-border defensive move, but also good rubble reference points for Iranian units on the move. The better forts will be kept intact for Iranian special law enforcement and security services use. The worlds gone cuckoo and we all have a ringside seat. Didn't anyone annotate this in the planning stages for these forts? |
| Posted by: Fun Dung Poo 2006-04-25 22:48 |
| #5 RE #1: There's a border just south of where I live in Tucson, Arizona that might fit your bill! |
| Posted by: borgboy 2006-04-25 22:35 |
| #4 AP, An ex-co-worker makes tesla coils with the primaries being coiled 1" waterpipe. That allows him to effectively water cool the dang things. He can light up lightbulbs with antennas and grounds from 1 mile away and run lighting bolts from basketball hoops to the ground. I keep track of where he lives so I don't live anywhere near him. I don't wish to loose my electronics to his EMF pulses. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-04-25 22:18 |
| #3 HERE is a video of a 500,000 volt arc on a high voltage transmission line. Impressive arc! Click on the picture for a real thrill. Don't mess with the electricity gods, by gawd! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-04-25 21:43 |
| #2 "50,000 volts would be quite a surprise when you turn on the lights." They would be REALLY bright for a very short time, tho. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2006-04-25 21:29 |
| #1 This sounds like progress. I wonder if it could be duplicated anywhere else? |
| Posted by: Phaviter Glineter1848 2006-04-25 21:03 |