NationStates Jolt Archive

but I don't imagine it'll be terribly effective for much else (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Iraq.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1158379200&en=d32e286a51c6ac40&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin).
The appeal came as Iraqi security forces announced they will dig trenches around Baghdad in an attempt to prevent insurgents and explosive-laden cars from getting into the sprawling city of 6 million.

The U.S. military confirmed Saturday that there was a plan in progress to create a ''security belt'' around the capital.

''There is a plan in progress for a security belt around Baghdad that includes trenches and other obstacles for channeling exit from and entry to the city through checkpoints controlled by Iraqi forces. This is a cooperative effort between the Iraqi government and the Coalition,'' said Lt Col. Barry Johnson, a spokesman for Multinational Forces in Iraq.

The Baghdad anti-terror trenches are intended to curb attacks such as three car bombings Saturday morning that killed at least eight people and wounded 25 more. Three more people were killed in other explosions, and police also found six bodies strewn around the city.
All right--so I'm being more than a little sarcastic here, but the fact is that this sort of "security" comes at a horrific economic price, and I'm not talking about the cost of digging and manning the trench itself. If the goal is to wall off the city so that there are only 28 entry and exit points for a city of 6 million people, you're going to kill whatever industry is left in the area. And the strategy to reduce violence only works if you have people you trust guarding the entry points, and there's no single group left in Iraq that everyone trusts.

Remember boys and girls:

http://scienceblogs.com/strangerfruit/upload/2006/05/mission-accomplished.jpg

"But I must cross this.. trench?"
"THEN YOU SHALL DIE!"

but I don't imagine it'll be terribly effective for much else (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Iraq.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1158379200&en=d32e286a51c6ac40&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin).

All right--so I'm being more than a little sarcastic here, but the fact is that this sort of "security" comes at a horrific economic price, and I'm not talking about the cost of digging and manning the trench itself. If the goal is to wall off the city so that there are only 28 entry and exit points for a city of 6 million people, you're going to kill whatever industry is left in the area. And the strategy to reduce violence only works if you have people you trust guarding the entry points, and there's no single group left in Iraq that everyone trusts.

Manhattan Island has far far fewer entrances and exits than 28. Just because it's an idiotic idea doesn't mean it'll kill the city. :p

Wouldn't it just be better to have I dunno, hmmm what's that group of people called. Damn they wear a badge, and carry around a night stick. You can call them when you're in trouble. I think they're called the Police...

Manhattan Island has far far fewer entrances and exits than 28. Just because it's an idiotic idea doesn't mean it'll kill the city. :p

It also doesn't depend on trucking in and out as the only means of goods transshipment.

It also doesn't depend on trucking in and out as the only means of goods transshipment.

So Baghdad is going to be the modern-day version of East Berlin? Although this time the defenses are meant to keep enemies out rather than the people in, so it's a little different.

Either way, I don't think it bodes well for the economy.

Hell, it would make more sense to simply entrench the oil infrastructure from Baghdad to Basra in a modern-day version of the Long Walls from Athens to Piraeus...that actually worked pretty damn well.

So Baghdad is going to be the modern-day version of East Berlin? Although this time the defenses are meant to keep enemies out rather than the people in, so it's a little different.

Either way, I don't think it bodes well for the economy.

Hell, it would make more sense to simply entrench the oil infrastructure from Baghdad to Basra in a modern-day version of the Long Walls from Athens to Piraeus...that actually worked pretty damn well.

Yeah, it's the double whammy of limiting access points and presumably inspecting every vehicle that comes through that's going to paralyze the city, and of course, some stuff is going to get through. And again, who's going to man the access points? What group is everyone going to trust to keep Baghdad from transforming from a sectarian struggle into ethnic cleansing? The US? Hah!

They're really getting desparate.

Yeah, it's the double whammy of limiting access points and presumably inspecting every vehicle that comes through that's going to paralyze the city, and of course, some stuff is going to get through. And again, who's going to man the access points? What group is everyone going to trust to keep Baghdad from transforming from a sectarian struggle into ethnic cleansing? The US? Hah!

I guarantee you that once we leave, the checkpoints around Baghdad are going to be more important in keeping the violence inside the city rather than keeping it out.

It'll turn in to Sarejevo or Mogadishu as militias try to carve out their own territory, and the Iraqi army charged with manning the checkpoints starts extorting bribes from people coming in and out of the city...they'll turn a blind eye to whatever's going in and out as long as the person making the shipment can pay.

Needless to say, it's going to be a very chaotic place.

"But I must cross this.. trench?"
"THEN YOU SHALL DIE!"

COME BACK HERE YOU YELLOW BASTARD!! I'LL BITE YOUR LEGS OFF!!

but I don't imagine it'll be terribly effective for much else (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Iraq.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1158379200&en=d32e286a51c6ac40&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin).

All right--so I'm being more than a little sarcastic here, but the fact is that this sort of "security" comes at a horrific economic price, and I'm not talking about the cost of digging and manning the trench itself. If the goal is to wall off the city so that there are only 28 entry and exit points for a city of 6 million people, you're going to kill whatever industry is left in the area. And the strategy to reduce violence only works if you have people you trust guarding the entry points, and there's no single group left in Iraq that everyone trusts.

for one, I agree with you... (actually it's more than once. ;) ) all that will do is concentrate the people and make it more damaging when a car bomb is exploded. now such trenches around Important buildings makes more sense than around the city.