Power cuts worsen as Iraqi grid nears collapse

Yet more proof why western efforts to create a sense of “nation” out of the historically soverign peoples of Iraq will not work. From the Guardian UK:

Iraq's power grid is on the brink of collapse because of insurgent sabotage, rising demand, fuel shortages and provinces that are unplugging local power stations from the national grid, according to officials.

Aziz al-Shimari, an electricity ministry spokesman, said at the weekend that power generation nationally was only meeting half the demand, and there had been four nationwide blackouts over the past two days. The shortages across the country were the worst since the summer of 2003, shortly after the US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, he added.

...

“We wait for the sunset to enjoy some coolness,” said Qassim Hussein, a 31-year-old labourer in Kerbala. “The people are fed up. There is no water, no electricity, there is nothing but death. I've even had more trouble with my wife these last three days. Everybody is on edge.”

...

Iraq has the world's third-largest proven oil reserves, behind Saudi Arabia and Iran. But oil production has been hampered by insurgent and saboteur attacks, ranging rom bombing pipelines to siphoning off oil. The attacks have cost the country billions of dollars since the 2003 US invasion. Dilapidated infrastructure has also hindered refining, forcing Iraq to import large amounts of kerosene and other oil products.

Please read the entire story here.

No water, 1 hour of electricity, stifling heat: Life in Baghdad (for civillians)

A lot of the right-wingnuts assumed that the reports of no water in Baghdad were false. I've noticed that happens a lot when the first people to break a story like this one are the alternative news sources, rather than the mainstream media.

So, in order to demonstrate the veracity of this news story, here are a variety of news sources now reporting on the lack of water in 117 degree heat in Baghdad. (Most seem to be pulling from AP news reports. I'll keep looking for updates.)

Baghdad Without Running Water for Over a Day — Fox News

Residents and city officials said large sections in the west of the capital had been virtually dry for six days because the already strained electricity grid cannot provide sufficient power to run water purification and pumping stations.

Water Taps Run Dry in Baghdad — ABC News

Much of the Iraqi capital was without running water Thursday and had been for at least 24 hours, compounding the urban misery in a war zone and the blistering heat at the height of the Baghdad summer.

And from March 2007:

Lack of safe water endangers the health of Baghdad’s most deprived children — UNICEF

Even before the Iraq war began in 2003, millions of people were struggling with broken pipes and faulty systems. But since then, Iraq’s water problems have multiplied.

In the chaotic aftermath of the initial conflict, Iraq’s main pumping stations and water-treatment plants were stripped of vital equipment by looters. Acts of sabotage damaged infrastructure even further. Municipal water became dirty and contaminated – exposing children to dangerous and health-sapping waterborne diseases.