Iraq rail

[cteno4]

Interesting

 

http://nyti.ms/1t1q1zM

 

Jeff

[bikkuri bahn]

I saw that article.  A bit sad as I recall reading a similar one several years back which was more hopeful. The railway staff comments are palpable.   A working, viable railway system is a bellwether of a society's stability and a sign of civic advancement, imo.

Edited October 19, 2014 by bikkuri bahn

[kvp]

The original problem with Iraq is that's actually 3 countries that were grouped together by the British during colonial times. Without the communist dictators who led Egypt, Syria and Iraq the region would have never been stable. Removing them restored the original situation. Now we see a bunch of fanatics who fight on a religious looking base, but actually just follow plain old tribal rules and try to get rid of everyone else in their region. Iraq as now is actually already torn into 3 pieces, the Persians in the south, who would be better off with their relatives in Iran. The Kurds, who (imho) should get their own state (formed from parts of Iraq, Turkey and Iran) and the fanatics in the north west, who form the same problem as the taliban, namely you can't get rid of them without killing every last civilian in that region. This is because everyone who didn't fully support them have been either already killed or left. Also western nations today are reluctant to do exactly this and clean up the mess along with all civilians, Drezden style. This could mean that the fanatics could get their own state formed from various states in the region and that would mean a constant war, which is very bad for everyone involved.

 

On a lighter note, the Danube express has just left Budapest, Hungary to a trip to Teheran, Iran via Istanbul, Turkey. The train consists of various old time coaches (mostly ex wagon lits), including some with stove based wood or coal heating. The train is run by the Hungarian State Railways Nostalgia division together with the Golden Eagle travel company. So we know that at least some of the railway infrastructure that has been there in the past is still there and fully functional.

http://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/journeys/jewels-of-persia/eastbound/

http://index.hu/belfold/2014/10/15/2_4_millioert_on_is_elvonatozhat_budapestrol_teheranba/

[Fenway Park]

The French and British established the boundaries of Syria Iraq and others post World War 1 following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. Apparently ignoring the advice of their Arab guides, lines were drawn across swathes of land splitting tribal lands into several new countries. 

 

The Turks hate the Kurds and hide behind their Nato membership backed by the USA. Don't forget their genocide in Armenia, which they deny to this day. Secretly they are pleased IS are attacking the Kurds.