Torrid Baghdad fumes as water lines cut

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20661954.htm

BAGHDAD, June 20 (Reuters) - Two million Baghdadis are without fresh water after officials said insurgents sabotaged one of the main water plants that feed the Iraqi capital.

As temperatures rose above 40 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), angry and frustrated residents scoured their neighbourhoods on Monday, looking for broken sub-pipelines where water bubbled out and carrying home cans and pots for drinking and cooking.

More than two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein and five months after an election that many hoped would swiftly bring order and good government, there was a sense of deep disappointment.

"They say this is a democratic government; what a democracy! We have no water, no electricity and no security," said Sherene Abdul Bassit as she filled a plastic canister from a muddy pond on a street in the Karada district.

[justinsb]

1. As I said before

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3905509&mesg_id=3905563

[atreides1]

2. No fresh water

Cholera and other diseases can't be far behind, and with the heat getting worse, this lack of water will have the most dealy effects against the young and the elderly.

[Lisa]

14. I hope they have power/fuel to boil that water they're scooping up...

Or your fears of a cholera epidemic could come true very, very soon.

Those poor people!

[autorank]

3. This happened when they failed to listen to General Shinseki

He testified it would take 200,000 troops and years to do the job * wanted done. He was an honest man and his reward was to be trashed by the * administration. Now, every day in every way, his judgment is validated.

Shame on *, Rummy, and rest of the "gang that couldn't count straight!"

On edit: I heard a famous doctor who treats infectious diseases all over the world on NPR the other day. He was making the point that Kabul was looking at a major epidemic (I believe cholera) because infrastructure was so uncared for. This is just appalling.

[Itsthetruth]

6. I'm Glad The Bush Government Failed To Listen To General Shinseki

I don't want 200,000 or more U.S. troops in Iraq. I want the troops that are now in Iraq brought back home .... now.

[autorank]

8. I totally agree. I never wanted them sent in the first place.

I'm just pointing out that these people are so dumb they don't even know how to be tough. They are bumblers. The Army brass was opposed to this from the start and the good General was saying as much with his statement. He gave the country a chance, and the people let him and everyone else down (the majority who supported it). Of course there was a peace movement and demonstrations which were never covered; and the NYT took a convicted criminal, Chalabi, and used him as a single source for WMD; and the odious Washington Post did nothing; and the Networks, well they were just themselves; which all adds up to a suppressed dialog and a one sided public debate. This was as bad as the Spanish - American War with Hearst and the rest of the Yellow Journalists.

Today's journalists come in a tasteful, spineless shade of mauve!

:toast:

[Itsthetruth]

9. Good Point

eom

[David Zephyr]

4. Is this getting play in the Corporate Media?

or are they still preocupied with stories about missing white women or white people accusing black celebrities?

[goclark]

5. You got it...

they are still preocupied with stories about missing white women or white people accusing black celebrities?

[madmark]

7. The place must stink like hell

[thecrow]

11. Being without fresh water to flush the tiolets in 110F heat will do that

[thecrow]

10. Conditions in Baghdad

The cousin, his wife S. and their two daughters have been houseguests these last three days. They drove up to the house a couple of days ago with several bags of laundry. “There hasn’t been water in our area for three days…” The cousins wife huffed as she dragged along a black plastic bag of dirty clothes. “The water came late last night and disappeared three hours later… what about you?” Our water had not been cut off completely, but it came and went during the day.

Water has been a big problem in many areas all over Baghdad. Houses without electric water pumps don’t always have access to water. Today it was the same situation in most of the areas. They say the water came for a couple of hours and then disappeared again. We’re filling up plastic containers and pots just to be on the safe side. It is not a good idea to be caught without water in the June heat in Iraq.
<SNIP>
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com
*********************
If you aren't aware of this, then read it because it is a day to day diary of the US occupation of Iraq.
The recounts of Fallujah are just gripping, horrendous, terribly sad.
I hate what the US has become to the rest of the world: a liar, a killer, a torturer.

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. How much do you want to bet

that they've got water in the Green Zone?

[Cha]

17. I'm not betting you.

You know they have every luxury known to modern civilization.

[insane_cratic_gal]

13. The Basics of Maslow's

hierarchy of needs.

the very bottom is the most primal needs that are constantly not being met. Food, water, shelter.. security. Until that is established you CAN NOT have a functioning society.

[shadowknows69]

15. We can guard the oil but not the water

oil is what's important after all.

[Cha]

16. Some of us knew this kind

of thing would happen because you don't go into a country illegally and bomb the shite outta them for greed and oil and expect good things to happen. Ain't gonna do it.

[norml]

18. Next comes Cholera

Cholera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


Distribution of cholera

Cholera (also called Asiatic cholera) is an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. These bacteria are typically ingested by drinking water contaminated by improper sanitation or by eating improperly cooked fish, especially shellfish. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Death is generally due to the dehydration caused by the illness. When left untreated cholera generally has a high mortality rate. Treatment is typically an aggressive rehydration regimen usually delivered intravenously, which continues until the diarrhea ceases. With treatment, mortality rates plummet. Cholera was first described in a scientific manner by the physician Garcia de Orta in the 16th century.

Contents
1 Pathology

1.1 Susceptibility
1.2 Transmission
1.3 Symptoms
1.4 Causes of symptoms


2 History

2.1 Discovery
2.2 Spread
2.3 Mortality/morbidity patterns
2.4 Current status


3 Treatment

3.1 Prevention
3.2 Medicine


4 Sources

5 References:

6 External links:


Pathology

Susceptibility
Carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene are protected from the severe effects of cholera because they don't lose water as quickly. This explains the high incidence of cystic fibrosis among populations which were formerly exposed to cholera.

Recent genetic research has determined that a person's susceptibility to cholera (and other diarrheas) is affected by their blood type. Those with type O blood are the most susceptible. Those with type AB are the most resistant, virtually immune. Between these two extremes are the A and B blood types, with type A being more resistant than type B.

About one million Vibrio cholerae bacteria must be ingested to cause cholera in normally healthy adults, although increased susceptibility may be observed in those with a weakened immune system, individuals with decreased gastric acidity (as from the use of antacids), or those who are malnourished.



snip



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholera

[Zerex71]

19. Pretty clear from where I sit:

Under Saddam: Had basic services
After totally immoral and evil pounding by U.S. military: No basic services

In conclusion: United States: Greatest Terrorist Threat Known To Man

[truthisfreedom]

20. i'd suggest: neocons/rethugs: greatest terrorist threat known to man.

they don't represent us. they are off on a crusade from hell.