Roman Abramovich 'to drill US-Russia tunnel'

[T_i_B]

Source: Daily Telegraph

Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich plans to buy the world's largest drill, sparking speculation that he intends to make a Channel Tunnel-style link between Russia and America.

Moscow media reports claim that the Russian billionaire is purchasing the £80 million drill-bit to tunnel a subterranean passage across the Bering Strait, between Siberia and Alaska. The machine the oligarch has his eye on is 19 metres wide and eclipses by nearly five metres the world's existing biggest tunnelling drill.

Few details of the purported scheme have come to light, but industry insiders in Germany are said to believe that the plan is for a rail link between Chukotka, Siberia, and Alaska in the north-west United States.

If the reports are accurate it will represent a remarkable turnaround in relations between the two nations, given that it is less than two decades since they were aiming nuclear missiles at each other.



Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/28/wtunnel128.xml

---

Take it you guys in the States know about Abramovitch, who is well known over here as the man who bankrolls Chelski.

[VWolf]

1. LOL I think he's already got a name for it

Shevchenko Pass

[T_i_B]

3. Shevchenko Pass?

Shevchenko sulk more like!

[VWolf]

7. Good point. He rarely passes anyway.

[Demeter]

2. Too Much Seismic Activity

Not a good idea, but when has that ever stopped a bad one?

[BearSquirrel2]

4. Dig away ...

So long as the Russian billionaire is in the TBM when the tunnel collapses, I'm all for it.

[Xithras]

35. No seismic activity there

There are lots of quakes in southern Alaska because it's a plate boundary zone. The Bering Strait is actually just a low spot on the North American plate and doesn't represent a boundary zone...The geological boundary between North America and Eurasia is the Verkhoyansk mountains in eastern Siberia.

A better question would be the weather. I don't see how they can run trains through there in the middle of the arctic winter.

[whistle]

38. Trains running through a well engineered tunnels and fully maintained passes

...in the Verkhoyansk Mountains would be not different than running through the Rockies going up into Alaska. I say go for it from both the Russian and North American sides. This could be an economic windfall for both continents over the next seventy-five years and beyond as long as fascists are kept out of it.

[stratomagi]

5. Bridge to nowhere? Ha this isn't you're dads waste of money...

get ready for tunnel to nowhere!!! Seriously though what would be the benefit besides maybe a subterranean oil pipeline. Who would honestly use a rail line that goes through Siberia and Alaska...this ain't exactly the Chunnel we're talking about here.

[Dr.Phool]

6. Wasn't Rev. Moon pushing that idea recently?

Is Abramovitch involved with him in any way?

[shadowknows69]

8. Why do I foresee Russian troops pouring out of this tunnel in our future?

Ok, yes, I'm a child of the "Red Dawn" 80's

[Ian David]

11. What about that World War III movie with Jamie Lee Curtis? n/t

[shadowknows69]

15. Was that the tv movie?

I think maybe david soul was in it too?

[Ian David]

25. Yeah. It was a made 4 TV movie about Russians seizing control of an Alaska Pipeline pump station.nt

[Ian David]

30. Oops, it wasn't Jamie Lee Curtis. It's the blonde lady from "That's Incredible."

The one who they always ended up putting spiders and things on.

[shadowknows69]

32. Kathy Lee Crosby

Wow I was a freakin TV junkie.

[Ian David]

36. Yes!! That's who it was! Kathy Lee Crosby... World War III (1982) (TV)

Dated But Interesting, 3 September 1999
Author: Eric-62-2 from Morristown, NJ

Thankfully, this 1982 miniseries no longer has any contemporary relevance unless you're doing a study of Cold War era movies (I won't comment on the dated aspects of the political outlook, since I've done that with other movies like "2010" and "Dr. Strangelove"). I have to wonder though if the previous reviewer is confusing Brian Keith's performance in "Meteor" with this one, because that was the film where he spoke only Russian. In this one, it was just accented English.

Rock Hudson is credible as the president, though there's really not much to brag about from the rest of the cast. I do have to give the producers credit for their metaphorical depiction of the end. Gil Melle's music accompanying the images is probably the most frightening sounding I've ever heard in a TV score. It's much more eerily effective than the graphic attempts at realism in "The Day After" (and reminiscent of the ending of "Fail Safe").

More:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084919/#comment





Also:

World War III is an ambitious if unnecessarily protracted speculative TV movie. Set in a "future December," the film prophesies an American grain embargo levied on Russia. US President Rock Hudson is entreated by the Soviet higher-ups to drop the ban; meanwhile, a group of renegade Russian military officers begin sending expeditionary forces into Alaska. While the countdown to Doomsday begins, the film insists upon cutting back to several expendable romances in both the American and Soviet camps. Boris Sagal, the original director of World War III, was killed in a freak helicopter accident while on location. To make up for lost time, the production was moved to the soundstages of Zoetrope Studios and overseen by ultra-efficient TV director David Greene. Part Two finds novice American president Rock Hudson trying to effect an honorable peace with Soviet premiere Brian Keith. But insurgent military officers endeavoring to seize the Alaska Pipeline as a bargaining chip continue to escalate the hostilities. It develops that the fate of the world may rest in the hands of American colonel David Soul. Also appearing is Cathy Lee Crosby, endearingly miscast as an intelligence officer. A heart-stopping surprise twist brings World War III to a close. While the film has its moments of genuine suspense, one can't help but feel that World War III would have been better an hour or two shorter--or at least with a few of the subplot romances removed. Originally running four hours, World War III was telecast in two parts on January 31 and February 1, 1982.

More:
http://www.answers.com/topic/world-war-iii-film-1?cat=entertainment

[chromotone]

18. I'm with you!

Just think: First, they'll take Alaska, then the Klondike. Then they'll be marching down Main Street, USA!!!

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[whistle]

39. Have you been going to the Saturday evening movies with Dick Cheney and his neo-con crowd comrade?

:spray: :rofl:

[roamer65]

43. The Russians regret selling Alaska for 2 cents an acre in 1867.

They want it back.:yoiks: :crazy:

No more "Seward's folly"...LOL.

[santamargarita]

9. Wow! I need to find out what he's drinking and get some!

LOL

[Dr.Phool]

14. I think it's the Stoli.

I drank a bunch this week, and wound up digging up a garden.

[Ian David]

10. NATO just turned away a Russian long-range nuclear bomber by Alaska a few days ago.

Who says The Cold War is over?

[chromotone]

19. With this tunnel, they'll be able to just truck nukes here...

Unless gas gets too high.

[Ian David]

26. What was that movie about the Chinese drilling a hole through the center of the Earth...

... to attack America?

[chromotone]

27. You got me!

Sounds like a pretty good premise for a special-effects laden movie, though...

[Ian David]

29. Here we go.. Battle Beneath the Earth (1967)

Battle Beneath the Earth (1967)

A Chinese general goes berserk and has a system of tunnels made all the way from China to USA, under the Pacific Ocean! Wherever there is an important military base, he places atomic bombs.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061387/plotsummary

also:

Plot Summary

The plot revolves around an evil Chinese general who has built a laser tunneling machine and proceeds to tunnel all the way under the Pacific, intent upon invading the USA. The intention was to place nuclear bombs under US cities and military bases. The subsequent catastrophe could be passed off as 'earthquake damage'.

Seismologists in America detect the burrowing yellow peril and the US military (eventually) investigates. Using an existing mine to breach into one of the Evil Chinese Tunnels (tm), Da Marines proceed to do a reccy and discover the nefarious goings-on (evil commie bastards!).
The army rush to develop their own laser tunneling machine to counter-attack Da Dirty Commies. Much running around by GIs through papier mache tunnels ensues.
The US laser-mole blows up at a critical moment, however due to grit, determination, know-how and all-round GI can-do, the filthy godless commies are vanquished.

Comment

A truely horrible 'Da Dirty Commies Are Burrowing Beneath Us' Sci Fi paranoia film from 1967.
This film has all the budget, style and charm of a '50s B-Grade shocker, or an '80s telemovie.

Best bits of the film:
* The opening sequence where a bug-eyed seismologist is in Main St. USA and is gradually going more and more ga-ga putting his ear to the sidewalk and trying to warn passers-by about "Them!", "They're down there!", "Burrowing beneath Us!".
* The transportation system used by the Evil Chinese General to zip around his tunnels ... it's a man sized version of those pneumatic tubes which they used to have in department stores (and in Sylvester & Tweety-pie cartoons).

Ed Bishop had a role as some sort of military technical development officer, in charge of building the laser mole. The name of his character - Lt. Cmdr. Vance Cassidy.

More:

http://ufoseries.com/films/battle.html

[chromotone]

34. DAMN! That one got by me...and I was in junior high then and an avid movie-goer!

"All-star cast," I see...;)

[Kelvin Mace]

12. OK, who doesn't know where this is going?

[pattmarty]

13. Sounds like this may be a pretty good deal for the future..........

........but probably won't get the usage for some years after it's built. How long did it take for the French-British "tunnel" to complete? I would think that in 30 or 50 yrs this would be a good thing. I am just to the right of Karl Marx, but I do agree with one thing of the "free-trader" types that if you have economic, some type of a cultural ties to each other (whoever "each other" may be) that you are less likely to have serious conflicts ie wars.

[Demeter]

17. I Agree on the Cultural Possibilities

but as an engineer by training, I would be leery. Remember the Anchorage Earthquake was the largest ever recorded: 9.2!

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

I was a mere child in the seismically stable Midwest when it happened. In those days, we used to get news in the newspapers, with photos and everything. Now I'm getting nostalgic!

The Aleutians are right on the Ring of Fire, and while a bridge would be dangerous enough, being stuck in a tunnel while the earth around you liquifies is not my idea of a good death.

[mkultra]

16. i like it

What we need is more relations with Russia. It would be good for both our economies. Rail transport is cheap compared to shipping.

[BadgerLaw2010]

20. IIRC engineers have rejected this idea before. Hence the discussion of a bridge.

[MilesColtrane]

21. We build a missile shield OVER the continent...

...mean while them dang rooskies dig UNDER an invasion route.

Brilliant, diabolically brilliant I tells ya.

[whistle]

40. No Amerikanski fascistski would be safe Ivan

:hide: :yoiks:

[Javaman]

22. Building worlds largest drill? why do that, when he could just get...

moron*? morons* been screwing the world for the past 7 1/2 years!! LOL :rofl:

[Taverner]

23. Chances are its first use will be an oil pipeline

[Arctic Dave]

24. My first thought when I read this was.

Put down the crackpipe. This is too laughable. Let's say they do build a tunnel. Where does it go? Alaska doesn't even have road that goes anywhere near that part of the state much less a railbelt. Second what are they going to transport to Alaska that is going to justify the cost? Oil? Maybe. Third, there is no rail link between Alaska and the rest of N. America so it will be more then just building a tunnel and a railbelt to Alaska. Is Canada going to be part of this?
This is even ridculous even if it is a cover for an oil pipeline. I'm trying to run numbers in my head that would make this idea work instead of using tankers. So far, I got zilch. The price of oil would have to be so astronomical to make this thing profitable that more than likely the demand would waiver before this thing would pay for itself.
The only thing I can say is. It's his money, so if he wants to piss it away let him. It is a more creative way of doing it then the old sex, drugs and rock and roll.

[ozu]

28. not a shocker

Abramovich is like a Bond villain.

He'll probably put Shaun Wright-Phillips to work in the tunnel.

[bean fidhleir]

31. Climate change. This is a response to climate change.

If Lovelock is correct - and there's no reason to think he's not - then the 20% of humans still alive next century are going to be up in Alaska, Siberia, northernmost Canada, northern Scandinavia, etc. At which point, a tunnel between the continents is going to be quite the deal. Presuming, of course, that he's dug it deep enough to allow for the extra weight of 64m of water from the former glaciers.

[melody]

33. Like Singlaub isn't paranoid enough

This is all we need.

[yellowcanine]

37. Uh - has anyone looked at the calendar recently? April 1 coming right up.

This has all the earmarks of an April Fool's story.

[whistle]

41. Here is a website complete with illustrations, looks serious to me

http://www.gr8st8.com/main_pages/bering_tunnel.htm

[yellowcanine]

42. Look again - That is a third party information site - it is not a proposal.

I still think it is a kind of April Fool's joke.

[AngryAmish]

44. Get Ron Obvious to do it

He should be done with his tunnel to Java any minute...