The Great Wall of Saudi Arabia . . .

[Cowperson]

Considering the furore over America putting a few helicopters on the Canadian border and putting up some more fencing along its Mexican frontier, or even the Israeli's walling in the Palestinian barbarians, I found this very quiet, largely unnoticed story pretty amusing in contrast . . . . .

Imagine building an impenetrable, multi-layer barrier with automated weapons systems stretching from Lethbridge to Grande Prairie . . . .

That's what Saudi Arabia is going to do on its Iraqi frontier.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/gre...641578406.html

Cowperson

[Jayems]

Well... if they (the Iraqi's) can blow up American tanks and demolish huge buildings with car bombs and IED's, i fail to see how they couldn't blow a huge hole in that... should they even want to.

Can't protect the entire line.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Well... if they (the Iraqi's) can blow up American tanks and demolish huge buildings with car bombs and IED's, i fail to see how they couldn't blow a huge hole in that... should they even want to.

Can't protect the entire line.

I don't think the idea is to stop 100% traffic, I think its to stop 90% traffic. You can't make it completely impossible for people to cross the border, but you can certainly make it a whole lot more difficult. If you read the link you'll see its not just a 4 foot wall in the middle of the desert... it sounds quite advanced (and expensive).

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Well... if they (the Iraqi's) can blow up American tanks and demolish huge buildings with car bombs and IED's, i fail to see how they couldn't blow a huge hole in that... should they even want to.

Can't protect the entire line.

Iraqi insurgent tactics work because they are surprise hit and run guerilla tactics against mobile American infantry in complicated urban settings. You can't "surprise" a static target like a wall in the middle of the open desert with constant surveillance and automatic weapons and helicopters that can zero in on breeches. They'll know you're coming from miles away.

The wall is mainly to stop small numbered insurgents and also a flow of civilian refugees if needed.

This isn't the Maginot line against the German blitzkrieg.

[RougeUnderoos]

Well you can't blame 'em. I just hope they pick the right Halliburton to build the wall.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6209356.stm