Thursday, November 3, 2011

VIDEO: Sandstorm In Basra, Iraq

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

From Harry Barnes

I undertook the bulk of my UK National Service at a Movements Unit in Basra from February 1955 to November 1956. Much of my work was with Iraqi State Railways. I was lucky enough not to experience a sand storm. I also only ever heard one gun shot in that time. It was from the Iraqi Army aimed at an escaped prisoner, whom they thankfully missed.

Joel Wing said...

They're called sand storms, but I believe they're actually made out of dust from the decrease in arable land. Large tracks in Iraq are drying up and all the top layer cakes up and gets blown away by the winds creating these huge storms.

Anonymous said...

Hi Joel,

Excellent blog!
Can you write more about the logistics and your expectations for the withdrawal.

Joel Wing said...

Hi Anon, unfortunately there's not a lot of details being released right now about the U.S. withdrawal. About a month ago the U.S. military decided to cut back on information because they were afraid it would be used by militants to plan attacks.

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 21 Saddam paid Carlos the Jackal and PFLP to kill Saudi and Iranian oil ministers at OPEC meeting for supporting Kurdish revolt Ministers were taken prisoners but then released

  1956 Communist uprising in Al-Hay put down and leaders executed ( Musings On Iraq review The Modern History of Iraq )...