DIRT
I keep seeing pictures of the harsh desert sands in far-off Iraq and other nations of that part of our world.
I get contrasting information about the actual conditions of the soil itself. Is it potentially rich, as some claim it to be, or even modestly so? Can it be revived with regular rainfall? Can it be be reclaimed and made useful for ag-biz to some degree commensurate with the climate of the area?
It always seems comes up, too, that if one digs a hole in the Mid-east you get oil – not water.
C'mon now! This is not exactly a topic to be treated in a comic manner.
In the Sudan years ago someone drilled for oil far inland and many were disappointed when the when the wells produced water. But, wise heads among them prevailed and they used that water to start an oasis, then a village, then a town, and now a city. Can the same sort of thing be done in Iraq ? If so, why hasn't it been tried? More to the point of our being responsible for re-building the war-torn nation. It would be good to have Nature on our side.
I doubt if the Saddam Hussein regime has take any time from the building of more of than a score of Presidential Palaces to make detailed studies of the soil potentials throughout the entire country. That would be the initial step required for all those persons seriously considering means of helping the Iraqi people, and the sub cultures therein such as the Kurds to the north. A unified Iraq can work for their own well-being . They can provide a portion of the food and fiber supplies they need.
It should be the prime focus of all that needs to be done in Iraq now to eliminate all of the minatory complications which face anyone undertaking such a task. A great deal of planning and study such undertakings is now in order to meet the fast approaching deadline when needs become pressing. Iraq should not be re-constructed to be a nation dependent on benefactors forever. It can be a self-saving nation of hard-working people if given half a chance .
A.L.M. April 3, 2003 [c376wds]
