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Total entries in this category: 24
Published On: Mar 07, 2006 03:02 PM
Total entries in this category: 24
Published On: Mar 07, 2006 03:02 PM
Target
I asked one of my graduate students from Yichang,
where the Three Gorges Dam is located, what people there thought about the
dam.
She said that some people thought it had economic
benefits and were proud of it, while others opposed the flooding of some of
China's most beautiful scenery and the environmental consequences. I mentioned
that many westerners feared that the construction of the dam was doomed to
failure and would ultimately cause the loss of millions and millions of lives.
Interestingly, she hadn't heard of that scenario, but mentioned that the Chinese
military was well aware of the dam's significance as a target and focused a lot
of energy on guarding it.
"Who do they fear will attack it?" I asked. "Terrorists?"
"No, not terrorists."
"But I don't think China has any enemies right now," I said. "You don't think Taiwan would bomb it, do you?"
Well," she said sheepishly, "actually the government is afraid America will bomb it. Last year, that was the hottest topic in our political class."
Bush's capacity for foolishly attacking other countries never fails to amaze me, so perhaps I am just naive to think that bombing the Three Gorges Dam is an unlikely scenario.
"Who do they fear will attack it?" I asked. "Terrorists?"
"No, not terrorists."
"But I don't think China has any enemies right now," I said. "You don't think Taiwan would bomb it, do you?"
Well," she said sheepishly, "actually the government is afraid America will bomb it. Last year, that was the hottest topic in our political class."
Bush's capacity for foolishly attacking other countries never fails to amaze me, so perhaps I am just naive to think that bombing the Three Gorges Dam is an unlikely scenario.
Posted: Fri - January 9, 2004 at 06:00 AM