Article

2013-03-10 Africa North

Egypt protesters torch buildings, target Suez Canal

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Posted by Steve White 2013-03-10 10:39|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top

#1 Pretty soon ships will start heading around the Cape of Good Hope again after Egypt descends into chaos.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2013-03-10 13:43|| 2013-03-10 13:43|| Front Page Top

#2 Or the civilized world will take over the property from Egypt. At least that's how it would have happened in the past. But today's 'civilized' world has no will. Except China... that would give them effective control of both the Panama and Suez canals.

Posted by Glenmore 2013-03-10 14:39|| 2013-03-10 14:39|| Front Page Top

#3 I doubt they'll do anything to the Suez. The military will mow the protesters down way before that happens.

Posted by Charles 2013-03-10 14:46|| 2013-03-10 14:46|| Front Page Top

#4 I realize how important the money from the Suez Canal is to Egypt, but how useful is the Suez nowadays to the rest of the world for shipping? Aren't a lot of today's ships too large for it? Or am I ~~just blowing smoke~~ thinking of something else?

Posted by Barbara 2013-03-10 15:16|| 2013-03-10 15:16|| Front Page Top

#5 Glenmore, won't happen. The Suez Incident of 1956 illustrates the issue. There is no country today (except perhaps Russia) who would be bold enough to try and seize the Suez given the inevitable world condemnation, progressive outcry and rattle-banging, and challenges from the locals.

Posted by Steve White 2013-03-10 15:55|| 2013-03-10 15:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Barb, it's still very, very important... see SuezMax

The Suez Canal can (currently) take ships larger than the Panama Canal.

Posted by Shipman 2013-03-10 16:53|| 2013-03-10 16:53|| Front Page Top

#7 The Canal is a very powerful symbol of global modernism and commerce (sort of an antithesis to I-lam?). Angry and desperate, yet distracted, people will, like a coyote, gnaw their own leg off (if only figuratively)....

Posted by Uncle Phester 2013-03-10 17:32|| 2013-03-10 17:32|| Front Page Top

#8 Transited the Suez in 87 on the Kitty Hawk, flight deck appeared to overhang both shorelines. Felt like we had a big target painted on us, even with armed Tomcats turning on the cats (the Dreaded Alert 5's).....

Posted by USN,Ret. 2013-03-10 18:46|| 2013-03-10 18:46|| Front Page Top

#9 According to Wiki:

After multiple enlargements, the canal is 193.30 km (120.11 mi) long, 24 m (79 ft) deep and 205 metres (673 ft) wide as of 2010.

The canal allows passage of ships up to 20 m (66 ft) draft or 240,000 deadweight tons and up to a maximum height of 68 m (223 ft) above water level and a maximum beam of 77.5 m (254 ft) under certain conditions.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2013-03-10 19:10|| 2013-03-10 19:10|| Front Page Top

#10 Thanks, Ship - Rantburg U. strikes again. ;-p

Posted by Barbara 2013-03-10 20:43|| 2013-03-10 20:43|| Front Page Top

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