Saudi Arabia is planning to turn rival Qatar into an island

[Exterous]

Saudi Arabia appears to be further distancing itself from Qatar, this time literally.

The country is moving forward with plans to dig a canal along its 61km border with Qatar, which would turn its Gulf rival into an island, local media has reported.

Reports first published by Makkah Newspaper indicate five international companies have been invited to bid for the project, called the "Salwa Channel," with a deadline set for Monday. Sources told Makkah that Saudi authorities will announce the winner of the contract deal within 90 days, and hope to complete the canal by the end of the year.

https://www.businessinsider.co.za/saudi-arabia-wants-to-turn-qatar-into-an-island-2018-6

The canal will be constructed inside Saudi territory to avoid land claim issues. So for the Saudi land on the Qatar side of the canal they are planning on putting a military base and nuclear waste burial site.

I know the two countries don't get along well but this seems a little extreme

 

[UglyCasanova]

What an enormous waste of money

 

[vi edit]

So they are Qataring ties with them and burying radioactive waste in between. Man that's a bad breakup.

 

[vi edit]

What an enormous waste of money

Jesus...don't give Trump any ideas. Instead of a wall he'll be asking us to dig a canal between the pacific and the gulf of Mexico. Why have a wall when we can have a big, beautiful moat!

 

[K1052]

I assume this will lead Iran to fill in the Strait of Hormuz...

 

[dainthomas]

Can we do that to Florida?

 

[realibrad]

Lol a nuclear waste site. They are committed I guess.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Jesus...don't give Trump any ideas. Instead of a wall he'll be asking us to dig a canal between the pacific and the gulf of Mexico. Why have a wall when we can have a big, beautiful moat!

We have one already for about half of it

 

[IronWing]

I assume this will lead Iran to fill in the Strait of Hormuz...

I decided to go look at the bathymetry of the Strait of Hormuz. This idea would be expensive to implement but totally doable (except for that all out war thing).

 

[UglyCasanova]

I decided to go look at the bathymetry of the Strait of Hormuz. This idea would be expensive to implement but totally doable (except for that all out war thing).

Interesting idea to think about. If they did and drained the gulf that would be some really fertile land to grow on.


edit: on second thought probably not due to the salt

 

[K1052]

I decided to go look at the bathymetry of the Strait of Hormuz. This idea would be expensive to implement but totally doable (except for that all out war thing).

Movin earth to own the Sauds.

 

[IronWing]

Interesting idea to think about. If they did and drained the gulf that would be some really fertile land to grow on.

edit: on second thought probably not due to the salt

I just did a back of envelope calculation and it would require moving about 2.5 billion tons of rock to build a 10 meter wide (at top) jetty across the Strait. This is about the amount of rock moved for a large copper mine. This is well within the financial/technical capacity of Iran to accomplish.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

If Saudi does this Qatar will flip over causing countless deaths.

 

[HomerJS]

What an enormous waste of money

Kind of like 25B for a wall.

Both are giant spite fences

 

[K1052]

I just did a back of envelope calculation and it would require moving about 2.5 billion tons of rock to build a 10 meter wide (at top) jetty across the Strait. This is about the amount of rock moved for a large copper mine. This is well within the financial/technical capacity of Iran to accomplish.

Suddenly curious what "Build the jetty and make the Saudis pay for it!" sounds like in Farsi.