US-made Tajik-Afghan bridge opens

[demoleft]

Source: BBC

Afghan and Tajik leaders have inaugurated a new bridge linking their countries across River Panj.

The $37m (£18.4m) project, a US gift, replaces an intermittent ferry service across the fast-flowing river.

"This bridge of friendship is an historic event," said Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon at the ceremony.

The bridge - nearly 700m (yards) long and 11m across - will replace an unreliable ferry which was the only way of getting across the River Panj.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6964429.stm

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Problems may arise with drug trafficking, reports BBC.
The bridge may become part of a drug trafficking route.

[Vogon_Glory]

1. To Bind The Wounds of War Is A Good Thing

To bind the wounds of war is a good thing in my book, even if the Gee Dubya Bush administration has been shamefully remiss at doing much of anything of the sort in Afghanistan or Iraq. There was once a time when, during or after a US military intervention, that the US built bridges, buiilt or repaired highways, and tried to leave things a little bit better than battlefield conditions right after the troops walk away. The US-built government buildings in Manila were one such example, the completed Malecon in Havana, Cuba is another. So are a number of bridges and roads that the US built or rebuilt in the Caribbean in the 1920's and in Europe after World War II. Rebuilding infrastructure (Unless it can be done with an eye towards profiting Republican Party political donors) doesn't seem to be an idea that has much popularity with either the Gee Dubya Bush administration or with present-day "Conservatives."

Alas, almost ANY bridge or highway built in Afghanistan these days is likely to be used in the drug trade.

[thunder rising]

2. Can we start a pool on the day that it gets blown up?

I get the feeling there will not be anything American in that country a year after we leave.

[Trajan]

3. We have to build bridges over there ....

So we don't have to build them over here ....

[Posteritatis]

4. Sorry, I can't find any objection to this one. (nt)

[hogwyld]

5. Hope it wasn't designed by the same guys

That build/designed the bridge in Minnesota.