On walls and bridges

Letum · 04-22-07, 04:23 PM

Relevant BBC News links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6577529.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6579335.stm

The American military plans to build a "maze" of concrete walls in Baghdad in order to
prevent sectarian violence. The walls have been highly controversial. The Iraqi
prime-minister Nouri al-Maliki has also condemned the building of the wall(s).

What do you guys think?
Can bridges be built between communities whilst a wall divides them?
Can walls "break the cycle" of sectarian violence?
Is there a danger of a wall becoming a symbol of division and conflict?
Will it turn parts of Baghdad in to a "big prison" and how can this be avoided?
What can we learn from similar walls in Ireland and other historical examples?
How effective can walls be in preventing conflict?

04-22-07, 04:23 PM	#1
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	On walls and bridges Relevant BBC News links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6577529.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6579335.stm The American military plans to build a "maze" of concrete walls in Baghdad in order to prevent sectarian violence. The walls have been highly controversial. The Iraqi prime-minister Nouri al-Maliki has also condemned the building of the wall(s). What do you guys think? Can bridges be built between communities whilst a wall divides them? Can walls "break the cycle" of sectarian violence? Is there a danger of a wall becoming a symbol of division and conflict? Will it turn parts of Baghdad in to a "big prison" and how can this be avoided? What can we learn from similar walls in Ireland and other historical examples? How effective can walls be in preventing conflict? __________________