What if the Panama Canal got a rival?

2015-07-31T20:25:09-04:00

Does the article capture all of your concerns? Military implications? Environmental ones? Economic ones? Political ones?

Are you unconcerned with these issues?

http://worldif.economist.com/article/8/what-if-the-panama-canal-gets-a-rival-trench-warfare-in-nicaragua

Thoughts from some RP people?
CPT Zachary Brooks, CPT Private RallyPoint Member, SFC Mark Merino, CW5 Private RallyPoint Member, 1LT(P) L S, GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", TSgt Hunter Logan, LTC Stephen C., TSgt Joshua Copeland, LTC Private RallyPoint Member, LTC Paul Labrador, PV2 Private RallyPoint Member, CW3 Private RallyPoint Member, CPT Aaron Kletzing, LTC Yinon Weiss.

Trench warfare in Nicaragua

If the Panama Canal gets a rival

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 31 at 2015 9:06 PM

2015-07-31T21:06:57-04:00

So there are several issues at play here.

The first is just moving product via waterways. Land prevents that. Waterways are just SLOW. Being able to cut a hole through a continent is just a pragmatic approach. However, "is the steak worth the sizzle" when we talk about a second Panama Canal (Nicaragua Canal)?

Would we effectively double the "throughput" or "halve the cost?" How long would it take to make this happen? From a straight Cost/Benefit analysis, we're talking about recouping money towards profit. But we're competing against an already established enterprise which is paid for, and only has operating costs. In essence, one company in the Red vs another in the Black. That just seems like bad business.

Now, if it is a Chinese front for a military operations, that presents other concerns, however that can be dealt with politically or militarily via things like blockades, or just destroying the Canal if deemed a threat.

As for the environmental issues, yes, I do have concerns, but those need to be addressed by Nicaragua.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jul 31 at 2015 9:42 PM

2015-07-31T21:42:02-04:00

There are several issues which there are no "good" answers for. Are they similar to the issues when the Panama Canal was built? Absolutely!

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 1 at 2015 10:49 AM

2015-08-01T10:49:40-04:00

Capt Richard I P., it would be a massive undertaking. Such a canal would be over three times the length of the Panama Canal, although admittedly, a large portion would go through Lake Nicaragua (which would still have to be dredged). To me the takeaway from this is to not to underestimate the Republic of China. I couple this with the other "what if Russia attacks NATO country" question. The U.S. needs to be resume its position of strength and leadership on the world stage. We can't be complacent, because China and Russia are not, I guarantee you. Number two.