New York Subways at the Sixth Seal (Revelation 6)

        How vulnerable are NYC’s underwater subway tunnels to flooding?Ashley Fetters
New York City is full of peculiar phenomena—rickety fire escapes; 100-year-old subway tunnels; air conditioners propped perilously into window frames—that can strike fear into the heart of even the toughest city denizen. But should they? Every month, writer Ashley Fetters will be exploring—and debunking—these New York-specific fears, letting you know what you should actually worry about, and what anxieties you can simply let slip away.
The 25-minute subway commute from Crown Heights to the Financial District on the 2/3 line is, in my experience, a surprisingly peaceful start to the workday—save for one 3,100-foot stretch between the Clark Street and Wall Street stations, where for three minutes I sit wondering what the probability is that I will soon die a torturous, claustrophobic drowning death right here in this subway car.
The Clark Street Tunnel, opened in 1916, is one of approximately a dozen tunnels that escort MTA passengers from one borough to the next underwater—and just about all of them, with the exception of the 1989 addition of the 63rd Street F train tunnel, were constructed between 1900 and 1936.
Each day, thousands of New Yorkers venture across the East River and back again through these tubes buried deep in the riverbed, some of which are nearing or even past their 100th birthdays. Are they wrong to ponder their own mortality while picturing one of these watery catacombs suddenly springing a leak?
Mostly yes, they are, says Michael Horodniceanu, the former president of MTA Capital Construction and current principal of Urban Advisory Group. First, it’s important to remember that the subway tunnel is built under the riverbed, not just in the river—so what immediately surrounds the tunnel isn’t water but some 25 feet of soil. “There’s a lot of dirt on top of it,” Horodniceanu says. “It’s well into the bed of the bottom of the channel.”
And second, as Angus Kress Gillespie, author of Crossing Under the Hudson: The Story of the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, points out, New York’s underwater subway tunnels are designed to withstand some leaking. And withstand it they do: Pumps placed below the floor of the tunnel, he says, are always running, always diverting water seepage into the sewers. (Horodniceanu says the amount of water these pumps divert into the sewer system each day numbers in the thousands of gallons.)
Additionally, MTA crews routinely repair the grouting and caulking, and often inject a substance into the walls that creates a waterproof membrane outside the tunnel—which keeps water out of the tunnel and relieves any water pressure acting on its walls. New tunnels, Horodniceanu points out, are even built with an outside waterproofing membrane that works like an umbrella: Water goes around it, it falls to the sides, and then it gets channeled into a pumping station and pumped out.
Of course, the classic New York nightmare scenario isn’t just a cute little trickle finding its way in. The anxiety daydream usually involves something sinister, or seismic. The good news, however, is that while an earthquake or explosion would indeed be bad for many reasons, it likely wouldn’t result in the frantic flooding horror scene that plays out in some commuters’ imaginations.
The Montague Tube, which sustained severe damage during Hurricane Sandy.
MTA New York City Transit / Marc A. Hermann
Horodniceanu assures me that tunnels built more recently are “built to withstand a seismic event.” The older tunnels, however—like, um, the Clark Street Tunnel—“were not seismically retrofitted, let me put it that way,” Horodniceanu says. “But the way they were built is in such a way that I do not believe an earthquake would affect them.” They aren’t deep enough in the ground, anyway, he says, to be too intensely affected by a seismic event. (The MTA did not respond to a request for comment.)
One of the only real threats to tunnel infrastructure, Horodniceanu adds, is extreme weather. Hurricane Sandy, for example, caused flooding in the tunnels, which “created problems with the infrastructure.” He continues, “The tunnels have to be rebuilt as a result of saltwater corroding the infrastructure.”
Still, he points out, hurricanes don’t exactly happen with no warning. So while Hurricane Sandy did cause major trauma to the tunnels, train traffic could be stopped with ample time to keep passengers out of harm’s way. In 2012, Governor Andrew Cuomo directed all the MTA’s mass transit services to shut down at 7 p.m. the night before Hurricane Sandy was expected to hit New York City.
And Gillespie, for his part, doubts even an explosion would result in sudden, dangerous flooding. A subway tunnel is not a closed system, he points out; it’s like a pipe that’s open at both ends. “The force of a blast would go forwards and backwards out the exit,” he says.
So the subway-train version of that terrifying Holland Tunnel flood scene in Sylvester Stallone’s Daylight is … unrealistic, right?
“Yeah,” Gillespie laughs. “Yeah. It is.”
Got a weird New York anxiety that you want explored? E-mail tips@curbed.com, and we may include it in a future column.

The growing risk of Nuclear terrorism: Revelation 8

Pakistan’s nuclear security amidst the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

8 February 2022

The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan has raised not only regional security concerns but also distrust and doubts about Pakistan’s nuclear security and safety. This skepticism has not recently erupted. In fact, it has been chastised by the world community since Pakistan became a nuclear state. So what is the reason behind this concern especially after the Taliban’s takeover? 

The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban has not just brought up regional security challenges, but also brought up skepticism and suspicions regarding Pakistan’s nuclear security and safety. This skepticism did not erupt lately. In fact, the international community has been criticizing it since Pakistan became a nuclear power. The international community must understand and realize the motives behind Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear power status.

The recent appointment of engineer Najeebullahas head of Afghanistan’s atomic energy by the Taliban has raised concerns among the international community. But experts remain deeply skeptical of such an endeavor at this point. Besides, the porous boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan has also brought up various “naïve” concerns which include; the possibility of the Taliban overrunning Pakistan and stealing its nuclear nukes, possible transfer of fissile materials and the possible involvement of the establishment in leaking the secrets to the outsiders.

What happened when the US announced its withdrawal?

Soon after the peace deal treaty with the Taliban, the U.S. declared its focus primarily on the containment of China from potentially becoming a global power (particularly, by pressurizing Pakistan over the security of its nukes). This shift not just created a power vacuum in the region (ironically, the blame has been put on Pakistan again), but also created greater security concerns for Pakistan by both the internal and external threats. It is not the first time, since the U.S. has been pointing distrust over the safety and security of Pakistan’s nukes.

In 2009, American Secretary Hillary Clintonclaimed a possibility of Islamic militants taking over Pakistan and its nuclear weapons. The international community must accept and realize the risks that the American withdrawal has brought with it for Pakistan. Although, those risks and challenges are nowhere going to affect Pakistan’s nuclear safety and security because the matter is a national concern and is in safe hands. Therefore, it should not be interfered with or debated internationally.

Instead of showing distrust over the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, the international community should collectively focus on resolving and removing those irritants out of its way which might potentially destabilize the region. People like Ronald Jacquard will, however, raise their concern over an unstable Afghanistan and its consequences on the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals, but will never raise their voice for the humanitarian assistance that is the ardent need of time in Afghanistan.

The international community must acknowledge that Pakistan has been living in a security-sensitive environment. A country, that lives next to its archrival, is bound to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and secure the lives and properties of its citizens. Pakistan became a nuclear power not to achieve the status of becoming a global power, but to deter the growing threat from India for its own survival. Despite the threats, that Pakistan has been facing from both internal and external elements, it is obligatory for the international community to realize, accept and appreciate the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and program. Unlike India, where several incidents of Uranium theft have taken place.

It is tempting for people like Bruce Riedel (CIA analyst) and Ronald Jacquard to say that Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the contemporary world and that the international community should watch Pakistan’s nukes. But it makes it very difficult for them to show concerns over the Uranium thefts in India.

Similarly, besides the incidents of Uranium theft, the Kenyan authorities apprehended a container ship on 17^th December 2021 upon detection of heavy radioactive levels, where one of the containers was filled with nuclear waste which was loaded by an Indian firm called ‘Perma Export Limited.’ This shows how reckless and immature India is regarding the safe disposal of its nuclear waste. In fact, the international community should be worrying and showing their concern over the recklessness of the Indian authorities. They should question and find out the true motives behind India’s such actions.

Pakistan, on the other hand, not only guards its locations and practices against any external influence but is also keen in enforcing international standards, unlike India. Pakistan has also established ‘Pakistan’s Centre of Excellence and Nuclear Security’(PCENS) for strengthening its nuclear regime and the security of nuclear and radiological materials. If the international community wishes to adopt a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy for the loss of nukes, it must be then for every nuclear state and not be biased and focused on Pakistan only.

The National Command Authority (NCA), which is the highest authority to decide when and when not to go for nuclear readiness, oversee the policy formation, exercises, employment, research, development, deployment and operational command and control of Pakistan’s nukes through its secretariat Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Therefore, suspecting that the establishment is involved in leaking the secrets is naïve as it sounds and it is illogical to suspect NCA’s credibility.

How India is excelling in its modes of warfare?

The modes of warfare are evolving and India can be seen taking advantage of the 5^thgeneration warfare, thereby, spreading its web of disinformation on the digital media and inducing panic and fear among the people. Whether it is the progress of CPEC or the question of Pakistan’s nuclear safety and security program, India has left no opportunity in spreading disinformation and panic among the people.

It is a great strategic accomplishment and advantage for Pakistan, that both its military and civilian leadership is on the same page like never before. Perhaps, this is why Pakistan’s adversaries, particularly India have lost all their hopes in manipulating the leadership and are now focusing more on manipulating the citizens of Pakistan.

The U.S. must accept that Pakistan is a responsible state when it comes to handling its nuclear weapons. Pakistan has the ability to secure and safeguard its nukes from any mishap and threat from terrorists. Hence, saying that the U.S. might take measures of taking control over Pakistan’s nukes does not only create distrust but also portray a negative image all over the world, which is unpalatable to Pakistan. Taking any type of measures against Pakistan’s nukes will be even more dangerous.

The international community must understand Pakistan’s concerns over the policies of the fanatic Modi government and the RSS ideology that is prevailing in India. Instead of accusing and showing distrust over the safety and security of Pakistan’s nukes, the international community should work on removing those irritants that might actually provoke Pakistan and India. Hence, prevent letting a possible catastrophe in the region. Moreover, the international community must shift its attention to providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, rather than questioning the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear program. Hunger will kill more people in Afghanistan than in any other catastrophe.

Muhammad Adil Khan is working as a Research Assistant at the Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN), Pakistan. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space (GVS News).

STRATCOM General admits we are in trouble: Daniel 7

STRATCOM General on Facing Nuclear China and Russia: ‘We Have No History of This’

Feb. 7, 2022 | By Greg Hadley

Facing a moment with no historical precedent, the United States needs to recalibrate to deal with two nuclear peers in China and Russia—and to modernize its entire nuclear enterprise, a top general with U.S. Strategic Command warned Feb. 7.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Ferdinand B. Stoss, STRATCOM director of plans and policy, issued his warning while appearing virtually at the 2022 Nuclear Deterrence Summit. Speaking to an audience of industry officials, academics, and others, Stoss painted a picture of a strategic environment that, in some ways, goes beyond even what the U.S. faced during the Cold War.

“I think we can agree that the United States, our allies, our partners—we have not faced this type of threat in over 30 years,” he said. “And not just a threat, though. Like I mentioned before, this is the first time ever that we have a three-party nuclear peer dynamic. And we have no history of this. This is epic. And I don’t think we’ve fully dealt with all the ramifications that this is going to have as we march into the future, but we absolutely need to.”

For decades now, Stoss added, the U.S. has been engaged in conflicts in which it could mostly control the level of violence. Now, however, that’s changed.

“Today, both Russia and China have the capability to unilaterally escalate at any level of violence, across any domain, into any geographic location, … and to do so at a time of their choosing,” Stoss said.

Of the two, Russia is the greater shorter-term threat, Stoss said, as it develops “novel weapons” with awesome destructive capability but questionable safety.

The Russians are building “everything from their … hypersonic anti-ship vehicles to their Skyfall nuclear-powered intercontinental-range cruise missiles,” Stoss said. “I’ve heard others opine, they call it a ‘flying Chernobyl.’ And it’s not far from the truth, what with their safety, or lack thereof, with that capability.”

China, meanwhile, is building up its own capabilities in a manner that Stoss called “breathtaking,” echoing the words of his boss, commander of U.S. Strategic Command Adm. Charles “Chas” A. Richard. 

Throughout the summer and fall of 2021, satellite images revealed that the Chinese were building hundreds of missile silos, and the Pentagon’s own report on Chinese military power estimated that China could possess 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030, a number Stoss repeated.

“’Why are they doing this strategic breakout?’ Well, we don’t exactly know. They are very opaque as to what they are doing with nuclear, and they always have been,” Stoss said. “But, you know, perhaps this is just one more brick to put into the wall to cement their capacity to play a much bolder role, certainly in the region and around the world, and they think that they need this nuclear underpinning.”

What’s important to remember, Stoss added, is that this kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident or without heavy planning and investment.

“To be sure, to have this type of a breakout and the capabilities they’re bringing online would have taken them years to plan, to develop, and then to actually build,” Stoss said.

The Pentagon, on the other hand, is in the midst of trying to develop a host of new programs, including the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, the Long-range Standoff Weapon, the B-21 bomber, the Columbia-class submarine, and a new nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) network.

The need to modernize so many different capabilities at the same time, Stoss said, is something the U.S. brought on itself.

“One common thread that I think we have across the department: The three legs of the triad, our NC3, and our nuclear weapons complex is, we took a knee on these systems,” Stoss said. “And, unfortunately, now that we’ve taken that knee and we’ve accepted these risks, we’ve found that … we no longer have the option to take that risk, that we’re doing just-in-time modernization, really across the board. That may not be applicable to each and every system, but it certainly is when you look at the whole.”

U.S. Republican senators vow to thwart another Obama Iran Deal

U.S. Republican senators vow to thwart any Iran deal if Biden skips congressional review

Andrea ShalalFebruary 7, 202210:51 PM MSTLast Updated 12 hours ago

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) – A group of 33 Republican senators warned U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday that they would work to thwart implementation of any new Iran nuclear agreement if his government did not allow Congress to review and vote on its terms.

Led by Senator Ted Cruz, a long-time opponent of the 2015 nuclear deal, the senators told Biden in a letter dated Monday that they would use “the full range of options and leverage available” to ensure that his government adhered to U.S. laws governing any new accord with Iran.

Indirect talks in Vienna between Iran and the United States on reviving the 2015 agreement are due to resume on Tuesday. Talk of a possible agreement has driven oil prices lower, with markets anticipating that the possible removal of sanctions on Iranian oil sales could boost global supplies. read more

The Biden administration has been trying to revive the deal, which lifted sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities, a deal from which former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States in 2018.

Iran later breached many of the deal’s nuclear restrictions and kept pushing well beyond them.

Cruz and other senior Republican senators told Biden that implementation of any new deal would be “severely, if not terminally hampered” if he did not meet statutory obligations aimed at ensuring congressional oversight over revisions or changes to the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

They provided no details about their plans, but Republicans have used various tactics to slow down other legislation or put holds on Biden’s nominees, including many for ambassador posts.

Democrats control the 50-50 Senate only by virtue of a tie-breaking vote that can be cast by Vice President Kamala Harris, but they could lose control of the Senate and the House of Representatives in mid-term elections later this year.

The senators said any nuclear agreement with Iran was of “such grativity for U.S. national security” that it would by definition be a treaty requiring the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate, they argued.

Any deal that fell short of Senate-ratified treaty would “likely be torn up in the early days of the next presidential administration,” they added, anticipating a Republican victory in the 2024 presidential race.

In addition, they noted that a 2015 law passed before completion of the initial nuclear deal requires that any new “agreement” related to Iran’s nuclear program to be transmitted to Congress for a 60-day review period during which Congress could pass a joint resolution of disapproval that would essentially prevent the deal from going into effect.

It said those mandates would be triggered by Iran’s progress toward developing a nuclear weapon over the past year, which would require new oversight measures.

Antichrist Takes Over Iraq Elections

Iraqi lawmakers fail to elect new president amid boycott

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi lawmakers failed to elect a new head of state Monday, as key factions foiled the attempt by boycotting the parliament session. 

A two-thirds quorum of the legislature’s 329 members is required for an electoral session. Monday’s vote could not be held as lawmakers, many of them allied with powerful Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, stayed away. Only 58 lawmakers showed up.

The failure to elect a president reflects the deep divisions among Iraq’s political factions that have only grown since the Oct. 10 parliament elections, whose results have been rejected by political groups supported by Iran.

Iraqi politicians have so far failed to agree on a compromise candidate for the country’s top post, and the delay Monday raised concerns of a presidential vacuum that would also prevent the appointment of a prime minister. 

Political analyst Ihsan al-Shammari said the failure to elect a president is a prelude to political crises that will continue to rage in Iraq until a consensus can be reached. 

“Continuing to violate the constitution is an indication of the depth of the political differences between the political blocs and political forces in Iraq,” he said.

With no quorum, parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi kept the session open without scheduling a new date for a vote to elect a new president. 

The boycott by al-Sadr was announced after Iraq’s Supreme Court temporarily suspended the nomination of front-runner Hoshyar Zebari, whose presidential bid is supported by al-Sadr. The high court cited pending corruption charges against the veteran Kurdish politician and former foreign minister.

The 2016 charges against Zebari, for which he was never convicted, stem from his time as finance minister, when he was dismissed from the job over alleged graft. Zebari on Sunday denied the charges and said he respected the court’s decision to temporarily suspend his candidacy until the issue is resolved.

According to Iraq’s post-war convention, the largely ceremonial post of president should be held by a member of the country’s Kurdish minority, the prime minister must be a Muslim Shiite and the parliament speaker a Muslim Sunni. The other front-runner for the presidency is incumbent Barham Saleh.

Sadr, who heads the largest parliamentary bloc with 73 seats, announced the boycott Saturday and was followed by al-Halbousi, who heads a bloc of 51 seats. The 31-seat Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) then followed suit. Zebari represents the KDP party and has denied the corruption allegations.

Outgoing President Barham Saleh represents the KDP’s main rival in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Clashes Increase Before the First Nuclear War: Revelation 8

Pakistan says it has killed 20 insurgents in three days of clashes

By Gul Yousafzai

Relatives of Captain Bilal Khalil, who was killed along with others in an attack on a military base in Nushki, comfort each other during his funeral in Faisalabad, Pakistan, February 4, 2022. REUTERS/Fayyaz Hussain

QUETTA, Pakistan, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Twenty militants and nine soldiers were killed in recent days during insurgent attacks on two military bases in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province and the military’s response, the military said on Saturday.

The attacks, the biggest in recent years by ethnic Baloch insurgents, began on Wednesday night.

“A total of 20 militants were killed during Panjgur and Nauski operations. Security forces have completed the clearance operation today,” said a statement by military’s media wing.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which had earlier claimed the attack, also issued a statement on Saturday night saying “all targets successfully achieved.” It said 16 fighters sacrificed themselves in the attacks, a phrasing that indicated but did not say clearly that they had died.

Ethnic Baloch guerrillas have been fighting the government for decades, demanding a separate state and saying the central government unfairly exploits Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral resources.

Russia is Prepared to go to War

Civilians participate in a Territorial Defence unit training session on February 5, 2022 in Obukhiv, Ukraine.Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Russia has amassed 70% of forces needed to invade Ukraine: US officials

By 

Mark Moore

February 6, 2022 9:59am 

 Updated

Russia has ​mustered about 70 percent of the military power it will likely need to launch an attack on neighboring Ukraine, an invasion that would result in thousands of civilian casualties and a massive refugee crisis in Europe, US officials said. 

​President Vladimir Putin, who has amassed more than 100,000 troops and heavy weaponry along Ukraine’s border and continues to add to the forces daily, could have the necessary firepower in place by mid-February to launch a full-scale invasion, the officials said. 

In the last two weeks, the number of Russian battalion tactical groups arrayed along the border has risen to 83 from 60 as of last Friday ​and another 14 are in transit. ​

Officials say while the size and scale of a possible attack are unclear, a number of indicators suggest a window of opportunity beginning mid-month.

Vladimir Putin has amassed more than 100,000 troops and heavy weaponry along Ukraine’s border.

The ground is expected to reach peak freeze around Feb. 15, allowing for heavy machinery to move without being bogged down in mud, conditions that would last until the end of March. ​​

An exercise involving Russia’s strategic nuclear forces typically held each fall was rescheduled for the middle of this month and will continue into March. ​​

While the ​officials did not suggest the use of nuclear weapons in an invasion, the exercises – most likely involving the test-launching of unarmed long-range missiles on Russia soil – could be staged to send a message to the West about intervening in any conflict. ​

Russia has moved troops from Siberia and the Far East to Belarus for sweeping joint drills.

A full-scale invasion would topple the government in Kyiv in a matter of days and result in mass casualties. ​

Ukraine could suffer 5,000 to 25,000 troop casualties, while Russia’s troop casualties could be between 3,000 and 10,000.

Civilian casualties could range from 25,000 to 50,000, according to ​US estimate​s, while millions of refugees would descend upon Europe as they fled the fighting. 

The number of Russian battalion tactical groups arrayed along the border has risen to 83 from 60 as of last Friday.

While P​resident Biden has said no US forces will be sent to Ukraine to fight, the first members of the 82nd Airborne Division landed in Poland on Saturday, part of the deployment of 3,000 ​troops to Poland and Romania to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and show support for NATO members. 

While Poland and Romania are NATO members, Ukraine is not, but the former Soviet satellite has received millions of dollars in US military equipment over the past couple of years. ​

The deployment of US troops follows claims by the Defense Department that ​the US has intelligence that Moscow is intending to use a fabricated video showing Ukrainian forces attacking Russian troops as a pretext for an invasion.

A military instructor teaches civilians holding wooden replicas of Kalashnikov rifles on February 6, 2022.

​Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters ​last Thursday ​that the video would be “very graphic propaganda” and include images of “corpses, and actors that would be depicting mourners, and images of destroyed locations, as well as military equipment, at the hands of Ukraine or the West.”​

But US officials reiterate that they don’t believe Putin has made a decision about whether to invade, and in the meantime, diplomatic efforts continue to resolve the standoff. ​​

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to travel to Moscow on Monday to meet with Putin and then head to Kyiv on Tuesday. ​​

Volunteers of the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade of Kiev line up during a military exercise for civilians in the outskirts of the city.

Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz will go to Kyiv on Feb. 14 and Moscow the ​next day. 

With Post wires​​