Category Archive: Military

Military Disasters

The Fires of Kuwait

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September 13, 2011

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In January and February of 1991, coalition forces drove Iraqi forces out of their neighboring country of Kuwait after an invasion that stunned the world and which led to the US involvement in what is now known as the first Gulf War. As these Iraqi forces fled, they set fire to over 700 separate oil wells throughout the small, yet oil rich country. The result of this action was the uncontrollable burning of these oil wells for almost a year. Because of the danger of land mines near the wells, as well as the sheer heat put off by the flames, firefighting teams could not immediately conquer the problem.

Many firefighting teams and oil well specialists were brought in from all over the world to fight the worst firestorm in middle eastern history. Well over a billion dollars was put into the effort, and many soldiers claim that they now suffer medical problems from the intense smoke and carbon that blanketed the region for months after the fires were put out.

Environmentally, the long term effects of burning six million barrels of oil a day are still unknown. Leading scientists claim that the smoke had a significant effect on local weather patterns that year, including hail in areas of the Middle East that had not seen hail before. Because nothing like this had ever happened before, scientists came up with a variety of theories, some of which have yet to be proven or dis-proven.

It was a once in a lifetime event that changed the way we think about oil, the wells in the Middle East, and the way we fight such fires. Though it took a year to put them all out, many intuitive advances came from the process of calming the heat and getting the super hot flames under control including a jet engine fire suppression system. While this year was one of hardship and recovery, the men and women who were there showed just how creative, and persistent, humans can be in light of tragedy.

Want to learn more about the oil fires in Kuwait? Perhaps the best way is through the IMAX dvd title IMAX: Fires of KuwaitBiography Documentaries). Take a trip inside the oil fields with the firefighting teams who faced the beast, and tamed it, helping this tiny country get back onto its feet and back into the global market.

Head over to Amazon now and secure your copy of this riveting documentary.



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Remembering 9/11 Ten Years Later

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September 11, 2011

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Today marks the tenth anniversary of the only terrorist attack to ever occur on American soil. The result of a coordinated attack involving multiple airliner hijackings was the death of thousands, the entrance into a war that has claimed many more, and the suffering of those who still live with the illnesses caused by working near ground zero that day. It was a day that left a clear and massive impact on our country; one that changed the way things were done throughout the nation, especially in the realm of air travel. It strengthened lines of communication between agencies, and it brought together Americans from sea to shining sea in one massive front that sent a message to the world; we will not stand apart and let this happen. We are one, we are united, and we will not be brought down by and whims of any radical group or person.

The events of 9/11 brought the United States together in a way that has never been seen before. Even in the light of such tragic circumstances, the best of humanity found its way to the surface and heroes emerged. Many of these heroes are not with us today. Many of these heroes gave their lives in the chaos of the attack so that others might live. But they live in on in the memories and the lives of those they saved.

It can be hard to remember the events of that day, especially if you were there. To see the fires, the people jumping from hundreds of floors up, the rubble falling, and the pure chaos. It was the worst day for so many people; a day of loss and a day where the ones they loved disappeared. So many lives gone in the blink of an eye. So many futures left unlived.

So today we remember the events of this day ten years ago. To those who were there, may you find peace in the silence of the night. To those who died there, you will never be forgotten. To those who lost loved ones, may you find solace knowing that their names will be forever engraved in the memories of this nation. To those who still fight against the evil forces that brought this attack to our own soil, we thank you and are forever in your debt.

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Lost Subs: Disaster At Sea

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August 9, 2011

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If you like movies like The Hunt for Red October, then you are sure to love this disaster documentary. From the inside views of life on these magnificent metal tubes, to insight into the political world that existed in the hayday of submarine warfare, Lost Subs is truly a must have for any fan of the Silent Service.

Take a trip into the world where desperation and courage combine to create something totally new. In Lost Subs, National Geographic takes you on a search for the truth behind some of the most well known and deadly submarine tragedies including:

* A self sacrificing Soviet crew who gave all in order to fulfill their duties. The story lives on in the movie K19 The Widowmaker.

* Find out about the sinking of the Soviet submarine Kursk, and the political mess that kept a proper rescue operation from being executed.

* Discover how the United States successfully rescued the men of the USS Squalus.

* Learn about the mystery surrounding the sinking of the Cold War submarine, the USS Thresher.

This documentary takes you deep beneath the ocean for a trip into a world that only a few men understand. With the help of computer animation, as well as interviews with the men who were there, Lost Subs is like no other trip you will ever experience.

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