U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power warned that the dam in Mosul is critically unstable and could collapse, sending a 45-foot wall of water coursing through some of the biggest cities in Iraq, including the capital, Baghdad. AFP: "It is crucial that all UN member states quickly get informed about the magnitude of the problem and the importance of readiness to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions," said Power. The ambassador described briefings by technical experts, engineers and representatives from UN aid and development agencies as "chilling." The dam in northern Iraq was built on an unstable foundation that continuously erodes, and a lapse in required maintenance after the Islamic State jihadist group briefly seized it in 2014 weakened the already flawed structure. "In the event of a breach, there is the potential in some places for a flood wave up to 14 meters high that could sweep up everything in its...(Read Full Post)