After a flare up of attacks on U.S. forces in western Iraq near Hit and Hadithah cost 21 U.S. Marines their lives in the first few days of August, authorities shut down electricity production at the big the Hadithah Dam on Aug. 3, as well as on related work on a 400 KV transmission project, and sent Iraqi workers home until "security improves."
"The shut down is due to concern for the workers safety given some attacks earlier," was the explanation in an Aug. 4 advisory to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials and contractors engaged in reconstruction. "The dam itself has not been damaged. When the security situation improves, operations should resume," the advisory states.