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Build me the world’s tallest flagpole

Posted by Ben | in The wider region | on September 13th, 2008
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Is it because of some deeply-held inferiority complex when regional leaders compete against the Middle East and other autocracies to erect the world’s tallest flagpole?  Turkmenistan will hold the official record, as certified by the Guiness Book of World Records, for a mere few weeks, only to be beaten to it by Azerbaijan later this year.  See photos here.

This is a story of serious heights and a clever American businessman:  David Chambers founded his company Trident Support some years ago and continues to beat one world record after the other.  Recent super-size flagpoles were erected in Jordan and the UAE, but now Central Asia and the Caucaus are catching up fast.

Ilham Aliev, president of Azerbaijan, wants to see a massive 532-feet (162 meters) Azeri flag fly over Baku, dwarfing all other buildings around it.  The flag will be the size of half a football-pitch, weighing several hundred kilos, and the construction will need mega foundations to keep the pole upright also when a strong gust waves ashore from the Caspian.

Already during the construction of the massive 532-feet pole in Baku, Chambers agreed to build a slightly smaller version (133 meters) across the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan and finish that one more quickly:

That way, Turkmenistan could hold the record for at least a few weeks. They got a discount because their record won’t last, Mr. Chambers says. Turkmenian officials don’t seem disappointed that it will be short-lived.

The Turkmen government’s line on this short-lived world record is heartening:

 Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, who with incoercible vigour and tireless activity sets an example of fortitude and selfless service to the people, says, “Nowadays Turkmenistan occupies a worthy place in the world community, a road to the happy future is open to us but we have to work hard to be worthy of it”. It is symbolic that the national flag at the world’s tallest flagpole soared up on the birthday of the Turkmen leader, who was on a visit to Tatarstan and received the congratulations from the heads of the states and governments there. These heartfelt wishes are the recognition of the outstanding services of the Turkmen leader, who spares no effort for great revival of the Motherland. Today, the favourable conditions have been created in Turkmenistan so that the proud and diligent Turkmen people enjoy the life reaping the fruits of their labour.

Apparently, delegations from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan visited Ashgabad to meet with Chambers.  Are we at the beginning of an arms race to the sky?

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  1. Peter said,

    on September 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    I wonder if Turkmenistan would be interested in some spam I received recently, which asked me if I was interested in enlarging my pole by 50 percent, no less.

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