Tearing it down, or rebuilding downstream with oil revenues, would make sense to me. But if a collapse would really cause 500,000 casualties, I assume the economic cost would be enormous. Of course if Pipes is right, we will bear the blame for a collapse.
I have heard from other sources and Engineering New Record, which is a reputable publication, that this dam is in deep, deep trouble. You know that when the US Army Corps of Engineer turns against a dam, it’s gotta be pretty bad.