US Troops Destroy Babylon

[Dinner]

I doubt anyone is intentionally damaging anything. It comes from daily use and from unskilled laborers who are highered to fill sand bags or hesco barriers. KBR/Halliburtion should have run things better and military commanders at all levels should have cared more but the truth is everyone will only give lip service because they are ordered to give lip service. Unless heads roll no one in the chain of command will do more.

[DRoseDARs]

Among the damage found by Mr Curtis, who was invited to Babylon by Iraqi antiquities experts, were cracks and gaps where somebody had tried to gouge out the decorated bricks forming the famous dragons of the Ishtar Gate.

That is unquestionably 'intentional' behaviour. I'm sure there are other examples, but suffice it to say this was a serious muck-up. Someone in the decision-making cirlces needs to be held accountable. Hell, the base commanders should have shown better judgement given they are commanding officers. They have some limited decision-making authority, don't they?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Oerdin
My understanding was that people complained that archeological ruins weren't being protected so they built a military base on top of the place. Be careful what you ask for.

Protection doesn't equal 'build a base on it'. Unless you're playing Command and Conquer.

This base was of little military value; why else would the Poles decide to hand it over to the Iraqi Culture Ministry? It's obviously not a vital supply depot or anything, which begs the question of why it was built in the first place.

[Kuciwalker]

Which Oerdin answered: to protect it.

[Last Conformist]

I suppose that's institutional stupidity at work.

[Uncle Sparky]

It is sad.

I guess since they can't co-opt a dead civilization, the US will destroy it. That way in the distant future they can say they were the first civ on earth, and there will be no evidence to dispute them...

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
I suppose that's institutional stupidity at work.

A pretty common thing, actually.

[Thorgal]

Erm... HyperevilSadamwhojustifiesallatrocitiesthatwedo didnt bulldozed babylon ruins since it was an iraqi national symbol for him. In fact there were occidental archeologist studing there during those works and there were no protests as far as i know.

OTOH it is true that he "restored" in a very uncientific manner. For instance he rebuilt some structures using modern cement and bricks. In the same manner as many paints were "restored" during 19th century and that now must be restored again. Current destruction and pillage is much worse, anyway since it implies to miss forever lots of information, in a scale never seen before.



Some baptists considered Sadam as antichrist because the restored babylon. Maybe now they want to make sure that prophecy not comes true...

[Colonâ„¢]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I doubt anyone is intentionally damaging anything. It comes from daily use and from unskilled laborers who are highered to fill sand bags or hesco barriers. KBR/Halliburtion should have run things better and military commanders at all levels should have cared more but the truth is everyone will only give lip service because they are ordered to give lip service. Unless heads roll no one in the chain of command will do more.

Incompetence is not an excuse. (even though this administration seems to have different ideas about it)

[Patroklos]

Hmmmmm....

I suppose you all are in favor of a stop order on all constuction projects in Europe, forever.

Whatever the damage the American's did, which apparenty was nothing more than covering things up with gravel and sand, it pails in comparison to the damage Archeologists inflict.

At least now future archeologists have something to dig up again

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Colon
Incompetence is not an excuse. (even though this administration seems to have different ideas about it)

Of course it is.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Smiley
and yet another layer is added to the heap. At this point they ought to just leave the base there, someday archaeologists will study the occupation of Iraq.

Finally, someone with a little prespective

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Bkeela
It's news like this that makes news of US war casualties all the sweeter.

Another person with ****ed up perspectives

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel


My point was that you picked two places that a very minute portion of the US citizenry care about, much less have heard of.

No your point was to insult and not and bring anything to the conversation .

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Hueij

...not enough to cause as much out pouring of emotion that caused Trajanus to fall into an elipetic fit. Perhaps the priorties of people are a bit skewed. Just like the Taliban blowing up the budda statues. It was sad but not really something I'll lose sleep over.

WTF? Places like these are our heritage. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for them. I have only one word for this... Barbarians

Oh, and thank you BD for another wonderful post. Keep it up **

Your so funny