WTF are they doing to Babylon?
Just found this on Wikipedia:
Quote:
Effects of the U.S. military
US forces were criticised for building a helipad on ancient Babylonian ruins following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, under the command of General James T. Conway of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
US forces have occupied the site for some time and have caused damage to the archaeological record. In a report of the British Museum's Near East department, Dr. John Curtis describes how parts of the archaeological site were levelled to create a landing area for helicopters, and parking lots for heavy vehicles. Curtis wrote that the occupation forces
"caused substantial damage to the Ishtar Gate, one of the most famous monuments from antiquity
Quote:
US military vehicles crushed 2,600-year-old brick pavements, archaeological fragments were scattered across the site, more than 12 trenches were driven into ancient deposits and military earth-moving projects contaminated the site for future generations of scientists
Add to all that the damage caused to nine of the moulded brick figures of dragons in the Ishtar Gate by soldiers trying to remove the bricks from the wall."
A US Military spokesman claimed that engineering operations were discussed with the "head of the Babylon museum".
The head of the Iraqi State Board for Heritage and Antiquities, Donny George, said that the "mess will take decades to sort out". In April 2006, Colonel John Coleman, former chief of staff for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, offered to issue an apology for the damage done by military personnel under his command. However he claimed that the US presence had deterred far greater damage from looters.
And then, as if this wasn't bad enough:
Quote:
An article published in April 2006 states that UN officials and Iraqi leaders have big plans for restoring Babylon, making it a gem of a new Iraq as a cultural center complete with shopping malls, hotels, and perhaps a theme park: "One day millions of people will visit Babylon."
I'm sorry, but this destruction of what is arguably the most important archelogical site on the planet is utterly disgusting. I mean, even the early christians wouldn't destroy a city, and they are possibly the worst vandals in history.
What is it about that area that makes people want to destroy it? Baktra, Babylonia, Seleukia, the list goes on. What right do we have to destroy what our forefathers worked so hard for, indeed died for?
While this isn't an Anti-american rant, you can see from the above that they have done more than their fair share (mostly the military). I just wish they'd leave the middle east alone, and stop sticking their nose in. Iyt started with Israel, which is an illegal state, which was imposed on the people ofPalestine for no good reason other than to make life fair for the Jews, who admittedly had had it fairly hard for the past couple of thousand years, but that doesn't mean they can invade Palestine.
Then it was the Second Gulf war: a war that was not needed on any level, and was pushe through confgress without their permission by that stupid oik Dubya, a man so stupid, he thinks contitution can be made into a verb. Wanker.
But anyway, back to the OT, even the people who own these lands destroy them. Saddam Huissein attempted to rebuild Babylon. He failed in that, so he built his own zigurat. Wanker.
In afghanistan, the Taliban systematically destroye it's own country's heritage, most memorably with the destruction of the two Buddhas (forgotten the name), priceless beyond imagination, and some of the most documented of the ruins of the Indo-Greeks. Cheers.
AFAIK, the only country in the middle east (Feel free to correct me) that is looking after their heitage is the Iranians. yes, those people who Israel and the US are desperate to invade, despite the fact that they can barely keep the peace in their own countries, without having another 3 to babysit.
And the worse thing is, is that there is basically stuff all we can do about it. Not that I can see, anyway.
CHE RORINIHO
Re: WTF are they doing to Babylon?
I'm shocked there was anything left at all tbh.
I heard about Hussein trying to rebuild the site and all, and even having a plaque with his name on it calling himself a son of Nebuchadnezzar or something.
As for the US military damaging the site, I do know that the military attempts to avoid damaging local cultural and historical sites, and in fact goes out of its way on many occasions to avoid doing so. It's sad they messed up some of Old Babylon, but they do try not do damage important sites when they don't have to.
Also, Gen Conway is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, I don't know when this was dated but he is not in direct command of the MEF in Iraq.
Re: WTF are they doing to Babylon?
this thread topic is laughable. I'm guessing you haven't been to the location, eh? There is no current Babylon (there hasn't been for a LONG time)- that's the point. This is especially in concern to the US military not regarding it as some kind of sacred historical / archaeological site. If there were attempts at restoring the site made, then it wouldn't even be an issue. The fact is that none of the local populace cares enough to safeguard it, so, wikipedia propoganda aside, one cannot destroy something already left to decay and weathering. This is no destruction of the Sphinx's nose for sport or of ancient Buddhist monuments in Afghanistan/Central Asia destroyed for the sake of religious competition / intolerance, so any attempt for a comparison is truly off-base.
Re: WTF are they doing to Babylon?
Quote:
I heard about Hussein trying to rebuild the site and all, and even having a plaque with his name on it calling himself a son of Nebuchadnezzar or something.
Yep, I read that.
Anyways, I can see where this discussion might end up with (religious, if not, political debates). Best take this kind of stuff to the backroom.
Re: WTF are they doing to Babylon?
Hax is right, this certainly does not belong here. The post is about politics. That does not belong on this forum and should be taken to the BackRoom.
Thread is closed.
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