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  1. #1
    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
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    Default The looting of Iraq continues apace

    Now, I know in the grand scheme of things this may be considered petty - set against the thousands of dead and destroyed lives in that benighted country. But the continuing destruction and looting of the historical treasures of Iraq is a global tragedy, and it seems utterly irrelevant to the occupying powers.

    I imagine that there's nothing they can realistically do about it. But it is unutterably sad.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Desecration of the cradle of civilisation

    The looting and destruction of some of the world's most precious archaeological sites, first reported by this newspaper, have continued unabated despite a British pledge to protect them from armed gangs stealing to order for antiquities dealers

    By Marie Woolf, Political Editor
    Published: 15 April 2007


    Looters using mechanical diggers and protected by their own private armies are destroying Iraq's ancient archeological sites - shattering priceless artefacts from the dawn of civilisation - despite a pledge by Britain to protect them.

    Leading historians say the British Government has backtracked on a promise made four years ago to prevent 5,000-year-old cities such as Umma from being turned into "lunar landscapes" by thieves.

    Satellite images show that archaeological sites equivalent in size to 3,000 football pitches have been dug up and plundered by teams of Iraqi looters bussed in by antiquities dealers.

    "A country's past is disappearing while we stand and watch," said Professor Roger Matthews, chairman of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq. "Archaeological sites including entire ancient cities are being destroyed by illicit digging."

    The television historian Michael Wood added: "What has happened is a catastrophe. Umma is one of the great sites. Some of their libraries include law and literature going back to 3000BC. But it has become a vast, pockmarked lunar landscape."

    Four years ago Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, promised £15m to protect the ancient sites in what was Mesopotamia, historians claim. They argue the failure to guard the sites flouts the Hague Convention requiring cultural sites of occupied states to be protected. The Department of Culture now says this money was part of general reconstruction funds and no specific pledge to protect ancient sites was made.

    Professor Elizabeth Stone, professor of anthropology at Stony Brook University, New York, has analysed satellite images of 2,000 sites in Iraq. She found looting over an area of six square miles - ranging from small areas to entire buried ancient cities.

    "In the big sites there is organised looting where people are bussed by the antiquities dealers," she said. "Police who tried to sort out the looters at Umma were outgunned. The looters came with their own guards. The illegal antiquities trade is no different form the illegal drugs trade. There are major cities being totally destroyed."

    Artefacts including ancient Babylonian seals and irreplaceable cuneiform tablets are disappearing before they can be examined by archaeologists. They are believed to be stored in warehouses and smuggled out of Iraq to America and European markets.

    Fragments of tablets that may seem worthless are being discarded by treasure seekers who are unaware they are throwing away secrets to the shared heritage of east and west. One, found before the invasion, contained a third millennium BC version of the biblical flood myth. The city of Bad-Tibira has been wiped out and Isin, which was partially excavated in the early 1970s, has also been extensively plundered.

    Professor Matthews added: "Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime the occupying powers in Iraq have signally failed to invest the funds and energies needed to protect the cultural heritage of Iraq which is ultimately under their guardianship."

    Babylon was damaged during the occupation by American troops who landed helicopters on top of it. Uniquely among the ancient cities, it is now being guarded by Iraqis. Umma, a once splendid Sumerian city that was partially excavated before the invasion, has been practically destroyed by looters.

    Mr Wood added: "Iraq is the cradle of civilisation and the place where civilisation arrived on earth. We are all indebted to Iraq and the early cities where writing was invented. But they have been devastated by illicit digging. The British Government had an obligation to the Iraqi people."

    Before Saddam was deposed the sites were protected by guards and looting was punished by death. Now when Italian troops tried to stop looting at one site they were driven back by private soldiers.

    When the Italians succeeded in seizing some looted artefacts the lorry containing them was hijacked and the drivers were found dead beside the empty lorry.

    Ms Jowell's pledge to protect Iraqi heritage came after the much-publicised looting of Iraq's national museum. Archaeologists say the money never materialised. Last night the Department of Culture rolled back from the commitment and said it was up to Iraqis to protect their sites.

    A spokesman said: "Tessa Jowell's announcement on 29 April 2003 about the £15m did not imply that this money was to be spent on culture but rather that it was a central pot earmarked by the Government for reconstruction efforts in Iraq which departments could bid for. In the event, no cultural projects were supported through this fund."
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    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Re: The looting of Iraq continues apace

    Quote Originally Posted by The Independent
    Looters using mechanical diggers and protected by their own private armies are destroying Iraq's ancient archeological sites - shattering priceless artefacts from the dawn of civilisation - despite a pledge by Britain to protect them.
    They are just doing what al private contractors are doing in Iraq. It is called liberation.
    The bloody trouble is we are only alive when we’re half dead trying to get a paragraph right. - Paul Scott

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    has a Senior Member HoreTore's Avatar
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    Default Re: The looting of Iraq continues apace

    Last night the Department of Culture rolled back from the commitment and said it was up to Iraqis to protect their sites.
    That's a piece of crap. The sites are important for the entire world, not just Iraq. We're talking world history here, not just Iraqi history. As such, it is the responsibility of the world. If Iraq can't handle it alone, we have to help.
    Still maintain that crying on the pitch should warrant a 3 match ban

  4. #4
    Master of Few Words Senior Member KukriKhan's Avatar
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    Default Re: The looting of Iraq continues apace

    Quote Originally Posted by Article
    ... Artefacts including ancient Babylonian seals and irreplaceable cuneiform tablets are disappearing before they can be examined by archaeologists. They are believed to be stored in warehouses and smuggled out of Iraq to America and European markets...
    The first such artefact appearing in any American or European market, dealer, or auctioneer house, should get 25-year prison sentence on conviction of conspiracy to loot, PLUS 1 year (wait; 15 months) in Iraq on supervised guard duty over such sites.

    In my opinion.

    p.s. same in Afghanistan.
    Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.

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    Darkside Medic Senior Member rory_20_uk's Avatar
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    Default Re: The looting of Iraq continues apace

    Cultures in the world create artifacts of such quality during golden ages. If they are not to be destroyed during dark ages they should be moved elsewhere.

    Egypt fails miserably to look after the heritage that happens to be buried under its soil, and again these are treasures for the world.

    Far better that the artifacts to into other countries for safekeeping than stay in Iraq and get destroyed.

    An enemy that wishes to die for their country is the best sort to face - you both have the same aim in mind.
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    Master of Few Words Senior Member KukriKhan's Avatar
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    Default Re: The looting of Iraq continues apace

    I see your point, rory_20_uk, but ownership of the stuff "under its spoil" has to remain vested in its inhabitants, lest that theory ('not being properly safeguarded/exploited' for the greater good) extend to the other stuff - like oil, minerals, water, etc.
    Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.

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