US Army Damages Wonder of the Ancient World

[Maurepas]

Ugh...sometimes, I just dont get our Government/Military leadership...Why the hell was using that site even necessary in the slightest...

Its like they are just outright fucking asking for bad PR...

[North Avayu]

No matter if CN tells shit or if Sadam built a tourist trap above it, this was utterly stupid by the US Army.
Even if there weren't any original ruins left to the eye this doesn't mean there is nothing left that is highly interesting for an archeologist. This is an important archaeological site, you can't simply build a base on something like this. I'm sure there is a lot to find that deepens our understanding of the babylonian culture or even older things. No big and impressive ruins, but bones, sherds, clay bricks and remains of cooking fires. Things that are easily destroyed or worthless without the find context.
Some people say "Oh, the Germans were there and took everything". Yes, the Germans were there. But archeology in the 18th and early 20th was basically digging a deep hole and taking everything interesting out of it. Today, there are far better methods. Today archeologists try to excavate as little as possible. There is surely still a lot of discoveries to do there.

[Greed and Death]

:palm:

Ugh...sometimes, I just dont get our Government/Military leadership...Why the hell was using that site even necessary in the slightest...

Its like they are just outright fucking asking for bad PR...

Because in 2003 the Iraqis robbed the museums for artifacts(mostly fake luckily) to sell.
And the next logical place to loot for artifacts would have been here.
also worth pointing out in the Unesco report Saddam had made it a base first, this is listed in the pre 2003 damage section.

[Muravyets]

Found the UNESCO report.
Gate of Ishtar is a reproduction.
However the damaged Greek theater and several temples were not.
Though most of the damage seems to be from the restaurants, parking lots, and palace Saddam had in place.
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/0 ... 83134e.pdf
The museum was broken into and items stolen in 2003, though those were plaster replicas.

Why did CNN focus on the Gate of Ishtar that the report said simply needs maintenance I will never know..

Probably because it sounds romantic, like something out of a movie.

EDIT: Thank you for looking that up, by the way. It seems that both you and I are right -- some of the site is reproduction and some is original, and both were damaged -- and CNN was wrong.

[Khodoristan]

CNN-Communist News Network

[Nadkor]

CNN-Communist News Network

Your witty insight astounds me.

[Laconis]

This is why we can't have nice things...

As much as I enjoy being in the military, I hate it when the actions of others negatively affects the rest of us. Regardless of whether or not the damage was done to replica's it doesn't change the fact that there was a seruious lack of respect and morales.

What I don't appreciate though, is when people full on blame EVERYBODY for the damages. Using blanket comments like "The ARMY destroyed yadda yadda yadda" is wrong. News networks need to list the individuals and hold them accountable and not the entire system every single time there is a lapse in judgement. The whole ARMY did not do this, individuals did, and they need to be punished under the articles of the UCMJ, which isn't very forgiving. It is a huge violation of the UCMJ to take artifacts, or to damage them in anyway.

On the positive side, the US Gov is seeing to it that repairs are being made in order to correct the damages that were done.

What's done is done and we are taking the appropriate measures to correct the mistakes that were made.

[Risottia]

You know I don't favor the Iraq war, but the Army's claim that they set up their base at that site specifically to protect it makes me ask; how much damage would have been done to the site if they weren't there?

I don't think that the Army made a lot of damage by placing a base there... not much more than the damage made by the Navy's missiles or the AF's bombs.

War sucks.

[Risottia]

The whole ARMY did not do this, individuals did, and they need to be punished under the articles of the UCMJ, which isn't very forgiving. It is a huge violation of the UCMJ to take artifacts, or to damage them in anyway.

The problem is: how much often do these individuals get caught, tried and sentenced for what they've done? Until the culprits are caught, of course the whole Army takes the blame. This happens with every organisation: every mistake of a member is a mistake of the whole organisation, unless the organisation itself can single him out and punish him.

[Greed and Death]

Found the UNESCO report.
Gate of Ishtar is a reproduction.
However the damaged Greek theater and several temples were not.
Though most of the damage seems to be from the restaurants, parking lots, and palace Saddam had in place.
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/0 ... 83134e.pdf
The museum was broken into and items stolen in 2003, though those were plaster replicas.

Why did CNN focus on the Gate of Ishtar that the report said simply needs maintenance I will never know..

Probably because it sounds romantic, like something out of a movie.

EDIT: Thank you for looking that up, by the way. It seems that both you and I are right -- some of the site is reproduction and some is original, and both were damaged -- and CNN was wrong.

Yeah. It tweaked me because i swear I remember seeing the gate of Ishtar in Germany when I was 12 and having the tour guide explain it was made with the original bricks.The army should have hired an archeologist or sent an officer with a masters in archeology to advice them how to defend the site with minimal damage.
In instances like this I blame the chain of command for not going hey maybe we should get an expert here.

[Ostronopolis]

So how long is it until the US is blamed for the possible existence, disappearance of and inability to find Atlantis?

[Greed and Death]

So how long is it until the US is blamed for the possible existence, disappearance of inability to find Atlantis?

under water nuclear test obliterated Atlantis which is near the bikini Atoll.
Just ask the Bikini natives they used to dominate the world.

[Aglrinia]

I love how this makes the news but when the taliban was in control of afghanistan and destroyed hundred of 'sacred' buddhist statues it never made the news.

[Ravea]

I love how this makes the news but when the taliban was in control of afghanistan and destroyed hundred of 'sacred' buddhist statues it never made the news.

Erm...yes it did. When the Taliban destroyed the Buddhas of Bamyan they were met with massive international condemnation.

[Muravyets]

:palm:

This is why we can't have nice things...

Okay, the rest of your post was full of valid points that are well taken, however...

This ^^ made me . I was, like, "Grandma?!"

[Muravyets]

So how long is it until the US is blamed for the possible existence, disappearance of inability to find Atlantis?

under water nuclear test obliterated Atlantis which is near the bikini Atoll.
Just ask the Bikini natives they used to dominate the world.

Not long at all, eh?

[Albaron]

First off, CNN is retarded. The Hanging Gardens were destroyed thousands of years ago and we don't even know if they existed so how could the US Army destroy them? This article is misleading since the Army set up base by the ruins of Babylon (a city) and NOT a wonder of the world. Also, all that remained was some rubble that would have been swept away by sand and dust anyways. Besides, the locals had already torn the place apart and the US Army was willing to donate 800,000 dollars plus labor to help clean up any "damage" they caused. This is just another way to make the United States look bad and its A FUCKING SHAM!

I agree. There is little evidence to prove the Gardens even existed! However, if they are still damaging part of Ancient Babylon, Gardens or not, they 're in the wrong. CNN has really gone downhill these days anyway, so I can't expect them to be accurate.

[Chazicaria]

First off, CNN is retarded. The Hanging Gardens were destroyed thousands of years ago and we don't even know if they existed so how could the US Army destroy them? This article is misleading since the Army set up base by the ruins of Babylon (a city) and NOT a wonder of the world. Also, all that remained was some rubble that would have been swept away by sand and dust anyways. Besides, the locals had already torn the place apart and the US Army was willing to donate 800,000 dollars plus labor to help clean up any "damage" they caused. This is just another way to make the United States look bad and its A FUCKING SHAM!

You are right, besides it is just some stupid foundation, there is nothing left anyways just foundations, maybe some tunnels, besides WHO CARES the Hanging Gardens may not have even existed plus we may have needed that base and I think that matters more than some stupid old bricks.

[Post-Unity Terra]

First off, CNN is retarded. The Hanging Gardens were destroyed thousands of years ago and we don't even know if they existed so how could the US Army destroy them? This article is misleading since the Army set up base by the ruins of Babylon (a city) and NOT a wonder of the world. Also, all that remained was some rubble that would have been swept away by sand and dust anyways. Besides, the locals had already torn the place apart and the US Army was willing to donate 800,000 dollars plus labor to help clean up any "damage" they caused. This is just another way to make the United States look bad and its A FUCKING SHAM!

You are right, besides it is just some stupid foundation, there is nothing left anyways just foundations, maybe some tunnels, besides WHO CARES the Hanging Gardens may not have even existed plus we may have needed that base and I think that matters more than some stupid old bricks.

It's not about hanging gardens, it's the history of a nation.

[Conserative Morality]

We don't even know if the Hanging Gardens existed... And they're claiming that the US Army is damaging them?

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

[Muravyets]

I love how this makes the news but when the taliban was in control of afghanistan and destroyed hundred of 'sacred' buddhist statues it never made the news.

Erm...yes it did. When the Taliban destroyed the Buddhas of Bamyan they were met with massive international condemnation.

I even referenced the Dalai Lama's comments about that incident. I didn't get his comments from his private messages to my Facebook page. He was interviewed on the news about it.

[Dakini]

So how long is it until the US is blamed for the possible existence, disappearance of inability to find Atlantis?

under water nuclear test obliterated Atlantis which is near the bikini Atoll.
Just ask the Bikini natives they used to dominate the world.

Wrong ocean. Atlantis was supposed to be in the Atlantic.

Also, the US has compensated the natives of the Bikini Atoll.

[L3 Communications]

This article is one example why I've stopped trusting almost all American media.

BBC FTW.

[Milks Empire]

You know I don't favor the Iraq war, but the Army's claim that they set up their base at that site specifically to protect it makes me ask; how much damage would have been done to the site if they weren't there?

^ This.

The worst way to preserve something is to turn it into something people will target for destruction. The fail is strong with those planners.

[Greed and Death]

So how long is it until the US is blamed for the possible existence, disappearance of inability to find Atlantis?

under water nuclear test obliterated Atlantis which is near the bikini Atoll.
Just ask the Bikini natives they used to dominate the world.

Wrong ocean. Atlantis was supposed to be in the Atlantic.

Also, the US has compensated the natives of the Bikini Atoll.

Atlantis is lost perhaps it is lost because it is in the wrong ocean.
and the US didn't give the Bikini atoll natives Atlantis back.