sequel

[Cap'n R an R]

Is the destruction and looting of 7000 years of ancient history a sequel to the burning of the great Library of Alexandria.......why did the U.S.A. not prepare to protect this irreplacable record of History.....is this how this war will be remembered????

[Art Read]

I'd read about concerns regarding Iraq's cultural/archiological sites being at risk. ("National Geographic", perhaps?) Pity. Pretty hard to blame guys getting shot at every day for not giving a crap though... And remember, that stuff ain't exactly "marketable", except maybe to those narcistic lowlifes who really don't care even if they can never "display" it publicly ever again. Perhaps some or most of it will "turn up" once things get settled down again? We can hope, anyway.

As for it being the "equal" to the loss of the Library at Alexandria, well... No. The fertile cresent may have been the "cradle of civilization", but like with most infants, most "keepsakes" were scattered with the breeze. There's no doubt that lots of of irreplaceable artifacts have been lost. But then again, priceless Cathedrials, museums and art were lost in WWII too. I think it was worth it.

(Still... It DOES seem like they could have parked a tank and a few sentries in front of the door at least. Sigh... Probably be a LOT of second guessing before this is over...)

[ 04-13-2003, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: Art Read ]

[ishmael]

It is a shame, though as Art points out, hardly equivilent of the library at Alexandria. I'd think, the artifacts aside, little information has been lost, and that was the great tragedy of Alexandria. Although it would be interesting to know how well catalogued thousands of cunieform tablets were.

I too wonder why the museum wasn't better guarded. Heard a very angry archeologist this morning on NPR, telling how he had warned the Pentagon and the Whitehouse of the danger. I'd guess Art is right again. Only so many resources and a prioritized list of deployments.

[Wayne Jeffers]

This looting was an entirely predictable result. It almost always happens when civil authority collapses in war. If the administration were truly concerned with "liberating" Iraq, instead of simply looting it of its oil and other resources, they would have arranged for enough military police to quickly restore order.

You may remember a few years ago (before Bu$h) when NATO forces liberated one of the former Yugoslav republics (Kosovo?), they made a big show of putting together a large international force of MP's who quickly moved in and prevented anything like this.

:(

Wayne

[ishmael]

Wayne,

I really believe in that trite maxim: "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." So, this is intended as something nice.

Have you ever considered analysis? There must be an interesting Jungian around Athens. You've got a huge shadow that protrudes and bulges. Seriously, I think you would find it very interesting.

Best,

Jack