Has anyone been to Iraq?

[XemaSab]

In pictures, the desert looks really desolate. I know there's lush vegetation around the rivers, but most of the place it just looks like there's nothing. No bushes, no trees, no interesting rocks, just flat desert.

Is this the case over much of the country, or is this a misleading impression?

[Horse with no Name]

1. Well I do know that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon--one of the 7th wonders of the world--

was there before we got there....now IT is gone.


Here is an album I found with pre-war Baghdad. It was quite beautiful.
fficial%26sa%3DN" target="_blank">http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theam...

[sandnsea]

2. Those pics are from the 70's

Before all these religious leaders took over.

[Morrisons Ghost]

3. Actually

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were destroyed by an earthquake in the first century. I don't believe we had anything to do with it.

[iamthebandfanman]

14. you are correct sir

i almost burst into laughter when i read that :b

[Horse with no Name]

18. Actually I had read a news report that said that a couple of years ago

But I misinterpreted it--it was the SITE that was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was destroyed.
Of course, there are ALWAYS those that enjoy making fun of others rather than educating. Congratulations.
I'm sure it makes you feel better.

[iamthebandfanman]

21. how did he make fun of you ?

he just told you when it was destroyed.. he didnt insult you.

[Marrah_G]

23. He corrected your error. Where did he make fun of you?

[Morrisons Ghost]

26. Woah!

How did you get ridicule out of my post? I didn't mean it the way you took it. Sorry I thought I was trying to "educate" you.

[Marrah_G]

4. Umm are you sure about that statement?

The US is responsible for the destruction of the hanging gardens? I just want to be sure about what you are saying.

[Squatch]

5. (It's Bush's fault)

*Everything* is Bush's fault.

[Marrah_G]

7. I thought everything was the Big Dawgs fault?

Dammit, why did I not get the memo?

[Morrisons Ghost]

8. According

to wikipedia. Unless I read it wrong

[Squatch]

9. Marrah wasn't responding to you...

Unless I read it wrong.

[Morrisons Ghost]

10. Oops

Just realized that

[Marrah_G]

11. hehehe

It's all good !

[DS1]

16. That's a DUzy!

[ohio2007]

27. Pre war Baghdad pic? First pic looks like a place "spirit" and "opportunity" are currently trolling

on Mars

[unhappycamper]

6. Here's some slightly more current pics.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.michaelyon-online.com /

http://armyofdude.blogspot.com/

[XemaSab]

12. Thanks for the links...

Yeah, it looks desolate.

[MyNameGoesHere]

13. yes i have been.

Unfortunately it was right after failed gulf war/failed bush number 1. yes the deserts go on and on and on. Like most of the other middle eastern countries, Kuwait, Suadi Arabia, Iran, The major cities are kept lush through massive waste in desalinated waters. In the desert there are still "oasis" or wadi's. But the sand is a sucky sand. very freaking dusty and fine. Not like beach sand. This desert is not at all like the Massive dunes of the Sahara.

that being said it really is spectacular scenery, my fondest memory is of a herd of camels running in the sunrise with some small mountains in the background. Just surreal.

[XemaSab]

15. Thanks for the info!

Yeah, my grandpa was in Saudi for a long time, and a lot of his pictures of the area are just dune sand...

But yeah, thanks!

[Solly Mack]

17. Here's Ur /Caldea/Tall al Muqayyar from 2003

From 2003


Ur/Caldea/Tall al Muqayyar (Chaldea) - Abraham was supposed to have been born in Ur/Caldea.

[Recursion]

19. It reminded me of central California, only with concrete everywhere

Lots of scrub. Lots of low-lying dry scrub. I heard the north is pretty lush.

What I remember most is the trash. Trash everywhere. Trash filling up gutters and collecting in huge piles at intersections.

[XemaSab]

22. So like, that stretch of the 5 through Kern/Kings county?

[Poiuyt]

20. Here's a photo of where my nephew was stationed

Camp Bucca in southern Iraq

[semillama]

24. My best friend was over there a couple years ago

and one of the people in my birding group is going soon.

Just looking at a good terrain map of Iraq is enough to give you the impression that at least half the country is pretty bleak. I'm betting the marsh areas near the river deltas, once/if they recover, will be pretty impressive.

[XemaSab]

25. Even the marsh areas look like the Humboldt Sink though...

Sort of brackish and uninviting.

The Basra Reed Warblers dig it, though!

[ohio2007]

28. Saddam drained the "Marsh Arab" swamps to thin out the Shia resistance

First thing the locals did after the invasion is blow up the dams that gave life back to Saddams man made dry dust pans.