Military construction may have damaged ancient Babylon

[floda]

By JIM DRAKE / Associated Press



BAGHDAD, Iraq — The expansion of a military base may have damaged the remains of the ancient city of Babylon, and the U.S.-led coalition's leaders said Friday they have halted construction and ordered an investigation.

U.S. occupation chief L. Paul Bremer and top military commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez dispatched a team of archaeologists May 27 to examine construction at the Polish military's Camp Alpha, which was set up last year to secure the ruins from looters, a coalition statement said.

The remains of Babylon, one of the world's most important archaeological sites, were occupied since the early days of the invasion by U.S. Marines and, since September, soldiers from Poland and other countries. Babylon is 50 miles south of Baghdad.

The two occupation leaders ordered all contractors working in or around the Babylon site to halt construction and excavation related to the expansion of the base and any other work that could damage the ancient sites, a coalition spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity.

more

http://www.krem.com/sharedcontent/nationworld/iraq/061104ccjriraqbabylon.250e0995e.html

[Mnemosyne]

1. construction

major weapon of mass destruction!



edit> So little respect for ancient cultures
US protected oil when invasion occured but not museums etc., very sad loss of history.

[MGKrebs]

2. In the big scheme of things,

this is really minor. I mean, what's a few thousand years of historical record when it comes to a few more barrels of oil? Get over it!



:evilgrin:

[Wickerman]

3. Your sig button is classic!

:thumbsup:

[soothsayer]

4. Thank god the "smart bombs" of "shock antd awe" didn't hurt anything

<sarcasm, obviously...>

[joycep]

5. This administration makes me so sick

Not only do they not have any respect for born people, they have no respect for any thing else. I don't see how they can destroy these ancient sites.