Robbing the Cradle of Civilization

[LiberalAndProud]

Another successful landmark has been reached in our occupation of Iraq: The World Monuments Fund has just placed the country on its list of the Earth's 100 most endangered sites. ("Widespread looting, military occupation, artillery fire, vandalism, and other acts of violence are devastating Iraq, long considered the cradle of human civilization.") This is the first time that the Fund has ever put a whole nation on its list and so represents a singular accomplishment for the Bush administration, which knew not -- and cared less -- what it wrought

http://www.tomdispatch.com/

In the months before he ordered the invasion of Iraq, President George W Bush and his senior officials spoke of preserving Iraq's "patrimony" for the Iraqi people. At a time when talking about Iraqi oil was taboo, what he meant by patrimony was exactly that - Iraqi oil. In their "joint statement on Iraq's future" of April 8, 2003, Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair declared, "We reaffirm our commitment to protect Iraq's natural resources, as the patrimony of the people of Iraq, which should be used only for their benefit." In this they were true to their word. Among the few places American soldiers actually did guard during and in the wake of their invasion were oil fields and the Oil Ministry in Baghdad. But the real Iraqi patrimony, that invaluable human inheritance of thousands of years, was another matter. At a time when American pundits were warning of a future "clash of civilizations", our occupation forces were letting perhaps the greatest of all human patrimonies be looted and smashed.

There have been many dispiriting sights on TV since Bush launched his ill-starred war on Iraq - the pictures from Abu Ghraib, Fallujah laid waste, American soldiers kicking down the doors of private homes and pointing assault rifles at women and children. But few have reverberated historically like the looting of Baghdad's museum - or been forgotten more quickly in this country

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GG09Ak01.html

Right-wingers: Still proud to be American? I am shamed beyond words.

[mr blur]

1. But, but,.. they HAVE no culture!

That's why they hate you, because they're jealous of your culture! It's true, I saw a woman at the last Repug Convention say it. It was on TV. Are you one of those Commie Yoorpeans or something?

Aside: Patti Smith's album "Trampin" contains a track called "Radio Baghdad" during which she repeatedly sings/shouts "We're robbing the cradle of civilization!" Chilling.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. We are on the wrong side of history.

No amount of revisionist hashing will obscure the naked evil that we have unleashed upon the world.

Our children will bear the sins of their parents. How is it that so many of us can be so blind? Will we as a nation come to know how unspeakably wrong we have been? Will we come face-to-face with ourselves at last?

When the sword of justice falls, woe to US.

[cynatnite]

3. Your post just freaked me out

Our children will bear the sins of their parents.

Germany is still paying for its sins to this day.