NationStates Jolt Archive


Hague Convention - Articles 27 & 56

Zeppistan
15-01-2005, 18:06
Article 27
In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps should be taken to spare as far as possible edifices devoted to religion, art, science, and charity, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not used at the same time for military purposes.

The besieged should indicate these buildings or places by some particular and visible signs, which should previously be notified to the assailants.

Article 56
The property of the communes, that of religious, charitable, and educational institutions, and those of arts and science, even when State property, shall be treated as private property.

All seizure of, and destruction, or intentional damage done to such institutions, to historical monuments, works of art or science, is prohibited, and should be made the subject of proceedings.



So, what idiot decided that the best place for a military base was in the archeological remains of one of the seven wonders of the world? (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_babylon)


U.S.-led troops using the ancient Iraqi city of Babylon as a base have damaged and contaminated artifacts dating back thousands of years in one of the world's most important archaeological sites, the British Museum said Saturday.

For example, military vehicles crushed a 2,600-year-old brick pavement, and archaeological fragments, including broken bricks stamped by King Nebuchadnezzar II around the same time, were scattered across the site, a museum report said.

The dragons at the Ishtar Gate were marred by cracks and gaps where someone tried to remove their decorative bricks, the paper said.

John Curtis, keeper of the British Museum's Near East department, who was invited by the Iraqis to study the site, also found that large quantities of sand mixed with archaeological fragments have been taken from the site to fill military sandbags.

"This is tantamount to establishing a military camp around the Great Pyramid in Egypt or around Stonehenge in Britain," Curtis said in the report.

In an interview Saturday with Associated Press Television News, Iraq (news - web sites)'s Minister of Culture Mufeed al-Jazairee said coalition troops in Babylon had used "armored vehicles and helicopters that land and take off freely. In addition to that, the forces also set up other facilities and changes."

He added: "I expect that the archaeological city of Babylon has sustained damage but I don't know exactly the size of such damage."

The remains of Babylon have been occupied since the early days of the invasion by U.S. Marines and, more recently, by soldiers from Poland and other countries. Babylon is 50 miles south of Baghdad.

A Polish military spokesman in Iraq said troops were cooperating with Iraqi authorities in efforts to protect the site.

"I have asked our archaeologists to prepare a specific answer to the accusations, but I have to give them some time," Lt. Col. Artur Domanski said.

The city's main sites — the Ishtar Gate, the ruins of Babylon and the Nebuchadnezzar Palace — are in a separate area on the camp's perimeter, run by Iraqi officials as an archaeological park to paying visitors.

The U.S. military says all earth moving has been halted and it is considering moving troops away to protect the ruins.

Lt. Col. Steven Boylan, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said all engineering works were discussed with the head of the Babylon museum.

"An archaeologist examined every construction initiative for its impact on historical ruins," he said.

In the report, Curtis acknowledged that at first the U.S. presence had helped to protect the site from looters.

But subsequent work — including the decision to cover large areas of the site with gravel brought in from elsewhere to provide car parks and helipads — was damaging, he said.

Lord Redesdale, an archaeologist who heads a parliamentary archaeology committee, described the report's findings as "just dreadful."

"Not only is what the American forces are doing damaging the archaeology of Iraq, it's actually damaging the cultural heritage of the whole world," he said.



Protecting such a site was a damn fine idea. Trying to turn it into a base complete with helipads was a damn stupid one.
Kryozerkia
15-01-2005, 18:19
...Wow, and yet another reason why the Americans SHOULDN'T have invaded Iraq... The reason just keep mounting.
Lacadaemon
15-01-2005, 18:34
So, what idiot decided that the best place for a military base was in the archeological remains of one of the seven wonders of the world? (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_babylon)



Protecting such a site was a damn fine idea. Trying to turn it into a base complete with helipads was a damn stupid one.


Uncle Sam. YOU CAN'T STOP US.
Nsendalen
15-01-2005, 18:37
Oh for f-'s sake.

And my support for the US Army drops another peg.

Morons.
Hollystan
15-01-2005, 21:13
When will these people get it? Of all places to base! doh!