ISIS is plundering archaeological treasures at an 'unprecedented' pace

Beside killing and destroying peoples life, there are other ugly faces to ISIS warfare, this isn't new as it's going on in every war, but it's disgusting in so many ways it makes me rage.

I hate the useless destruction of history, and the looting and selling of artifacts is funding those imbeciles, and the fact that i can do nothing from my position to stop it, some of the worst is normal people don't really know, hear or care about this.

Read more in this sad but interesting article.

Islamic State fighters capture an archaeological site, they're faced with a series of choices. Do they destroy it or sell its artifacts? If they decide it's idolatrous, do they extort protection money for it from the Shiite, Sufi, Yazidi, or other religious minority group that values it? Or do they demolish it right away and feature the demolition in their propaganda? If they loot it, do they ransack the place themselves or do they hire others to do it? Or do they tax the opportunistic looters who show up?

Actually, all of the above is going on. How the self-proclaimed Islamic State militant group approaches each site depends on a range of factors, including the area's land ownership system and the payoff of plundering the site, says Michael Danti, one of the archaeologists leading a U.S. government-funded effort to document the destruction and looting of the cultural heritage of Iraq and Syria.

a reply to: Mianeye

"People" with "guns" that murder and take territory are also looking for loot.

What about this whole scenario impresses you as noble, again?

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Mianeye

"People" with "guns" that murder and take territory are also looking for loot.

What about this whole scenario impresses you as noble, again?

The whole ISIS thing impresses me as fishy and probably ISIS was created as an intelligence agency black op. I would not be surprised if info comes out showing we funded/trained and or direct some of their targets.

I know the US has interests in some of those historical artifacts and maybe this is just another way to get them.

ja reply to: intrptr

Are we reading the same OP here? I'm confused by your post.

Awful. It is depressing (to say the very least) to feel just as you do; being helpless to stop the destruction of these precious museums & ancient artifacts - pieces of a lost cultural memory that are the heritage of our species. What's next for these blinded jerk-*ffs, the destruction of the Great Pyramids? It is disgusting to see the lust in the eyes of these fools in their mission (check out this documentary by Vice News: www.youtube.com... )- they openly thrive off strife, hatred & destruction, as such qualities in life are believed to bring one closer to the almighty. Thus, I am unsure of the endgame here. Im sure God, who is claimed to be merciful, loving and compassionate, and desires his creation to reflect these qualities on Earth, must be extremely proud of these people.

a reply to: kissy princess

I'm still more outraged about them capturing girls, gang raping them then selling them as sex slaves. But that's just me.

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

I haven't read that yet, but yea, that's pretty bad too...

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

I'm still more outraged about them capturing girls, gang raping them then selling them as sex slaves. But that's just me.

But bombing whole countries to dust doesn't bother you as much?

Calm down ! i am positive ! the US forces Plundered it first ! and took anything of value !


Brutal Destruction Of Iraq's Archaeological Sites Continues (SLIDESHOW)

Thousands of cuneiform-inscribed tablets, cylinder seals, and stone statues have illegally made their way to the lucrative antiquities markets of London, Geneva, and New York. Irreplaceable artifacts have been purchased for less than $100 on Ebay.

Beyond the loss of these precious objects, reckless digging has destroyed the ability of researchers to assemble a mosaic of meaning from the shards of ancient art and mud bricks buried in the ground. "Artifacts without context are decoration, nothing more. Pretty, but useless," said Reichel.

The United States military turned the site of ancient Babylon into Camp Alpha in 2003 and 2004, inflicting serious damage according to an exhaustive damage assessment recently released by UNESCO. Bulldozers leveled many of Babylon's artifact-laden hills. Helicopters caused structural damage to an ancient theater.

Why, then, are military helicopters still landing on the remains of ancient Babylon? Why are looters still bringing shovels to the cradle of civilization and stripping it bare?

The Buck Stops With Donald Rumsfeld

Remember Rummy? The former defense secretary's jaw-dropping insensitivity was immortalized by the Washington Post's Thomas E. Ricks, after Army Specialist Thomas Wilson complained to Rumsfeld that he and his comrades were forced to root through Iraqi junkyards to improvise armor for their military vehicles:

TW: "A lot of us are getting ready to move north soon. Our vehicles are not armored."
DR: "You go to war with the Army you have."
Rumsfeld was equally indifferent about the looting of more than 15,000 objects from the National Museum in Baghdad on his watch. "Stuff happens," he said.

READ MORE HERE


Nothing more to see here , moving on ..

originally posted by: Wide-Eyes
a reply to: kissy princess

I'm still more outraged about them capturing girls, gang raping them then selling them as sex slaves. But that's just me.

Why can't we be outraged by both?
In the short run the girls are worse, because of their personal suffering. In 100 years, it will be a bummer when important artifacts to show us human history are destroyed. I am still reeling over the destruction of Incan writings by Cortez that could have told us so much more about them.

a reply to: Hecate666

Fair point. All of these things are Terrible. I just want this madness to end.

ISIS isn't the only one to blame.

Someone has to be buying this stuff from them.

a reply to: Mianeye


They always go after the Relics.

Humanity once again shoots himself in the foot, destroys his own heritage, replaces it with ignorance and really suck sometimes.

geez....do you think we can get through 1 page about ISIS without blaming the U.S.... nobody in the entire world is held responsible EXCEPT the U.S. right???...... it's to the point I simply ignore those that do this, and I'm a left of center democrat.

originally posted by: jimmyx
geez....do you think we can get through 1 page about ISIS without blaming the U.S.... nobody in the entire world is held responsible EXCEPT the U.S. right???...... it's to the point I simply ignore those that do this, and I'm a left of center democrat.

When someone in the Middle East can sneeze without the US threatening to bomb them into oblivion, then maybe you would have a point.