Posted on Nov 24, 2018

In Iraq, A Race To Protect The Crumbling Bricks Of Ancient Babylon

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Mohaned Ahmed is standing on scaffolding at the ancient site of Babylon, dipping water into a bucket and sponging the bricks around a stone relief showing a dragon with a serpent's head.

The image is so well defined it looks as if it might have been made yesterday instead of more than 2,000 years ago. But below it, the bricks and mortar of one of the ancient world's grandest cities are disintegrating.

In Iraq, A Race To Protect The Crumbling Bricks Of Ancient Babylon

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Posted 6 y ago

Responses: 6

SGT Michael Thorin

Posted 6 y ago

I’ve been through there a couple of times. I have also seen the Ürr of the Ziggurat in Talíl, and it never ceased to amaze me how ancient Mesopotamia, the “Cradle of Civilization”, is so wrought with turmoil and uncertainty.

I walked, patrolled, road through and fought on some of the very spots where Abraham himself had trod.

In lulls and on FOBs, when you could relax, you could luck up and see clear skies (if you weren’t near a burn pit) and it was peaceful. Those same stars in the same place that some of God’s VIP’s had travelled could make you feel so small, yet at the same time strengthen you because of the One who placed those stars to give man direction.

I know some of my friends are atheists, and if you jab at me or my faith, I understand. I’m a big boy.

However, I am certain that He kept me and my men safe, despite the flaws that I may have had as a leader. He kept me calm and this enabled me to lead, even when I didn’t have a clue what was going on.

That being said, religious beliefs aside, Iraq is full of ancient treasures, and there is a race to save them before they are destroyed.

Thank you for sharing the article PO1 William "Chip" Nagel! It brings back some therapeutic memories. COL Mikel J. Burroughs,Lt Col Charlie Brown,Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen,SPC Margaret Higgins,SSG Kyle Higgins,SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth,SGT (Join to see),Brig Gen Jim Jaeger,SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL,SPC Douglas Bolton,SGT Elizabeth Scheck,SFC (Join to see),MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy,Maj Marty Hogan,LTC Stephen F.,PVT Mark Brown,SP5 Mark Kuzinski,Cpl Scott McCarroll,SSgt Robert Marx

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SGT Michael Thorin

6 y

You’re more than welcome SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth.

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SGT Michael Thorin

6 y

Thank you Lt Col Charlie Brown.

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SGT Michael Thorin

6 y

Before my first deployment to Iraq i purchased a book on the history of Iraq and the Middle East. It opened my eyes quite a bit Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen. That region is a very interesting study, not just for religious purposes, but just to get an idea of how the Middle East grew, and it’s historical sights and artifacts.

Saddam Hussein also tried to market Iraq as a travel hot spot and even created a multimillion dollar “desert oasis” in the middle of one of the most isolated places in Iraq. It was a beautiful site that was built to attract and house hundreds of visitors, who could step outside the confines of this area and see nothing but desert, and step back inside the lush greenery of the resort, back into the climate controlled pool for a comfortably cool dip, which would also be heated during the few chilled evenings it experienced.

It never took off as he planned as it turned out that most Travellers didn’t like the thought of, well, you know, getting killed on their vacations, LOL.

It now lies in ruins.

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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen

6 y

SGT Michael Thorin I was pretty much like you when I got assigned to Turkey in the early 80s. Heard about Saddam's desert oasis, but never saw anything on it.

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