Attack on Iraq will put ancient sites at risk By Adam Sherwin, Media Reporter - Times Online A BBC film made with the co-operation of Baghdad claims that some of the ancient world’s most important monuments would be destroyed in an attack against Iraq. The architectural historian Dan Cruickshank makes the claim in a BBC Two documentary produced after the Iraqi Ministry of Information invited a British film crew to visit the country’s “lost cities”. Remains from Babylon, the site associated with the Garden of Eden and the oldest Christian monastery would be in the firing line, Mr Cruickshank argues in a programme, which could be accused of being an Iraqi propaganda coup. Military strategists said that sites of religious importance, such as mosques, would be “off-limits” during bombing missions. The Ministry of Defence is determined to avoid another Dresden — the medieval German city that was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1945. A spokesman declined to comment on potential targets. However, a well placed source said: “During the Gulf War we went to great lengths to avoid hitting important sites, and ‘smart’ bombs have reduced collateral damage. “A list of monuments to avoid will be drawn up. It is likely that Ur sustained some damage in 1991 but this was a casualty of Saddam’s decision to site an air base there.” Mr Cruickshank and a three-man film crew were given access to sites he described as the “cradle of Western civilisation”. They filmed evidence that Saddam has bases near the most important monuments, including the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra. Mr Cruickshank believes that Saddam intends to provoke such attacks to rouse Iraqis. The sites were popular tourist attractions until Saddam came to power. Mr Cruickshank found them abandoned and derelict other than for the care of local Beduin, who were fiercely proud of their contribution to world culture. click link above for complete article
