Posted on 03/05/2007 4:11:33 PM PST by blam
Iran's rich architecture and rare treasures threatened by possible US strikes
· Many ancient remains are close to nuclear plants
· Archaeologists anxious to avoid repeat of Iraq chaos
Maev Kennedy
Monday March 5, 2007
The Guardian (UK)
Tourists visit Persepolis, which lies within 50 miles of the Ardakan and Fasa uranium processing plants. Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP
In his quiet office at the British Museum, among the portraits of long-dead explorers and copies of 3,000-year-old inscriptions, one of the greatest experts on the archaeology of the Middle East has a series of maps of Iranian nuclear installations spread out across his desk.
John Curtis's maps fill him with foreboding: because they show how many of Iran's nuclear plants are perilously close to ancient cultural sites.
Natanz, home to a uranium enrichment plant, is renowned for its exquisite ceramics; Isfahan, home to a uranium conversion plant, is also a Unesco world heritage site and was regarded in the 16th century as the most beautiful city on earth.
Other nuclear installations lie close to Shiraz, dubbed "the city of roses and nightingales", famous for the tombs of medieval poets; Persepolis, the great palace of King Darius, whose ruins are still magnificent; and the 6th century BC tomb of Cyrus the Great, the Persian ruler who was said to have been buried in a coffin of gold. Four years ago Dr Curtis was warning that war in Iraq would be a disaster for some of the oldest and most important sites in the world. He has since seen his worst fears confirmed: the site of ancient Babylon became an American military base; thousands of objects are missing from the national museum at Baghdad; and looted artefacts have been illicitly excavated and smuggled out of the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Where was the outrage when the Mosque of the Golden Dome was destroyed? Once that happened, these so-called "treasures" stopped being important to me.
-PJ
They should have build those nuke plants farther away from those cultural sites.
Although the risk of a nuke accident is very small, one such accident could forever destroy those sites and their artifacts and history.
So, take your potassium iodide, because Heaven forfend us disturbing the delicate architectural gems in retaliation.
In the words of Matt Foley, "Well Lah Dee Freakin' Dah!!"
Snickering isn't good enough for your post.
Well said my FRiend!
For omelettes, you break eggs.
I take a really hard attitude toward this sort of thing - all the antiquities in the world aren't worth the life of a single servicemember. Not one. I'd like to say I'm sorry about Monte Cassino but I'm not.
Perhaps the Gaurdian would prefer that we not go after Iranian nuke sites and just let them keep on building. Then, when Iran gets an operational medium range missile the UK and all of Western Europe can deal with those bombs instead of worrying about our bombs......
Have they done a story about what things (not to mention people) in Isreal are being threatened by Iran's nuclear program
Right answer!
"Xcuse me, but...
Shouldn't that be "Nuclear plants are too close to ancient remains?"
If the sandmaggots assume weapon warehouses will be safe by hiding them among people, why would anyone be surprised that they would do the same to heritage artifacts?
Nice try, though, Ahmedinawhackjob!
?
Natanz, home to a uranium enrichment plant, is renowned for its exquisite ceramics; Isfahan, home to a uranium conversion plant, is also a Unesco world heritage site and was regarded in the 16th century as the most beautiful city on earth.
Not a problem John. With precision munitions today, they can wipe out the plants and warehouses without damaging your treasures.
Just provide us with the precise coordinates of the real targets and your toys are safe.
Unless of course, you allow the mass murderers to hide nuclear facilities among your toys; then all bets are off.
Now THAT is good point.
Send Hilary over with a U-haul she can clean it out like she did the White House.
If we still had neutron bombs in our inventory, we could ease their fears about the buildings. The people on the other hand...
"So, where did I put that neutron bomb?"
Islamic regime to submerge Iran's historical root
(Persepolis & Pasargade)
SMCCDI | Aug 21, 2005
Posted on 08/22/2005 4:02:15 PM EDT by F14 Pilot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1468417/posts
Under Tremendous Pressure,
Mullahs Agree To Renovate Tomb Of "Cyrus The Great"
Persian Journal | 5-29-2006
Posted on 06/06/2006 5:11:28 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1644522/posts
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