Destruction of Iraq’s heritage by occupiers

This video is called What is the U.S. Government doing in Ancient Babylon?

From British daily The Guardian:

Exhibition exposes modern tragedy of Babylon

· British Museum leads calls to preserve Iraq’s heritage

· Coalition troops accused of destroying historic sites

Robert Booth

Monday April 14, 2008

For more than 2,000 years the city of Babylon has been a byword for depravity and hubris. The Old Testament depicts it as an evil city and the legend of the Tower of Babel, a symbol of human arrogance, began there.

Now, the British Museum is to give new currency to Babylon’s legends with a major exhibition including details of how American and coalition troops have wrecked priceless archaeological remains in the ancient city during the occupation of Iraq.

As part of a survey of Babylon from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar in the 6th century BC to the present day, the museum plans to use film and photographs to show how coalition tank tracks, helipads and fuel spills have ruined unexplored archaeological remains on one of the world’s most important historic sites.

The museum’s curators have discovered how souvenir hunters have damaged the remains of the famous Ishtar Gate by stealing brick reliefs of dragons, and how military vehicles have ripped through parts of a 2,600-year-old Processional Way leading to Nebuchadnezzar’s palace.

Although the exhibition represents a wide survey of the myths and realities surrounding the city famed for its tower and hanging gardens, the decision to analyse the impact of the war in Iraq is likely to make uncomfortable viewing.

Neil MacGregor, the director of the British Museum, prompted the decision to bring the survey up to date. Hannah Bolton, spokeswoman for the museum, said the curators are determined to highlight “the desperate need to preserve Iraq’s cultural heritage”. She said the exhibition, which will open in November, will chart Babylon’s “tragic recent history through video and photography”.