Blast damages ancient Iraq monument - Democratic Underground

NNN0LHI

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 08:08 AM
Original message

Blast damages ancient Iraq monument

SAMARRA, Iraq (Reuters) - An ancient Islamic minaret, one of Iraq's most important monuments, has been damaged in an explosion,witnesses in the town of Samarra say.

Photographs show part of the top section of the spiralling 52-metre tower, built in the 9th century, was blown away in the blast, leavingcrumbled brick and clay.

It was not clear when the explosion occurred. U.S. snipers occupied the tower until a week ago.

The Malwiya minaret is one of the most important sites of Islamic antiquity. It was built by Abbasid Caliph Al-Motawakel in 852 AD, whenSamarra was capital of the declining Abbasid empire.

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5646926&cKey=1112356241000

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Cooley Hurd

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 08:10 AM
Response to Original message

1. I wonder if the insurgents blew it up because it was soiled...

...by being used as a sniper's nest?:shrug:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

truthisfreedom

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 08:16 AM
Response to Original message

2. uneducated, ill-informed, without a plan,going against the world's opinion

relying on bad intel, not reading intel provided earlier, taking endless vacations, completely unaccountable, smiling and hitting his head again and again until he was bruised and bloody, our president is fully responsible for these crimes against humanity and history. but shhh... don't bother him... he may be clearing brush so he and condi can have another secret getaway to plastic turkeyland.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

thecrow

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 08:46 AM
Response to Original message

3. This is so sad

I can just see the eyes of the older Iraqis filling with tears when they look at the damage, and the eyes of the young glowing like burning coals of hatred toward the ones who caused this.
Why do they hate us, you ask?
It ain't for our "freedoms".

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

NNN0LHI

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 01:50 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Our children and their children will be paying for this shit for decades

Iraqis won't be in no hurry to get their pound of flesh. They hold grudges for generations.

Don

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

no_to_war_economy

(962 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 08:54 AM
Response to Original message

4. all part of the plan - destroy a nations history

they want to remake Iraq, wipe clean the nations rich history

The looting/destruction of the nation's museum was planned and orchestrated

hell they even wanted to get rid of the nation's flag with a new pretty blue one

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Ripley

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 01:59 PM
Response to Original message

6. That is a very cool minaret...

Edited on Fri Apr-01-05 01:59 PM by Ripley

The most striking feature of the mosque is the winding minaret (Al-Malwiyya) which is ascended by an external stairway. The spiral minarets are one of the most distinctive and famous aspects of Samarra.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

NYC

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 08:24 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. Thanks for the photograph.

That is a fascinating minaret.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

vogonjiltz

(298 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Apr-01-05 08:38 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. I was afraid that

that was the minaret that got dinged. Those asshats have no appreciation for history. A snipers nest, jeesh

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Wed May 01st 2024, 12:18 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.