Babylon:Why is it closed and occupied by US Army?

This is anolder story, but it brings up a lot of Indiana Jonesesque questions:
story.news.yahoo.com.../afp/iraq_us_history_babylon

Basically, the US Army has closed off the ruins of ancient Babylon, a city believed by many to have been the greatest of the ancient world. This was due, ostensibly, to prevent looters from damaging the sites... however a few guards and Bradleys could have protected the place. Indeed, the US Army is being criticized because its heavy equipment could damage the relics that are exposed on the surface.

Now... on top of that... the Army has a division headquaters there and a lotr of troops. Why center a major operation on a ruined city?

The simplest explanation, I believe, is that the WMD hunt is centered on that city... after all, some people have speculated that Saddam was hiding his WMDs there. however, weirder explanation also come to mind, including:
1.The ancient aliens notion. Even if aliens never did land in anciennt Sumeria and give mankind parts of civilization, someone in the Bush administration may have believed this was the case. Still, if the WMDs never show up an uncovered saucer from 4000BC might make the war worth fighting.
2.Bush's religiousness. Maybe he took the Book of Revelations too literally and decided to act out the conquest of babylon?

Whatever the real cause, i think it's weird that we have a large military contingent based atop a place that's appropriate for archeaologists.

I would say undeground tunnels. It is very interesting that the US Army wishes to protect Babylon, yet they did not feel it was there place to stop looting of museums, libraries, and universities. Why? Because there is something specific in Babylon that they are looking for.

They would be hypocritical to state they are protecting for Babylon because obviously that wasn't their major concern for other priceless artifacts.

The ancient Mesopotamian city is just one example of Iraq's cultural heritage, which is one of the richest in the world.

They are there for something specific. Maybe it is ancient documents, maybe it is underground tunnels, but you can be sure there are archaeologists there scouring the site for something.

"The site will be closed to all visitors, other than archeologists, until completion of the study."

Oh, how I dislike this news. There goes the most important city in our known history. That really stinks. It really does, I wouldnt be surprised to see some sort of permanent encampment.

hrm... the HQ placement is a bit weird... but it looks to me like they're just trying to prevent any more criticism after the initial looting disaster. or.. maybe they've found something incredible? the rosetta stone was found by french troops...

"urmm.. still no WMD's, we did find a nice working stargate though..."

-koji K.

[edit on 8-7-2004 by koji_K]

Originally posted by Jamuhn
I would say undeground tunnels. It is very interesting that the US Army wishes to protect Babylon, yet they did not feel it was there place to stop looting of museums, libraries, and universities. Why? Because there is something specific in Babylon that they are looking for.

They would be hypocritical to state they are protecting for Babylon because obviously that wasn't their major concern for other priceless artifacts.

OR maybe they have just learned from their mistakes and are trying to prevent any more artifacts to be stolen?

OR maybe they have just learned from their mistakes and are trying to prevent any more artifacts to be stolen?

Except they could have protected it without establishing a base there. Not only that, but they are moving in heavy equipment. IMO, this doesn't sound right to me, I think they are trying to hide something or protect something of monumental importance.

Originally posted by TheSwordMaster

Originally posted by Jamuhn
I would say undeground tunnels. It is very interesting that the US Army wishes to protect Babylon, yet they did not feel it was there place to stop looting of museums, libraries, and universities. Why? Because there is something specific in Babylon that they are looking for.

They would be hypocritical to state they are protecting for Babylon because obviously that wasn't their major concern for other priceless artifacts.

OR maybe they have just learned from their mistakes and are trying to prevent any more artifacts to be stolen?

But some people have complained that all the equipment they're hauling in there could damage some of the ruins. If you're going to protect something you don't build a large encampment on top of it.

...However, if you're trying to dig up something valuable on a short schedule, and you're not worried about pure research... you just want to dig something out... 'smash and grab' comes to mind...

[edit on 8-7-2004 by onlyinmydreams]

Did some thinking...

Babylon isn't even the oldest city in that region, and if the 'ancient aliens' theory is correct there would have been even older ones around when(if) they ever came down and contacted the ancient Sumerians.

So i did a quick search for 'us army' and 'Ur', knowing that Ur was an early center of Sumerian culture. here's what i found:

"Land immediately adjacent to Ur has been chosen by the Pentagon for a sprawling airfield and military base. Access is highly selective, screened and subject to military escorts, which - even if agreed - need to be arranged days or weeks in advance and carefully skirt the areas of reported damage"

observer.guardian.co.uk...

Apparently there were stories of US troops vandalizing Ur -- the legendary birthplace of Abraham -- and so the military used this as an excuse to close it off... then they began building a military base/airfield there? Um, so, to prevent your guys from looting a place you make it your base?

At any rate, this is even weirder that the Babylon thing, because they're actually building what sounds like a permanent base there... and the area, including the ruins... are being deemed sensitive areas.


[edit on 8-7-2004 by onlyinmydreams]

Maybe they are trying to get the Stargate functional....
Nebucunezzar did surpise them and just jump in.....

well now this is getting very interesting...

Heres a quick history on the Sumerians: ancientneareast.tripod.com...

And here something about their gods/mythology
home.comcast.net...



[edit on 8-7-2004 by TheSwordMaster]

Originally posted by TheSwordMaster
well now this is getting very interesting...

Heres a quick history on the Sumerians: ancientneareast.tripod.com...

And here something about their gods/mythology
home.comcast.net...

Can you post some excerpts, or just post what you think instead of having people going on a goose chase? What exactly is very interesting? For me all ancient history is interesting, but there is a lot of it....so what point, or points, are you trying to put accross?

I am by NO means comparing the US army to the German Army pre-WW2, but when you think about it there is a hint of Indiana Jones about it. Maybe there is something they are exploring which is totally unrelated to the war and are just taking this opportunity to further that agenda.

Maybe an adventurous and unshaven German archaelologist, trusty Peitsche in hand, will dodge an assortment of boobytraps in pursuit of the answer.



[edit on 8-7-2004 by cargo]

This guy is saying that the term "Shock and Awe" is pronounced the same way as another word that is related to the ancient stargate that susposedly Hussain was trying to get up and running.. It's interesting reading, weather or not it's true...is another story.

www.stargatesofthegods.com...

U.S. occupation chief L. Paul Bremer and top military commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez dispatched a team of archaeologists May 27 to examine construction at the Polish military's Camp Alpha, which was set up last year to secure the ruins from looters, a coalition statement said.

The remains of Babylon, one of the world's most important archaeological sites, were occupied since the early days of the invasion by U.S. Marines and, since September, soldiers from Poland and other countries. Babylon is 50 miles south of Baghdad.

The two occupation leaders ordered all contractors working in or around the Babylon site to halt construction and excavation related to the expansion of the base - and any other work that could damage the ancient sites, a coalition spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity.

Read the full story: www.military.com...

Apparently there was a base there a long time ago.. where are you guys getting info that theres a new movement there?

Except they could have protected it without establishing a base there. Not only that, but they are moving in heavy equipment. IMO, this doesn't sound right to me, I think they are trying to hide something or protect something of monumental importance.

Where is your source for them "moving in heavy equipment?"

[edit on 8-7-2004 by rwsdakota]

I was there, with the Army. It is a big base. My communications battalion HQ moved from Bagdad to there. It is a big, crowded, place. I used to run around the ruins. It looked like Saddam was going a good job of restoring it, but I wondered how accurate it was. If you see any of the original walls, they are bits of crumblig clay, but the wall that the Iraqis recreated, were in and ornate. I just wondered how they knew what it looked like? The weirdest thing is that it looked like some kind of tourist park. There was parking, ticket booths, food stand, just like any other tourist attraction. I think that was one of the reasons they used it as a base. It has an infrastructure to support a large number of people. The buildings, water, electricity, etc.

Is Babylon still closed off?

I am bringing this thread back to life due to the amount of stargate talking this is going on at ATS

The US still occupy the site

Originally posted by infinite
Is Babylon still closed off?

I am bringing this thread back to life due to the amount of stargate talking this is going on at ATS

The US still occupy the site

I thought we left that place years ago...gave it back to the Iraqi govt.

I have always been curious about the goings on there myself.

I grew particularly interested when last September, right before the solstice or eclipse on the 23rd my local newscaster said in a short clip "The gates of Babylon are reopening"

I found this odd, considering it wasn't even world news and it was not followed up with a story.

I thought it was some kind of symbolic message, but that is just me.

Originally posted by deltaboy

Originally posted by infinite
Is Babylon still closed off?

I am bringing this thread back to life due to the amount of stargate talking this is going on at ATS

The US still occupy the site

I thought we left that place years ago...gave it back to the Iraqi govt.

We did in Jan 2005.

Some coalition forces are still in nearby Al Hillah. Mostly to help support the American consulate there.

Originally posted by infinite
Is Babylon still closed off?

I am bringing this thread back to life due to the amount of stargate talking this is going on at ATS

well the stargate the Saddam 'possessed'/'controlled' and his 'invincibility rock's or whatever sure didn't help him excape the hanging sentence..

but i can't say for sure that Saddams superstitious majic stargates did not extend his numbered days among the living.

whatever's in ancient Babylon ruins, including the ruins from 1750BCE & King Hammurabi up to the ruins from Nebuchadnezzars era...
sure doesn't strike awe in the pragmatic American soldiers or the Iraqi populace...
see: architecture.about.com...

a group of pix of Babylon, some 1 hour south of Baghdad.



I'm pretty sure that the mystique of ancient Babylon
will soon be replaced & transferred to the super-fortress, 104 acre, hardened Embassy for the occuping USA...(in the Baghdad Green-Zone)
on land purchased from the "?'' Iraqi government

And this Fortress/Embassy compound should, for all intents & purposes, become the power base, seat of all edicts, & central planning offices for all the resources of the Iraq 'protectorate' - - - (who will rubber-stamp US decisions)
in-other-words; the new Babylon!

Those were great pics, St. Udio.

I have an actual image in my head of the area, rather than my imagination creating the place.

Highly intrigueing.

The power the King had to capture that huge throne.