News

The destruction of Babylon:
LONDON: As the US prepared to hand back the ancient ruins of Babylon to Iraqi authorities at the weekend, a leading British archaeologist claimed US-led troops had "irrevocably contaminated" a site that dates to the dawn of history (Australian)

"About 300,000 square metres of the surface of the site has been flattened and covered with compacted gravel and sometimes chemically treated," he said.
"This will contaminate the archaeological record of the site." (BBC)

"We should be angry but not surprised at the destruction of Babylon. Despite the requirements of the Hague convention, aggressors throughout history have targeted the cultural treasures of occupied territories in order to undermine their opponents' national esteem and sense of cultural identity."Dr Mike HeyworthDirector, Council for British Archaeology (Guardian)

For more than 1,000 years, Babylon was one of the world's premier cities, where King Nebuchadnezzar II built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
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Iraqi Elections:
On the 30th of January--
Not Even Saddam Could Achieve the Divisions This Election Will Bring/ By Robert Fisk
"As of January 31, a crisis will, officially, start; for it exists now but its parties are delaying admitting it." / Abdulwahab Badrakhan
A MAN OF THE SHADOWS Can Iyad Allawi hold Iraq together/by JON LEE ANDERSON

Kuwait:
Kuwait boosts security after busting militant cell(Daily Star) --- The government said the militants planned to carry out attacks on vital installations (SBS)---Kuwait arrests at least 10 after clashes with militants (Khaleej Times)

News mix:
Women who breathe air polluted with smoke and exhaust fumes are up to four times more likely to have children who develop cancer, a study shows --- a school working to a radical and experimental curriculum is quietly changing the dynamic between Arab and Jewish neighbours--- Moammar Gadhafi is now being immortalized by a leading London-based opera company. The English National Opera (ENO) --- Representation of Arabs improves on silver screen..

And finally, some Daily Outrage...Have a nice day.