Playing cards teach US troops to respect ruins

[sabra]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2106684,00.html




American troops fighting in Iraq are being encouraged to identify old ruins before creating new ones.

The programme is part of a belated Pentagon scheme to prevent further war damage to the country's 11,000 archaeological sites.

More than four years after priceless antiquities housed in Iraq's National Museum were looted and much of the country's ancient heritage was despoiled, defence chiefs are trying a new approach.

It involves the provision of 40,000 packs of playing cards to American troops - or roughly one deck for every four soldiers.

[Patsy Stone]

1. What is it with all the playing cards?

Is this really the new substitute for proper training? Pathetic.

Remember these?

[sanskritwarrior]

3. LOL

they are valuable training aids as soldiers love to play Poker.......Soldiers play Poker they see the same faces over and over again.......One of the Top 10 Baathist was captured because some soldier recognized him from the cards........they have been incredibly efective training aids.........I'll try to dig that story up about the baathist that was captured.......

[Telly Savalas]

7. They could introduce State Captiol playing cards in schools

so that kids can study geography while playing poker.

Granted we'd have to give Puerto Rico and DC statehood in order to fill up all the cards.

[sanskritwarrior]

8. LOL

or we could use the Nation's captial for one and the Motto E. Plurbius unum for the other card........

[Patsy Stone]

11. Really?

I think I missed that story. Truth be told, I actually own a set of those terrorist cards. I couldn't pass them up, they are eBay gold 40 years from now.

[BlooInBloo]

16. Something-I-forget-what rots from the head down.

[jmowreader]

25. They're very good training aids

We had these Vehicle Identification Cards. Each one had a drawing of the vehicle on the front, and its name on the back.

I had my guys play "Friend, Foe or French?" at least once a week. We put that "or French" thing in there not because the French are bad guys, but because they've got this nasty-ass habit of building vehicles that look Soviet. Each player would take ten cards. He'd hold up one and ask "Friend, Foe or French?" If you chose correctly you got the card, miss and the player keeps the card. Whoever had the most cards at the end of the game wins.

[uppityperson]

2. My tax dollars at work. Pathetic. Here is an easier way...

If it looks like a building, it is not a ruin. Are the troops really supposed to identify old ruins before creating new ones? I am baffled here.

[sanskritwarrior]

6. See post 2

Also many of Iraq's ancient ruins were not treated well at all, the ancient city of Nuzi near Kirkuk was used by Saddam as target practice for his artillery soldiers due to its unique "tels" or domed hills housing the remains of the dead. It wasn't until we showed up that this particular site was protected....We have even had archeologists living on FOB Warrior to study artifacts in Kirkuk as some of ancient Nuzi was plowed over when saddam built the air base that we later named FOB Warrior........

[uppityperson]

18. You are replying to post#2, which I wrote.

A new ruin (edited for typo)

[sanskritwarrior]

20. LOL

I meant post 3.........

surely you are not saying we destroyed the Al Askari mosque??? Are you?

[uppityperson]

22. Destroyed because of what the USA has done, yes.

Maybe not directly blowing it up, but we were the reason.

[sanskritwarrior]

24. We contributed

but sunni/shia hatred was the reason........We were a catalyst, but not the reason.......We'll talk about this tommorrow, I need to eat dinner.......

[Decruiter]

4. I just want to cry and I've been crying for a long time. Good lord, what

have we done? The US has wiped out centuries of our world history. What have we allowed to happen in our name?

To anyone overseas that might read this, I apologize and I recognize it isn't worth much, there are many of us here, in the US, trying to make it stop, our numbers and voices are growing stronger, have patience and please forgive us all.

Peace.

[madfloridian]

9. We have in effect destroyed the cradle of civilization.

I can not believe what we have done, and I can't believe how our leaders just don't address it.

[sanskritwarrior]

10. Huh????

what???

where?

[madfloridian]

12. Is tthat meant to be a joke?

If so it is not funny.

[sanskritwarrior]

13. No I just want to see some examples

I saw my unit in Kirkuk preserve an ancient site, Nuzi.........It's not that I don't believe you, I just never saw it, so pretend I'm from Missouri.............

[madfloridian]

21. I have written several posts about historic places destroyed.

And one about a soldier who had no clue this was looked upon as the start of civilizaton.

I may look it up later for you, but there is one about an airfield built on ancient sites with no caring.

I can't believe you said that.

[sanskritwarrior]

23. Actually saddam built an airfield

Kirkuk air Base over Ancient Nuzi.......We preserved the Tel's or burial mounds after Saddam had used them for target practice........I didn't say anything...................

[Decruiter]

26. Dear Sanskritwarrior, peace always to you. This will be the one and only ever

response you get from me. I hope sincerely you look up on google, some history of Iraq. If you are a soldier and you have friends there now, if you are there now, I truly hope you read up on some history. Please.

There is some quote that floats around about those that don't learn from their history are doomed to repeat it.

Oh yes, please if you are a member of "our" "armed forces", look up General Smedley Butler, and then if you feel like it, send me a PM.

[sanskritwarrior]

29. LOL

I'm very familiar with old Smedley, I just don't subscribe to his theory.........Doesn't mean I like the war, or like being away from my family for 12-15 months at a time, I just laught at Smedley's observations.......100 years ago he might have been spot on, but now his theories are silly and assinine.....

[JeffR]

5. Wow, only 4 years too late to be of any use

can't wait for September, when all the other strategeric initiatives bear fruit... strange fruit.

[johnaries]

14. because this was so useful in tracking down bin Laden.

oh, maybe not.

But maybe it will keep American Soldiers from despoiling antiquities that have already been stolen or destroyed or despoiled. Ok. maybe not.

But maybe it will sound like we're trying to do "something" even if it's too little too late?

[sanskritwarrior]

15. Wait

Bin laden isn't on any of the cards........the first set was for baathists in Iraq, the second set is for antiquities, in preparation I assume for the huge 100,000 troop offensive that is about to begin and last throughout the summer.

[uppityperson]

17. You mean the surge? I thought that was happening already, keep hearing that.

[sanskritwarrior]

19. no, not the surge

the 100,000 soldier offensive that began yesterday, it's all the talk on Armed Forces radio and in the chow hall........

apparently the equivalent of a US Army Corps 100,000 american soldiers combined with 75,000 Iraqi soldiers just began a major offensive against the belt cities of Iraq......I might be off but I think this is actually a larger force than the actual invasion force and instead of being fought 400 miles long by 200 miles wide as in the invasion, this battle looks to have a battlespace of about 75 miles long by 40 miles wide.........

But the insurgents will hide.........so............

The surge appears to have been a Schwerpunkt to divert attention from the real buildup that took place outside Baghdad, not inside........I'll post more when I hear back from a friend or two.....

[Decruiter]

27. sanskritwarriot, you are just precious. Truly you are, are you working out of the

OSP? Just quit while you might be ahead, do some homework, and then get back to us. Okay? Thanks, I know. I just know we an count on you to keep us up to date and informed, take care of yourself, stay safe and sane, oh and peace again to you.

[sanskritwarrior]

28. What the hell is the OSP???

Look I'm anti bush........I enjoy DU a lot, the main reason I'm here is

A. Support Democrats

B. Correct DUers misconceptions about the military...

With a name like Decruiter I can see why you and I will not get along........

[Decruiter]

30. Don't be so quick to take offense. Many DU'ers don't have so many

misconceptions about the military.

Try to catch a view of a documentary titled "Why we Fight". Read T. E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars. Be careful SW, please.

I don't want to see you or anyone else fighting and dying for lies and please let us not even begin to discuss what has happened to the average citizen of Iraq. Pretend for just a moment the tables are turned SW, the US has been invaded for having WMD's. Just lay back, close your eyes and just imagine........................

OSP is Office of Special Plans or something, google it, you will find plenty.

I respect you and your service, I do believe you have been misled, I am certain. The best advice I can give to you is to have you read up as much as fast as you can. Arm yourself SW, with knowledge. Read The Art of War.

There are many of us here at DU that do not agree with the positions you take, but I will guarantee you one thing, most of us would do anything to help you if you ever needed anything. Most of us here at DU truly do support the troops, we want all of you home now. Which one of our soldiers has to be the last to die...............

Senator Kerry asked this question a very long time ago, SW, and it is so very sad to have such a statement be so relevant today.

[sanskritwarrior]

31. Why do people assume I am not well read

I have read Lawerence, seen the Documentary, read Smedley Butler, read Shirer.........Man