Ruins of Lonely Mesopotamian City Still Stand After Two Millennia

[steve2470]

How about a break from Crawford for a few seconds ? :-)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBYBBC4FCE.html

HATRA, Iraq (AP) - Over 2,000 years ago this thriving Mesopotamian oasis city welcomed caravans of camels carrying travelers between East and West, twice held back Roman invaders, and was famous for its tolerance of different religions.

Now Hatra sits in ruins in a vast desert. Parts of its giant temples, columns and arches are still standing under the incessant sun but its city center is probably visited by more rabbits than people. Around it stands a nation still struggling to heal ancient grievances between feuding religious and ethnic groups, hoping to revisit high points in its history where the roots of civilization once sprouted.

The United Nations has declared it a world heritage site, but few people these days risk journeying to the ruins, 200 miles north of Baghdad.

Most visitors are guests of the U.S. military, and a handful of Iraqi guards protect the site. Most of the wire fence surrounding it has collapsed, but a girl in a bright dress is still on hand to dutifully raise a gate for a visiting convoy of Humvees.

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[Rosco T.]

1. Don't tell Chimp.. he's bomb it... n/m

[Javaman]

2. Give it time, the army will destroy that too...

if looters from the successful invasion hadn't done it yet.