Click here to subscribee July 22, 2009 Babylon: ancient history brought to life By Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw MND-S AL HILLAH – High-reaching walls, an- cient statues and a past fi lled with wonders and fame are an intrinsic part of Babylon. Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, Multi-National Di- vision – South commanding general, Brig. Gen. Gerald Lang, MND-S deputy com- manding general for support, Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin, MND-S senior enlisted leader and other Soldiers and civilians vis- ited the site July 18 to see what this ancient city has to off er for Iraq. “The mission (to Babylon) was to edu- cate those on the command staff and some of the primary staff members on the impor- tance of the religious aspects of this country and what there is to off er,” said Julin. “Even though we are at war there are some very important things we have to preserve here and help them preserve as well.” Babylon is recognized by some as one of the fi rst civilizations on earth. “Babylon was established as a sett lement in 3000 B.C. and was a product of dynasty work which was already old here,” said Ahmed Aziz Ibrheme, an archeologist with the Department of Babylon city. “It has a long history of about 5,000 years.” Babylon’s story is not only one of great length, but also one of much fame and his- torical signifi cance. The earliest of this fame is Hammurabi and his legal code around 1700 B.C. This code was displayed on tablets so everyone could read them. The only known surviving code has almost 300 laws, stands seven-feet tall and is currently displayed at Paris’ Lou- vre Museum. The code covers many social and eco- nomic relationships, one law stating, “If a free person puts out the eye of a free person, then that person’s eye shall be put out.” Photo by Sgt. Debralee P. Cranskahw BABYLON Soldiers stand guard within the walls of the ancient city of Babylon. Some of the ruins were Page 3 reconstructed by Saddam Hussein. The Red Bull Report July 22, 2009 Page 2 New direction, task along Maysan’s border By Capt. Gordon Gimse 4th BCT, 1st Armd. Div. CAMP SPARROW HAWK –– As Iraqis celebrated National Sovereignty Day June 30 and U.S. forces moved outside the cities, the border in May- san province was secured by the Iraqi Army, Department of Border Enforce- ment and their partners from Alpha Batt ery, 2nd Batt alion, 29th Field Artil- lery Regiment, “Task Force Pathfi nd- er.” The batt ery is advising and assisting 1st and 2nd Batt alion, 41st Iraqi Army Brigade, and 3rd and 4th Batt alion, Iraqi Department of Border Enforce- ment in Maysan’s marshlands. The Iraqi forces are responsible for the security of a portion of Iraq’s east- ern border. This region has a long and costly history with Iran. Maysan is lit- tered with military debris and unex- ploded ordnance from its war during Courtesy photo the 1980s. The Army’s Explosive Ord- Spc. Manuel Figueroa of Battery A, 2nd Battalion 29th Field Artillery Regiment instructs 2nd Bn, 41st Iraqi nance Disposal team on Forward Op- Army Brigade medics on the proper use of tourniquets during fi rst-responder training. Figueroa is a healthcare specialist from El Paso, Texas deployed with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. erating Base Hunter is routinely called to collect and dispose of this ammuni- such as maintenance, medical fi rst re- A strong relationship between IA tion. sponder, room clearing and patrolling and DBE forces will be required to “During the war, residents were procedures. maintain security along the border af- told to leave without compensation “The training is very helpful in get- ter the U.S. departs. from their villages,” said Ehsan Alaba- ting us ready for the next step,” said Soldiers of Btry. A are helping bridge di, a veteran of the Iraq-Iran War who Iraqi Army Lt. Col. Abdul Amir, 1st Bn. this gap by training both units simulta- serves as an interpreter on FOB Hunter. commander. neously. They are enabling both forces “When they returned, they had to start Additionally, the batt ery has been and, in doing so, making cohesion eas- all over in a place full of land mines increasing the core abilities of Iraq’s ier for them in the future. and other unexploded bombs.” Border Agents while encouraging its Soldiers of Btry. A train their Iraqi cooperation with the IA stationed near- For all of Capt. Gimse’s stories go to: counterparts here on Soldier skills by. www.TheRedBulls.org/Gimse The Red Bull Report is an authorized 34th Inf. Div. PAO: Lt. Col. Kevin Olson 172nd Brigade Combat Team publication for members of MND-S. OIC, Command Information: Maj. Page Baldwin 2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division NCOIC, Command Information: 1st Sgt. Larry Mears Contents of The Red Bull Report are not 4th BCT, 1st Armored Division NCOIC: Staff Sgt. Dave Lankford necessarily offi cial views of, or endorsed 41st Fires Brigade Managing Editor: Staff Sgt. Derek Smith 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment by, the U.S. Government, Department of Assignment Editor: Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw Defense, Department of the Army or the 193rd Military Police Battalion Graphics Designer: Sgt. Eric Jungels Special Troops Battalion, 34th Inf. Div. 34th Infantry Division. All editorial content Photo Editor: Spc. Tyler Maulding Task Force 28 of The Red Bull Report is prepared, edited Layout/Design: Spc. Stephanie Cassinos provided and approved by the 34th Infantry Staff Writers: Sgt. Frank Vaughn, 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) Division Public Affairs Offi ce. Sgt. Brandon LeFlore, Spc. Darryl L. Montgomery, Media Queries please contact 34th Inf. Div. Public Pfc. J. Princeville Lawrence Affairs Offi ce at [email protected] The Red Bull Report July 22, 2009 Page 3 From Page 1 god, Adad. The re-creation was built in the 1930s with site BABYLON tiles. The foundation of the original gate remains at the site. To archaeologists, the historic signifi cance comes from the There is also signifi cance in the city for those interested age of Nebuchadnezzar II in approximately 600 B.C. This in war and military commanders. Alexander the Great con- was called the Golden Period. quered the city in 331 B.C. Babylon became the center of his “Most of the great parts were built during this age, the empire for his 12-year campaign against the Persians and Hanging Gardens which were one of the Seven Wonders of India. He died in Babylon in 323 B.C. His generals fought for the World and, in addition to that, the construction of Baby- control of his empire, causing the citizens of Babylon to dis- lon tower and other (structures) here, like the walls, temples perse. Babylon never regained its position as a great world and palaces,” said Ibrheme. power. The Hanging Gardens are the only wonder whose exis- To religious people, Babylon also has a strong signifi - tence remains in some doubt. However, there is a part of cance. the tour with arched ceilings and indoor wells where it is “Babylon is a very important empire and city in the old believed the gardens may have grown. In early lists of the testament. It fi gures prominently in the development of the seven wonders, the Walls of Babylon were included. Later Jewish faith as well as the Christian faith,” said Chap. (Lt. lists replace the walls with the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Col.) John Morris, MND-S command chaplain. “About two- These walls are one of Babylon’s claims to fame. One of thirds of the old testament mentions Babylon in one form the most famous of these was Ishtar’s Gate. or another. Sometimes it’s prior to the Babylonian exile of The tour of the site begins by passing through a re-cre- Jewish people from Israel to Babylon. Sometimes it’s in the ation of the Ishtar Gate. This gate was originally built by midst of that exile and sometimes it’s aft erwards.” Nebuchadnezzar II in 575 B.C. It was dedicated to Ishtar, the “The prophets particularly talk about Babylon as an in- goddess of love and war. It was decorated with glazed blue strument of God’s wrath,” Morris continued. “The Book of tiles with alternating rows of dragons and bulls. The drag- Daniel centers itself in Babylon as well as the Book of Eze- ons were a tribute to Marduk, the god of water, vegetation, kiel. So, Babylonian history is very important for people of judgment and magic. The bulls were dedicated to the rain faith to understand.” Muslims and Christians are also an important part of Babylonian history. “In addition, Muslims revere many of the prophets who were in Babylon who were mentioned in the old testament,” said Morris. “Of course, Christians understand Babylon from the new testament. It’s mentioned prominently in the Book of Revelation as a city and as a metaphor for a gigantic civilization in opposition to God. So, that empire and that city are important for people of monotheist faiths to under- stand the development of their faith.” In recent history, Saddam Hussein had begun reconstruc- tion of the ruins and built a palace on the site. Many bricks of the reconstruction have an inscription in the imitation of Nebuchadnezzar II. Many of them state, “This was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq.” Today, surveys are being conducted to determine the pos- sibility of making Babylon a historic and tourism site.