Of course if we had never invaded Iraq these cards would not be necessary.
The Pentagon is sending another deck of playing cards to troops in Iraq – this time showing some of the country’s most precious archaeological sites instead of the most-wanted former regime officials.
Some 40,000 new decks of playing cards will be sent to troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan – as part of an awareness program so troops can help preserve the heritage of those countries, said Laurie Rush, archaeologist at Fort Drum in New York.
It’s aimed at making troops aware they shouldn’t pick up and bring home artifacts and also to avoid causing damage to sites – such as an incident after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, when U.S. troops built a helicopter pad on the ruins of Babylon and filled their sandbags with archaeological fragments from the ancient city.
Each card in the deck shows an artifact or site or gives a tip on how to help preserve antiquities.
“Drive around, not over, archaeological sites,” says the five of clubs.
“This site has survived 17 centuries. Will it and others survive you?” asks the seven of clubs, which pictures Ctesiphon Arch in Iraq.