Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Library Books, Letters and Priceless Documents are Set Ablaze in Final Chapter of the Sacking of Baghdad This description of the charred remains of the National Library and Archives in Bagdhad is touching - such loss for civilization: There was a request to protect a camel convoy of tea, rice and sugar, signed by Husni Attiya al-Hijazi (recommending Abdul Ghani-Naim and Ahmed Kindi as honest merchants), a request for perfume and advice from Jaber al-Ayashi of the royal court of Sharif Hussein to Baghdad to warn of robbers in the desert. "This is just to give you our advice for which you will be highly rewarded," Ayashi says. "If you don't take our advice, then we have warned you." A touch of Saddam there, I thought. The date was 1912. 7:28:25 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Chris Kelley.