Iraq Calls for Air Power to Protect Antiquities

[flowers]

http://www.aina.org/news/20150308134720.htm

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -- Iraq urged a U.S.-led military coalition Sunday to use air power to protect the country's antiquities from Islamic State fighters looting and destroying some of the world's greatest archaeological treasures.

A government minister said the coalition, which has carried out 2,800 airstrikes against Islamic State military positions in Iraq and Syria since August, was not doing enough to save Iraq's priceless heritage.

The ultra-radical militants attacked the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra in northern Iraq on Saturday with bulldozers, officials say, days after assaulting the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud.

Video footage has shown them ransacking a Mosul museum, smashing statues and sculptures.

The destruction has drawn global condemnation, with the United Nations describing the damage to Iraq's rich history as a war crime. But protests have not halted the rampage.

Iraqi Tourism and Antiquities Minister Adel Shirshab said only the U.S.-led coalition could put an end to the pillaging.

"Our airspace is not in our hands. It's in their hands," he told reporters. "I am calling on the international community and coalition to activate its airstrikes and target terrorism wherever it exists."

Shirshab and the head of Iraq's state body for antiquities an

[alicewonders]

Where are the drones?

[Dexter]

Where are the drones?

Where are these guys?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_Saudi_Arabia

"The Saudi Armed Forces (Arabic: القوات المسلحة الملكية السعودية‎, al-Quwwāt al-Musallaḥah al Malakeeya as-Suʿūdiyyah) consists of the Saudi Arabian Army, the Royal Saudi Air Force, the Royal Saudi Navy, the Royal Saudi Air Defense, the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), and paramilitary forces, totaling over 200,000 active-duty personnel. In 2005 the armed forces had the following personnel: the army, 75,000; Royal Saudi Air Force, 18,000; air defense, 16,000; Royal Saudi Navy, 15,500 (including 3,000 marines); and the SANG had 75,000 active soldiers and 25,000 tribal levies.[6] In addition, there is a military intelligence service, the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP).

The air force is organized in seven fighter/ground-attack squadrons, six fighter squadrons, and seven training squadrons. Saudi Arabia has at least 15 active military airfields.

As of 2011, Saudi Arabia has around 300 combat aircraft. The kingdom's combat aircraft are newly acquired Eurofighter Typhoons and upgraded Tornado IDS, F-15 Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter planes. Saudi Arabia has a further 80+ F-15 Eagles on order and an option to buy another 72 Eurofighter Typhoons."