Thread: IS beheads Palmyra's long-time antiquities chief Khaled Asaad, hangs corpse in square

Islamic State (IS) militants have beheaded a senior Palmyra antiquities scholar and hung his body on a column in a main square of the historic Syrian city, Syria's antiquities chief has said.



Khaled Asaad, 82, was the head of antiquities in Palmyra for more than 50 years, antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim said.

He had been retired for 13 years.

Mr Asaad's family informed the antiquities chief that Islamic State jihadists had executed him.

IS insurgents control swathes of Syria and Iraq, and captured Palmyra from Syrian government forces in May, but as of yet have not damaged its monumental, Roman-era ruins despite their reputation for destroying idolatrous artefacts.

Mr Asaad had been detained and interrogated for more than a month by the ultra-radical Sunni Muslim militants.

"Just imagine that such a scholar who gave such memorable services to the place and to history would be beheaded ... and his corpse still hanging from one of the ancient columns in the centre of a square in Palmyra," Mr Abdulkarim said.

"The continued presence of these criminals in this city is a curse and bad omen on [Palmyra] and every column and every archaeological piece in it."
Mr Asaad was well known for several scholarly works published in international archaeological journals on Palmyra, which flourished as an important antiquities trading hub along the Silk Road.

He also oversaw US, French, German and Swiss archaeological missions for decades, and assisted with excavations and research in Palmyra's famed 2,000-year-old ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Before the city's capture by Islamic State, Syrian officials said they moved hundreds of ancient statues to safe locations, due to concern they would be destroyed by the militants.

In June, IS militants blew up two ancient shrines in Palmyra that were not part of its Roman-era structures but which the militants regarded as pagan and sacrilegious.

Islamic State beheads Palmyra's long-time antiquities chief Khaled Asaad, hangs corpse in square - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I lived in Syria for 8 years, lived in Tadmor for 3 of those years, made some good friends there, including the good man referred to. I've spent much of my life in the middle east, most of my friends there are dead now. We are professional expats. How do yo deal with these horrors? Children whose schooling I paid for are being decapitated on Facebook.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

I lived in Syria for 8 years, lived in Tadmor for 3 of those years, made some good friends there, including the good man referred to. I've spent much of my life in the middle east, most of my friends there are dead now. We are professional expats. How do yo deal with these horrors? Children whose schooling I paid for are being decapitated on Facebook.

Off-topic by me DrB0b,

but I'd love to hear about your time in Syria in another thread. I hope you will share.

I've heard that Syria is a very nice and interesting place (before these bad trouble).

Iran also before the ayatolla's.

unbelievable this decapitating of an 82 yr old.

Originally Posted by Looper

and his corpse still hanging

pure insanity.
still the girls are coming to sort the bastards.

Originally Posted by Black Heart

I've heard that Syria is a very nice and interesting place (before these bad trouble).

It was, and hopefully Dr Bob has some stories and pics from back in the day. The people and country were nothing like I expected when first assigned there. I worked for around 2 years in Dier Ez-zor and it was absolutely brilliant. We use to drive to-from Damascus on our crew changes and always stopped in Palmyra to break up the trip. Walking around the ruins with a toasted chicken-cheese sandwich in hand taking in the amazing sights was something that never got old. That entire region is overran by IS these days, I often wonder about all the people we worked with or knew well...

Originally Posted by Headworx

Originally Posted by Black Heart

I've heard that Syria is a very nice and interesting place (before these bad trouble).

It was, and hopefully Dr Bob has some stories and pics from back in the day. The people and country were nothing like I expected when first assigned there. I worked for around 2 years in Dier Ez-zor and it was absolutely brilliant. We use to drive to-from Damascus on our crew changes and always stopped in Palmyra to break up the trip. Walking around the ruins with a toasted chicken-cheese sandwich in hand taking in the amazing sights was something that never got old. That entire region is overran by IS these days, I often wonder about all the people we worked with or knew well...

Having never experienced anything other than Saudia Arabia and Bahrain I wish we could go back to the days some of you talk about when Westerners could easily walk around in countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

This story reminds of Steve Kerr the head coach of the newly crowned NBA champions ... his father was the head of American University in Lebanon and was assassinated there many years ago.

Originally Posted by Black Heart

What years were you there, if I may ask?

Sorry Black Heart, I didn't see your question till now. I was there around '93 to '95. Fantastic times with the exception of when the Presidents son killed himself in a car accident (he was driving like a Thai in a powerful car) then we had to "look sad" for a few days and the bars were closed. Yes, bars.

I see on the news this morning that those fucking stone-age animals have blown more of Palmyra's fascinating history and buildings sky-high. The Syrians were so proud of everything in that area when we were there...

Originally Posted by Headworx

Originally Posted by Black Heart

What years were you there, if I may ask?

Sorry Black Heart, I didn't see your question till now. I was there around '93 to '95. Fantastic times with the exception of when the Presidents son killed himself in a car accident (he was driving like a Thai in a powerful car) then we had to "look sad" for a few days and the bars were closed. Yes, bars.

I see on the news this morning that those fucking stone-age animals have blown more of Palmyra's fascinating history and buildings sky-high. The Syrians were so proud of everything in that area when we were there...

Thanks for the response.

I suppose that was the son of Haffez Al-Assad (the brother of Bashar)?

So, obviously, Syrians were known to drink alcohol.

And yes, the have destroyed Palmyra.


ISIS must be eliminated. Possible? Not sure. Needed? Yes.

RIP Khaled

Originally Posted by Looper

Mr Asaad had been detained and interrogated for more than a month by the ultra-radical Sunni Muslim militants.

Tortured for more than a month.

I said bomb ISIS to stone age, but just got reds all over. Yeah that is how it goes with weak and clueless euro liberals and commies. And this goes on, someone is being tortured RIGHT NOW someone's eyeballs are destroyed RIGHT NOW someone is raped RIGHT NOW. But wait until it comes next door and then panic

Originally Posted by Exit Strategy

RIP Khaled

Originally Posted by Looper

Mr Asaad had been detained and interrogated for more than a month by the ultra-radical Sunni Muslim militants.

Tortured for more than a month.

I said bomb ISIS to stone age, but just got reds all over. Yeah that is how it goes with weak and clueless euro liberals and commies. And this goes on, someone is being tortured RIGHT NOW someone's eyeballs are destroyed RIGHT NOW someone is raped RIGHT NOW. But wait until it comes next door and then panic

With ISIS, I believe you must eliminate as many as possible.

I with those in those nations where ISIS is had the power to do it.

You can negotiate with these people.

If they maintain their established control over these areas, then they maintain control.

The question: should the West / world / US actively try to eliminate them?

2012 Defense Intelligence Agency document: West will facilitate rise of Islamic State ?in order to isolate the Syrian regime? ? Levant Report

On Monday, May 18, the conservative government watchdog group Judicial Watch published a selection of formerly classified documents obtained from the U.S. Department of Defense and State Department through a federal lawsuit.

While initial mainstream media reporting is focused on the White House’s handling of the Benghazi consulate attack, a much “bigger picture” admission and confirmation is contained in one of the Defense Intelligence Agency documents circulated in 2012: that an ‘Islamic State’ is desired in Eastern Syria to effect the West’s policies in the region.

Astoundingly, the newly declassified report states that for “THE WEST, GULF COUNTRIES, AND TURKEY [WHO] SUPPORT THE [SYRIAN] OPPOSITION… THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A DECLARED OR UNDECLARED SALAFIST PRINCIPALITY IN EASTERN SYRIA (HASAKA AND DER ZOR), AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE SUPPORTING POWERS TO THE OPPOSITION WANT, IN ORDER TO ISOLATE THE SYRIAN REGIME…”.

The DIA report, formerly classified “SECRET//NOFORN” and dated August 12, 2012, was circulated widely among various government agencies, including CENTCOM, the CIA, FBI, DHS, NGA, State Dept., and many others.
The document shows that as early as 2012, U.S. intelligence predicted the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), but instead of clearly delineating the group as an enemy, the report envisions the terror group as a U.S. strategic asset.

While a number of analysts and journalists have documented long ago the role of western intelligence agencies in the formation and training of the armed opposition in Syria, this is the highest level internal U.S. intelligence confirmation of the theory that western governments fundamentally see ISIS as their own tool for regime change in Syria.

The document matter-of-factly states just that scenario.
Forensic evidence, video evidence, as well as recent admissions of high-level officials involved (see former Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford’s admissions here and here), have since proven the State Department and CIA’s material support of ISIS terrorists on the Syrian battlefield going back to at least 2012 and 2013 (for a clear example of “forensic evidence”: see UK-based Conflict Armament Research’s report which traced the origins of Croatian anti-tank rockets recovered from ISIS fighters back to a Saudi/CIA joint program via identifiable serial numbers).
The newly released DIA report makes the following summary points concerning “ISI” (in 2012 “Islamic State in Iraq,”) and the soon to emerge ISIS:
Al-Qaeda drives the opposition in Syria
The West identifies with the opposition
The establishment of a nascent Islamic State became a reality only with the rise of the Syrian insurgency (there is no mention of U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq as a catalyst for Islamic State’s rise, which is the contention of innumerable politicians and pundits; see section 4.D. below)
The establishment of a “Salafist Principality” in Eastern Syria is “exactly” what the external powers supporting the opposition want (identified as “the West, Gulf Countries, and Turkey”) in order to weaken the Assad government
“Safe havens” are suggested in areas conquered by Islamic insurgents along the lines of the Libyan model (which translates to so-called no-fly zones as a first act of ‘humanitarian war’; see 7.B.)
Iraq is identified with “Shia expansion” (8.C)

A Sunni “Islamic State” could be devastating to “unifying Iraq” and could lead to “the renewing facilitation of terrorist elements from all over the Arab world entering into Iraqi Arena.” (see last non-redacted line in full PDF view.)

https://teakdoor.com/world-news/15007...-arabia-s.html (Time to lift the veil on Saudi Arabia’s hijacking of Islam)

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

^ as I've stated, the problem is that we are the ones funding the wahabis that fund: the teletubbies, ISIS and Bin Laden's mob... The Syrians were getting along without so much wanton killing and destruction before we and our Saudi friends decided we wanted more control over the regional politics. Once the Saudi wahabis have all the power in the region and blow everything up that doesn't fit their version of history (just as they have been doing on a massive scale in Saudi), we'll probably start running to the Iranians moderates to make new best friends...

Yes, US $$$ --> to Saudi --> ISIS.


Correct?

The Saudis have plenty of money to fund these 'ideologies' themselves (as do the wahabis in Qatar and UAE), and have been doing so for decades (in our countries as well as their own and all over the Arab world). The 'West' likes to help them out too, not like they need the financial support though...

Plenty of reading on this thread and the links; it's not as if it's even up for debate; it's known, it's detailed; the wahabis are extremists who wanna destroy and kill all other ideologies, and they're 'our' best friends...

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

The Saudis have plenty of money to fund these 'ideologies'

However, we control the global monetary system. We could do something if we wanted to do it. If not, why, then when, or never?