Oil Trumps Science

Oil Trumps Science

Doc Searls [1] advances an idea [2] to use broadcast (tv & radio) in conjunction with the web (I do like Docís idea that the country domain suffix be IQ, and see my comment on that, below) regarding an attempt to restore, reclaim, and regenerate the recently ransacked Baghdad museums.

Incredible amounts of historic artifacts and items of scientific note and lore are now lost, damaged, pilfered, destroyed . . whatever . . .as a result of the looting and general lawlessness that has been one of the many effects of the taking of Baghdad.

Doc refers to scholarly thought regarding the information and archaeological knowledge damage that has been a result, a casualty of sorts, as a result of the pillaging that took place in Baghdad museums. Thereís an excellent discussion of this here [3]. He suggests that the Coalition might devote resources and some effort toward the creation of the [traditional] broadcast and web entities. These would further the initiative to restore, or somehow get back on the track of maintaining and organizing an initiative to rebuild a cultural, historic mission.

As much as I like the idea, I fear it cannot happen due to a variety of reasons.

First and foremost, nothing of this sort is even remotely close to being on the Bush agenda [4].

More reasons:

Can Halliburton [5] or any other company [6] on the Friends of Bush [7] list [8] come to any monetary gain [9] from it? Would they have even the slightest interest in it? Is such an entity or initiative of this sort anywhere at all on their radar?

Scientific artifacts and the preservation of history or sacred ancient icons are of little concern to the current Powers That Be. When the Taliban destroyed all sorts of ancient religious artifacts, relics, statues, icons, et al, all the Bush administration did was ignore it, and see about cutting a deal to move oil through Afghanistan [10]. Dealing with the Taliban, directly! Come 9/11, and they suddenly changed that tune.

Actually, the 9/11 attacks occurred shortly after the talks between the Bush regime and The Taliban broke down.

Getting back to historic, scientific interests, or the mere concept of possibly making the world a better place: This same administration put the kibosh on the Kyoto Treaty [11].

The only way I see the proposal that Doc advances managing to work is if Bush can get his major contributor and friend Ken Lay [12] to oversee it. This could restore Layís reputation, and somehow sanitize Bushís connection to Lay. And we know that Lay is one of those corporate types who runs things and has extensive experience presiding (word chosen quite carefully!) over large enterprises.

Then the collected artifacts can be distributed (for resale to museums in allied countries), and shortly thereafter, when the consulting fees and US Govt. funding dries up, a bankruptcy can be declared, the building or the radio & tv stations sold to the French, and the entire affair long put out to pasture.

The Bush rebuild plan will line the pockets of companies owned by campaign contributors and supporters of Bush and his cohorts [13]. Oil, of course, will be the prime focus of the administrationís concerns [14]. What benefit is there in preserving history, they will wonder, compared with the gains they can realize in capturing all that Iraqi oil?!?!

But I do laud the concept and spirit that Doc advances, and would love to participate, offer guidance and services, should the idea come to pass.

As for that IQ designation Doc suggests as the domain suffix for Iraq, or maybe just for this project, well, this troubles me. Hereís why: the predominant IQ we seem to have in the Oval office, fixated on Iraq, is a low one.