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THE HOT HOLIDAY DESTINATION: IRAQ?
New York Post ^ | September 20, 2008 | AMIR TAHERI

Posted on 09/20/2008 9:00:27 AM PDT by Kaslin

THE way Barack Obama talks of Iraq, you'd think the whole county is a sea of fire and blood, created by the United States. So he might be surprised to learn that tour operators in Europe and the Middle East are touting this "sea of fire and blood" as a new holiday destination.

One program just put on the market by Terre Entiere, a leading French tour operator, offers a "Christmas Pilgrimage" in December to Iraq's biblical sites, some of which date back more than 2,000 years.

Another program starts in January. Called "Forgotten History," it includes visits to some of the most ancient sites of human civilization in Iraq, the ancient Mesopotamia.

"Frankly, we were surprised by the positive echoes we had as soon as we launched our program," says Pierre Simon, a spokesman for the French company marketing the Iraqi holidays. "People from many European countries, not just France, are showing interest. They want to go and see for themselves."

That Iraq should be a tourist destination is no surprise. Mesopotamia, or the Land of the Two Rivers, is universally recognized as the birthplace of civilization.

It was there that the first cities appeared and the first governments took shape. Sumer and Akkad invented the first forms of writing, the first bureaucracies and the first organized religious doctrines. In its heyday, Babylon, with its "hanging gardens," was the world's largest metropolis.

The first ever book, the Epic of Gilgamesh, was written in Mesopotamia some 3,000 years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: amirtaheri; iraq; tourism; war
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1 posted on 09/20/2008 9:00:27 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

but but.. but.. the quagmire..


2 posted on 09/20/2008 9:08:59 AM PDT by Ancient Drive
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To: Kaslin

to be honest I would love to visit ancient mesopotamia, I read the bible everyday and wonder of such ancient places.


3 posted on 09/20/2008 9:12:59 AM PDT by Ancient Drive
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To: Kaslin
with a little security, this could turn into a big thing...
4 posted on 09/20/2008 9:18:51 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - McCain/Palin'08 = http://www.johnmccain.com/)
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To: Kaslin

Obama HUSSEIN slanders the name HUSSEIN! Obama truly makes Saddam look like a Saint! Many may disagree with this, but Heaven Forbid that Obama ever gets the power to exercise his will over Humans! Then, the theory will be proven in Spades!

NOBAMA IN 08! NOBAMA’s EVER FOR AMERICA!

GIVE OBAMA BACK TO INDONESIA FOR FREE!!!!


5 posted on 09/20/2008 9:20:26 AM PDT by NOBAMA in 08 ( OBIE HUSSEIN IS AN EMPTY SUIT with NO Redeeming Value!)
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To: NOBAMA in 08

makes saddam look like a saint? You are making yourself sound really dumb.


6 posted on 09/20/2008 9:23:28 AM PDT by fabian
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To: fabian

And making the forum look dumb as well as vicious. I suspect he’s a troll.


7 posted on 09/20/2008 9:34:18 AM PDT by TAdams8591 (Proud Catholic supporter of Governor Mitt Romney for VP and now, Governor Sarah Palin!)
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To: Kaslin

See Iraq. Fewer carbombings than Paris! Book your tour today.


8 posted on 09/20/2008 9:43:38 AM PDT by sportutegrl (0bi has been looking a little wan.)
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To: fabian

Only in your narrow opinion which I disregard handily and easily!


9 posted on 09/20/2008 9:55:26 AM PDT by NOBAMA in 08 ( OBIE HUSSEIN IS AN EMPTY SUIT with NO Redeeming Value!)
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To: Kaslin

“Another program starts in January. Called “Forgotten History,” it includes visits to some of the most ancient sites of human civilization in Iraq, the ancient Mesopotamia. “

I think I’d give it another year or two lest some might become “forgotten history” themselves.


10 posted on 09/20/2008 9:57:50 AM PDT by Melinda
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To: TAdams8591

“I suspect he’s a troll.”

Check out his pings. He’s either a troll or a fanatic. Either way, this is no Freeper.


11 posted on 09/20/2008 10:01:31 AM PDT by Melinda
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To: Kaslin

I wonder if they provide the body armor or if you have to bring your own kevlar.


12 posted on 09/20/2008 10:05:56 AM PDT by DaGman
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To: NOBAMA in 08

Why don’t you go back to DU.


13 posted on 09/20/2008 10:08:49 AM PDT by Aria ("An America that could elect Sarah Palin might still save itself." Vin Suprynowicz)
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To: Melinda
Yes, I did check them. : ) Comments that far over the top, make conservatives and the forum look bad (something most of us understand) and are fodder for the MSM and other Liberal groups who wish to target FR and conservatives and make it appear we are on the fringe and radical.

He/she could be a fanatic, but my guess he/she is a troll. The remarks have a put on, phony ring.

14 posted on 09/20/2008 10:13:49 AM PDT by TAdams8591 (Proud Catholic supporter of Governor Mitt Romney for VP and now, Governor Sarah Palin!)
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To: Kaslin
I'd like to see the marshes in the SE. The "Marsh Arabs" build beautiful structures made from bundles of reeds, which are waterproof if harvested in the right season. These images don't do them justice, but give an idea.



15 posted on 09/20/2008 10:34:11 AM PDT by caveat emptor
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To: Kaslin; Jarhead2844; USMCWriter; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ...
"We all agreed that the place should be renamed The Triangle of Life," Sultani says.


Reading that, anything I could comment would be,
just,
well,
not worth saying.

16 posted on 09/20/2008 12:24:29 PM PDT by freema (MarineNiece,Daughter,Wife,Friend,Sister,Friend,Aunt,Friend,Mother,Friend,Cousin, FRiend)
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To: freema

Mon Venis?


17 posted on 09/20/2008 12:34:49 PM PDT by usmcobra (A vote for McCain & Palin is a vote against Obama bin Biden)
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To: Aria

Never been there, tell me about it since you seem to know!


18 posted on 09/20/2008 12:58:27 PM PDT by NOBAMA in 08 ( OBIE HUSSEIN IS AN EMPTY SUIT with NO Redeeming Value!)
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To: freema
"We all agreed that the place should be renamed The Triangle of Life," Sultani says.

"Reading that, anything I could comment would be,

just,

well,

not worth saying."

Damned hell-hole... One of our three 4th CEB platoons was there, billeted at the "chicken factory". My buddy's son, Cpl. Peter John Giannopoulos, was KIA November 11, 2004 in Latifiyah.

I would like to vacation in Haqlaniyah, especially if they have one of those "old west" re-enactments like we have out west. You know, where you grab and AK and have a showdown out on main street. I'm up for another one of those.

19 posted on 09/20/2008 1:35:43 PM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: usmcobra

r u talking durty to me?


20 posted on 09/20/2008 2:38:40 PM PDT by freema (MarineNiece,Daughter,Wife,Friend,Sister,Friend,Aunt,Friend,Mother,Friend,Cousin, FRiend)
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