Is there any way of donating towards the rebuilding of the Samarra shrine?

[Taxloss]

It was such a beautiful building and such a tragic act of desecration I'd like to know if there was a small way private citizens could assist. I contributing towards the continuing reconstruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, and feel this sort of gesture is important.

Obviously, I would only really feel comfortable donating to a respected, neutral third party like International Red Crescent or UNESCO. But it would be a nice gesture of goodwill if private individuals (NOT government bodies) in the US and UK assisted undoing this tragedy - there are so many good causes in Iraq but this is one powerful symbol.

Or maybe relations are so poisoned now any attempted gesture would be seen as patronising meddling. I don't know. But it's worth a thought. If anyone has any ideas, I'd like to hear them.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

1. A wonderful sentiment

But if you really want to help the Iraqi people, donate to a fund that will build them a school or a library or a hospital.

That pathetic country we've raped needs another religious building about as badly as the United States needs another church.

Dear Leader has already said that American taxpayer dollars will go to rebuild that "shrine," so, perhaps, it would be wise to put your donative funds where they can do some real good.

Still, I admire the kindness of your thought. It shows that our side really is the "good guys."

:shrug:

[Taxloss]

4. Certainly schools and hospitals are more important on a practical level.

But the powerful symbolis of the action was its appeal, rather than its ground level practicality - I know that doesn't assist any blood transfusions, but in the long run it might mean there have to be fewer. And the shrine isn't just "another church" for the Shi'a, it's a devotional site of supreme importance, tomb of two of their twelve imams. This is like someone blowing up the Lincoln Memorial or taking a sledgehammer to the Vietnam War Memorial.

Ah well, it looks like we might be a bit past the "touching gestures of reconciliation" phase and into the "helicopters, flat roof" phase.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

6. I wonder how much it will cost us taxpayers to rebuild

in accordance with Dear Leader's promise.

Maybe Halliburton can get the contract.

[Bridget Burke]

10. Dear Leader also said he would help rebuild NOLA.

There are lots of good causes out there. But I'd be glad to send a bit toward rebuilding that beautiful shrine.

[neoblues]

2. Alas, they'd probably just blow it up again... n/t.

[Skidmore]

3. How can you rebuild a history?

That mosque was 1200 years old. It is like those statues of Buddha in Afghanistan, priceless.

I agree that we help the Iraqi people by fighting to end the war and give them a true chance to chart their own course. God knows, the all wise government of the US sure doesn't have a clue as to what the people of Iraq want or need.

[Taxloss]

5. The dome was only completed in 1905.

Buildings are destroyed and rebuilt - that is their history. The Palace of Westminster has been rebuilt many times.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Just Say "Fill 'Er Up"

The Iranians are just biding their time as the situation gets messier...with plenty of our petrodollars, along with other wealthy Shiites, to rebuild the mosque even bigger and better than before.

BTW...the building that was destroyed was built in 1905...not quite like the Taliban blowing away 2,000 year old Budhist icons.

[warrior1]

8. That's nice

but how about the church's burned in the US of A these passed few months.

[Taxloss]

9. That would be the USA, the wealthiest country on Earth?

I think you chaps can deal with that internally. I was think about building bridges with a country that we have royally pissed off.