AGAIN WE PROVE OURSELVES TO BE GOOD GUYS, FOR THE ZILLIONTH TIME

Four and five thousand-year old artifacts from Iraq's multi-cultured past were discovered here when Soldiers of Company B, 65th Engineer Battalion dug into a hill while gathering dirt for Hesco defense barriers in late April...

"Once the engineers found it, they stopped, backed off and notified the brigade tactical operations center," Gianforti said...

"As Americans our policy is to respect the cultures of the country that we find ourselves in," said Maj. Karl Morton, commander of Co. B, 451st CA Bn. "The better the locals understand that, I think the more supportive they'll be to what we are doing overall. That's one of our main missions in Civil Affairs."

Ghaib Fadil Karem, director of Ministry of Antiquities, said he appreciates the efforts of the Army and Air Force in safeguarding Iraq's ancient history.

"I realize how sincere [the Army and Air Force] are to the Iraqi culture," Karem said through an interpreter. "Before I knew about this, I had another idea about this matter where I was concerned about the sites beneath the earth in the area. Now I know they are here trying to protect these sites and are preserving them for the Iraqi people."