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Why ISIS wants to erase Palmyra's history





(CNN)In "The Art of War," Sun Tzu notes that "the whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent." ISIS is developing this logic in an obscene and seductive way, using the world's media to cultivate its barbaric image and recruit new members.

The austerely beautiful ruins of the Temple of Baalshamin at Palmyra in central Syria are the latest victims of staged cultural desecration, and bodies like UNESCO have reacted as ISIS hoped, by denouncing this as a war crime. ISIS gets publicity, attention, vilification. The world's media react and we supply ISIS their recruiting fuel and offer free advertising of more illicit antiquities soon to be on sale on the black market.

The destruction and looting of heritage across Syria and Iraq is on an industrial scale. The Syrian Heritage Initiative of the American Schools of Oriental Research, among others, tries to document this pillage and loss.

Truth is scarce in all directions. The destruction of the Baalshamin was announced Monday; ISIS released photos Tuesday purporting to show explosives rigged up, an explosion, and rubble. But other reports indicate the destruction occurred a month ago. The images released shock but fail fully to document...

Full article here: http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/26/opinions/manning-palmyra-isis/index.html

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Discovery of the ruined city by travellers in the 17th and 18th centuries resulted in its subsequent influence on architectural styles.