New playing cards focus on archaeology

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- The Pentagon is distributing new playing cards to troops, but this time they don't depict Iraq's most wanted.

The playing cards show pictures of Iraq and Afghanistan's cultural and archaeological sites, along with tips and entreaties to American troops on protecting the sites. The five of clubs, for instance, suggests they drive around rather than over archeological sites; the two of hearts shows the ancient ruins of Samara with the inscription: "99 percent of mankind's history can only be understood through archaeology."

The U.S. government and the Pentagon came under sharp criticism for failing to protect Baghdad's National Museum -- a vast storehouse of artifacts from some of civilization's first cities -- from looting after the capital city fell in the invasion of 2003.

Iraq is rich with sites, especially those of importance to religious and cultural history. The ruins of Babylon are near present-day Hillah and played host to the 1st Marine Division immediately after the invasion. Local archeologists say the camp -- and the reverberations of foot traffic, the Humvees and the frequent coming and goings of heavy helicopters -- damaged the ancient city.

In 2003 the military distributed playing cards with pictures and names of the 55 most wanted leaders in Saddam Hussein's regime. Troops play cards in their downtime, and the cards kept their eyes peeled for potential prisoners. The system apparently worked; more than 40 of those depicted have been captured or killed.

The Defense Department is distributing 40,000 decks of playing cards to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Archeological Institute of America's latest issue of "Archaeology."