ISIS and Mosul's Antiquities

ISIS, which has now rebranded itself as just "The Islamic State," and has declared a Caliphate, continues to try to entrench its position. Juan Cole reminds us that declaring a Caliphate does not a Caliph make, But that does not mean that great damage is not being done: ISIS is reportedly destroying statues and some ancient tombs, and has removed ancient manuscripts from display in Mosul,

The Syrian civil war has already had a devastating effect on antiquities. Now Mosul's past may also be disappearing. The deaths and destruction of any war threaten the country's future, but this threatens to rob Iraqis of their past as well.

On the "Caliphate" issue, see also this discussion at Syria Deeply.