Iraq Damage Surveys

Iraq Damage Surveys Apr 21–May 21, 2016

South Gallery, Buell Hall GSAPP, Columbia University M–F 12–6pm

This exhibition compiles extracts from six digital photographic collections focused on damage to buildings and structures in Iraq from 1991 to 2015. A team of student researchers examined various archives that exhibit different approaches and criteria for surveying sites of damage. In most cases the photographs are informal snapshots taken for reports, or for personal collections by military personnel, scholars, contractors, civilians, and NGO researchers.

Each collection offers documentary evidence on multiple perspectives of the wars in Iraq, as well as the way in which they impacted the city and led to reconstruction efforts.

The National Security Archive briefing book presents satellite images featuring building targets released by the Department of Defense in 2002-2003. “Operation Iraqi Freedom” appears in The National Archives and Records Administration through photographs taken by military personnel. Photographs within the collection “Pictures of Damaged Libraries in Iraq” are drawn from a report produced by the Committee on Iraqi Libraries. The series “Baghdad Looted Ministries, 2003” by photojournalist Ed Kashi depicts the destruction and looting of public buildings that followed the US-led occupation of Baghdad. The personal blog of Steve M. Florence narrates the restoration of twelve telephone exchanges from the Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company in Baghdad in 2003-2004. The Human Rights Watch Archive contains visual documents, shown publicly here for the first time, that document destroyed and damaged buildings in Tirkrit after Iraqi government-backed Shia militia forces recaptured the area that had been under the control of ISIS.

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01 National Archives and Records Administration Series: Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files, 1982–2007 Search term: Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003–2007 In 1934 the United States Federal government created the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to ensure the preservation of legal or historical documents and materials produced by any action taken by the federal government considered important to the history of the country. The Still Pictures Unit in College Park, Maryland archives different visual media including military records generated by the Department of Defense. The “Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files, 1982–2007” compiles pictures taken by photographers of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard that were assembled to create a visual inventory of military activities.

Often images taken from the ground reveal targets of military objectives. Many, possibly celebratory in character, represent damaged environments as evidence of military success and conquered spaces. In this sense, it is not surprising that the main subjects of the images are the Baath Party Headquarters, the Presidential Compound, and Saddam Hussein’s palaces. Less well represented in this collection are looted ministries, libraries, museums, destroyed ancient monuments and civilian dwellings.

All photographs courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.

All captions reproduced from NARA records. https://catalog.archives.gov/

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01 A bullet riddled mural of Saddam Hussein in Southern Iraq, along the road to Baghdad, April 4, 2003. LCPL Andreas A. Plaza, USMC.

12 An aerial view of a building in the Presidential Compound damaged in Baghdad, April 24, 2003. SSGT Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF.

02 The destruction within the interior of a prison at Iraq's Department of Government Intelligence in Baghdad, April 16, 2003. LCPL Christopher H. Fitzgerald.

13 An aerial view of the Al Salam Presidential Palace in Baghdad damaged during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Note the larger that life busts of Saddam Hussein on the corners of the building. In the background the construction continues on the alRahman mosque, untouched during the coalition bombing operations. April 24, 2003. SSGT Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF.

03 A director of the Iraqi National Museum rummages through papers in hopes of recovering important museum documents left behind by looters using the cover of war for their activities. April 22, 2003. SSGT D. Myles Cullen, USAF.

14 U.S. Army Soldiers stand around the field and watch the flag football game between Team Forward Operating Base Falcon and Team Prosperity at the International Zone, FOB Prosperity, during the Baghdad Bowl on February 3, 2007. SSG Sean A. Foley, USA.

04 An Assault Amphibian Vehicle parks by a toppled wall as US Marines Corps (USMC) from the 1ST Battalion, 7th Marines, Charlie Company, Twentynine Palms, California, take over one of Saddam Hussein's palaces in Baghdad, April 9, 2003. LCPL Kevin C. Quihuis Jr, USMC.

15 Aerial view showing the right side of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, and surrounding area, after a car bomb exploded in front of the Embassy. August 10, 2003. MSGT Robert R. Hargreaves, USAF.

05–06 One of Saddam Husseins collapsed and bomb damaged multistory palaces in downtown Baghdad, April 15, 2003. GYSGT Erik S. Hansen, USMC.

16 Long shot wideangle view showing damage to the United Nations (UN) Headquarters building in Baghdad, Iraq, following a truck bombing that destroyed a portion of the building. August 21, 2003. MSGT James M. Bowman, USAF.

07 US Air Force members of a Combat Control Team walk through the rubble at one of Saddam Husseins palaces, April 25, 2003. SSGT Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF. 08 US Air Force (USAF) STAFF Sergeant Dawn Anderson, 1ST Combat Camera Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, videotapes the damage to one of Saddam Husseins palaces, April 25, 2007. SSGT Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF.

17 Rescue workers and US Military soldiers search through rubble and debris at the United Nations (UN) Office of Humanitarian Coordinator Building in Baghdad, after a truck bombing destroyed much of the building. August 21, 2003.

MSGT Robert R. Hargreaves, USAF.

09 An aerial view of the "Project 2000" command and control bunker damaged in Baghdad, April 24, 2003. SSGT Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF.

18 A workforce of over 300 Iraqi personnel are involved in the $4.1 million complete renovation of an apartment building in the International Zone, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Usace) Gulf Region Central District. July 8, 2005. Norris Jones, CIV, Usace.

10-11 A view showing bomb damage to the Baath Party Headquarters building located in the International Zone in central Baghdad, July 10, 2005. Jim Gordon, CIV.

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02 Middle East Librarians Association “Pictures of Damaged Libraries in Iraq,” May 25–31, 2003 The 2003 invasion of Iraq between March 20 and May 1 consisted of combined operations by American troops and coalition forces primarily from the United Kingdom. While the military forces provided security to several strategic sites such as the Ministry of Oil, the Palestine and Sheraton hotels, and the Baghdad International Airport, Iraq’s cultural infrastructure remained largely unprotected.

In the aftermath of these events, the Middle East Librarians Association created the Committee on Iraqi Libraries to coordinate a “response to the damage and destruction suffered by libraries in Iraq during and after the war.” The members of the task force provided damage assessment and suggested ways to assist in rebuilding efforts.

The photographs presented in the series “Pictures of Damaged Libraries in Iraq” accompanied the “Iraq Manuscript Collections, Archives, & Libraries: Situation Report” by Nabil al-Tikriti, dated June 8 2003. The report included and assessment of damage to the National Library and Archives, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs Central Library, and the Iraq Scientific Academy by Rifat Chadirji, among others. This photographs detail both library damage and their looted possessions. Objects of value were often targeted for theft. Yet, library documents with little commodity value were also stolen for political purposes, or suffered collateral damage alongside the destruction of library buildings.

All captions reproduced from “Pictures of Damaged Libraries in Iraq,” which accompanied the document "Iraq Manuscript Collections, Archives, & Libraries: Situation Report," June 8, 2003 by Nabil al-Tirkriti. http://mela.us/committees/Iraqi-libraries/documents.html

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01 Al-Majma' al-'Ilmi al-'Iraqi - Iraqi Academy of Sciences, External view.

Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

13 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, damage to newspapers/ periodicals. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson

02 Al-Majma' al-'Ilmi al-'Iraqi - Iraqi Academy of Sciences, Crashed front gate.

Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

14 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, damage to newspapers/ periodicals. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

03 Bayt al-Hikma, External View of Burned Portion. Baghdad, 2003.

Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

15 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, burned stairwell to upper levels. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

04 Bayt al-Hikma, External View of Burned Portion. Baghdad, 2003.

Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

16 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, books which were awaiting processing at the time of the destruction. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

05 Bayt al-Hikma, Courtyard View, Abbasid-era portion. Baghdad, 2003.

Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

17 Maktabat al-Awqaf, Burned interior view. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

06 Bayt al-Hikma, Documents Pile.

Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti

18 Maktabat al-Awqaf, Front gate view.

Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

07 Bayt al-Hikma, Burned Second Floor View. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

08 Bayt al-Hikma, Western Literature Collection. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of Nabil al-Tikriti.

09 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, Burned front of the library. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

10 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, ground floor of the National Library - looting and fire damage. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

11 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, looting and fire damage. Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

12 Dar al-Kutub wa-al-Watha'iq National Library, incinerated paper.

Baghdad, 2003. Photograph courtesy of McGuire Gibson.

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03 Ed Kashi/VII Photo Agency Baghdad’s Looted Ministries, 2003 One of the most common distribution networks for images of wartime destruction are the major media outlets. News and photo agencies such as Getty Images, Associated Press, Reuters or AFP gather photographs and reports and sell them to subscribing news organizations. VII, an international photo agency founded in 2001, is owned and governed by its nineteen members. It was created as an alternative to large image corporations that were acquiring other small photo agencies at the time.

This series of images by photojournalist Ed Kashi gives a glimpse into the destruction and looting of public buildings that followed the US-led coalition occupation of Baghdad. Kashi explains that by May 2003 virtually all the ministries of the Iraqi government were burned and looted.

Only the Ministry of Oil continued functioning due to its protection by US military personnel. By concentrating on the fate of Iraq’s ministries, Kashi’s photographs inquire into the strategic interests of the military operation. As symbols of the Baath Party control the ministries were often targeted cases by Iraqi citizens. The burning, looting and destruction occurred under the US military observation.

All photographs courtesy of Ed Kashi/VII.

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01 The looted and destroyed former Ministry of Irrigation building, Baghdad, 2003.

15 The Ministry of Oil burns and spews smoke after being hit by a rocket fired from a donkey cart, Baghdad, November 2003.

02 Uday Hussein's Ministry of Iraqi Sports was looted and burned after the war, Baghdad, 2003.

03 Soldiers of the First Armored Brigade occupy a former palace of Uday Hussein and swim in his pool, Baghdad, 2003.

04 The Ministry of Oil in Baghdad, which went unharmed in the post-war looting that destroyed most of Iraq's government buildings in Baghdad, Iraq on July 14, 2003.

05 The burned and looted Ministry of Industry and Minerals building, Baghdad, 2003.

06 Members of the U.S. Army Third Infantry Brigade do a patrol through Baghdad's streets, 2003.

07 Scenes outside the burned and looted Ministry of Information, Baghdad, 2003.

08 The looted and burned building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baghdad, 2003.

09 The burned and looted Ministry of Education, Baghdad, 2003.

10 The burned and looted building of the Ministry of Planning, Baghdad, 2003.

11 The burned and looted building of the Ministry of Justice, Baghdad, 2003.

12 The burned and looted building of the Ministry of Housing and Construction, Baghdad, 2003.

13 The burned and looted building of the Ministry of Housing and Construction, Baghdad, 2003.

14 The burned and looted building of the Ministry of Justice, Baghdad, 2003.

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04 Steve M. Florence Blog "Iraq Telecommunication Project and Sites," 2003–2004 In late July 2003, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) commissioned Bechtel, a US-based engineering, construction, and project management company, to restore twelve telephone exchanges belonging to the Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company in Baghdad. Due to their vital communicative function the twelve buildings that housed the exchanges were main targets during the 2003 Iraq War. Their damage disrupted nearly half of the city’s telephone services.

This collection contains photographic evidence of five out of the twelve reconstructions—including the Offices, Central Post, Telegraph and Telephone Administration (Sinek exchange) by Rifat Chadirji. Steve M. Florence, the company’s director for the project, displays the reconstruction chronologically in his personal blog, starting with damage assessment and ending with replacement.

He mentions that because exchange buildings were totally destroyed they had to create replacement infrastructures in portable containers nearby the damaged buildings or inside buildings after removing the rubble.

All photographs courtesy of Steve M. Florence.

All captions adapted from Steve M. Florence's blog. http://www.fayeandsteve.com/Iraq%20Telecom%20Projs.htm

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01 The Sinek exchange occupies an entire twelve story building in the downtown area. It is a landmark, and can be seen from almost anywhere in Baghdad.

It was particularly notable for the chunk of missing structure, taken out by a tomahawk missile, which nearly toppled the building. Baghdad, August 4, 2003.

11 View inside the container; workers from Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company are working on the communication wirings. Baghdad, January, 2004.

02 During the period of looting a welding tourch ignited something, resulting in a fire which burned for days, gutting the structure.

13 Cable splices are prepared for the new exchange site. Baghdad, October 6, 2003.

12 Workers are clearing the site for the new exchange in Kadhimiya. Baghdad, August 29, 2003.

14 The container that will house the wirings is being placed to the ground.

Baghdad, October 15, 2003.

03 The hole in the floor was caused by a bunker buster bomb that came vertically down through the roof and destroyed the basement that housed all of the switching equipment.

15 The new exchange facilities in Kadhimiya are fully operational. Tanks are in site to protect the site.

Baghdad, January 24, 2004.

04 Locating the old cables was an arduous task. The workers had to tie into the old cables far enough away from the destroyed building to avoid working with damaged cables. Baghdad, September, 2003.

16 Workers are preparing the new site for Salihya exchange restoration.

Baghdad, October, 2003.

17 Concrete slabs to place the new facilities are ready.

05 The site chosen for the exchange restoration was behind the Iraq School of Music building, to use the existing cable tunnels that crossed under the road.

18 A container that will house the communication wirings is being placed on the slab.

06 Hard working masons are building the cable splice chamber building and generator building.

19 The new exchange is fully operational. A security man guards the site. Baghdad, January, 2004.

07 Containers are now in place and fully wired, and all new masonry is painted white. Baghdad, December, 2003.

20-21 The Baghdad Tower (previously called International Saddam Tower) and the destroyed Mamoun exchange building.

Baghdad, June, 2003.

08 New corrugated metal screening wall on the bridge prevents night shooting from cars on the bridge. Baghdad, February, 2004.

22 The site chosen for the new exchange complex is on the site of a former childrens' amusement park.

09 Adhamiya exchange, heavily destroyed. The communication tower is down. Baghdad, August, 2003.

23 Four trailers are being set to house two switches, the splicing main frame, and an office. Baghdad, October, 2003.

10 The first container that will house the exchange has arrived. A brick fence has been erected to protect the site.

Baghdad, October, 2003.

24 Army protection is visible during the restoration. Baghdad, October, 2003.

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05 Human Rights Watch "Pro-government Iraqi forces destroy buildings after ousting ISIS," Iraq, 2015.

While investigating and documenting militia abuses following the recapture of Tikrit in 2015, Human Rights Watch researchers established a comprehensive archive of photographs and videos of destroyed and damaged buildings in the region: “In the aftermath of the fighting between the extremist group Islamic State (also known as ISIS), government-backed Shia militia forces in March and April 2015 looted, torched, and blew up hundreds of civilian houses and buildings in Tikrit and the neighboring towns of al-Dur, al-Bu ‘Ajil and al-Alam along the Tigris River, in violation of the laws of war. On the northeastern front against ISIS, Kurdish Iraqi Peshmerga forces destroyed houses in a number of villages after recapturing them from ISIS over the course of 2015.”

(C.W., 2016) The images collected portray almost exclusively destroyed private residences. Some of these photographs were provided to the NGO by residents, while others were taken by researchers on-site. In order to protect residents’ privacy Human Rights Watch rarely publishes visual on-theground material within their reports. Thanks to the help of one researcher who extracted these images from his files for the context of this exhibition, some of the visual documents collected in 2015 are shown here publicly for the first time.

All photographs courtesy of Human Rights Watch.

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01-05 Civilian residence, Tikrit - Al Alam, Iraq, 2015.

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Health Center, Al Dur, Iraq, 2015.

07-22 2015.

Civilian residence, Al Dur, Iraq,

23 Videostill, civilian residence, Kirkuk, Iraq, 2015.

24 Videostill, School, Kirkuk, Iraq, 2015.

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Monument, Tikrit, Iraq, 2015.

26-33 2015.

Civilian residence, Tikrit, Iraq,

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06 The National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 88: “Eyes on Saddam: U.S. Overhead Imagery of Iraq,” ed. Jeffrey T. Richelson, April 30, 2003 Founded in 1985 by journalists and scholars, the National Security Archive, one of the largest nongovernmental record collections, investigates, researches and archives declassified United States’ documents. Its mission is to expand and defend public access to government information.

The Digital National Security Archive together with the collection of Electronic Briefing Books (EBBs) provide online access to declassified materials related to American national security, foreign policy, and military history.

“Eyes on Saddam: U.S. Overhead Imagery of Iraq” collects aerial imagery taken by satellite or reconnaissance aircrafts and released in 2002-2003 by the Department of Defense. This EBB edition sought to draw parallels between the evolution of aerial imagery capabilities with the evolution of the government’s attitude toward declassifying these images. The forty-three images in this briefing book assembled under six categories depict: presidential palaces; weapons of mass destruction sites; other military sites; command, control, and communications sites; security and intelligence facilities; and civilian sites. Each group of images is analyzed in regard to specific intentions regarding its release. Many of the images are paired to show site conditions pre and post U.S. airstrikes.

All images courtesy of the National Security Archive. http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB88/

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CCCP Exhibitions Research Team: Ruishi Ge, Joachim Hackl, Robin Hartanto, Chi-Chia Hou, Sara McGillivray, Iara Pimenta Graphic Design: MTWTF Produced by GSAPP Exhibitions

Arthur Ross Architecture Gallery M–F 12–6pm, Sat 3–6pm arthurrossarchitecturegallery.org