[davidreiss]

> The level of destruction of people and centres of culture puts any praise of him beyond the pale.

I disagree. If that was the case, then no man would be praiseworthy.

> His army destroyed what was perhaps the most important city in Western Asia:

No he didn't and no it wasn't anything near the most important city in western asia. Go read about the supposed destruction of the cities and see how absurd it is.

Certainly the status of Merv declined as the mongols diverted trade routes to suit them but that's empire.

Also, west asia has lots of great and important cities. I wouldn't go around complaining Mery was the most important cities in west asia when cities like jerusalem, baghdad and a bunch more exist in west asia.