Posted on 06/25/2008 5:22:56 PM PDT by forkinsocket
Jordan handed over nearly 2,500 stolen ancient artifacts to Iraq in a ceremony in Amman on Sunday.
The repatriation is latest step in recovering about 15,000 priceless artifacts that were smuggled out of the country by looters during the chaos following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and have been turning up at art auctions around the world. Many were taken from the national museum in Baghdad, and thousands more were looted from archeolgoical sites.
At the ceremony, Maha Khatib, Jordan's minister of tourism, presented the pieces to her Iraqi counterpart, Mohammed Abbas Oreibi. Oreibi told reporters that the pieces will be packed and sent to Iraq this week. He added that improved security in Iraq will allow its authorities to better protect its heritage.
Samples of silver coins, necklaces, scrolls and ceramic pots were on display for reporters.
The most prized item was an ivory relief from the national museum that dates to the first millennium and came from the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrod.
Earlier this month, a set of ancient agate and alabaster seals found in Philadelphia were returned to Iraq, and Syria returned more than 700 pieces discovered by its authorities.
I’m sure this is the lead story on the evening news tonight. As I recall, it was all Bush’s fault at the time. I wish I could photoshop an Iraqi looter guy.
We're Imperialist looters after their oil.
We choreographed the thievery and facilitated the disappearance of these valuable pieces.
Bush is doing everything he can to destroy Iraq, and America ... and Iran, and Lichtenstein, and Holland and ... well ... this danged cowboy is just out to take over the world and dominate every soul on planet Earth.
< / s >
First, I never knew there had been any looting, and second ... what a wonderful thing to happen that they are returned.
I truely hope we had a part in this ... and that if we had ... we get some ink on it.
(Holding breath, turning blue, signing my will ... )
Yes, Bush of course, but especially Rumsfeld. He didn’t have shoot to kill looters orders in place (sarcasm).
Of course a lot of the looting of their treasures was done by other than street thugs; it was planned and organized theft by people at higher levels than that.
But we will never hear of this good news...only of the bad news from way back when.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.