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34987123 others on this long thread may have mentioned this, but I wonder why the curator isn't thanking the US for NOT bombing the museum. Lost and looted articles are at least in one piece and can be begged, borrowed, bought or stolen back.

Actually, of the 4,000 objects stolen from Iraqi museums after the first Gulf War, only 3 or 4 were recovered. What happens is they end up in the hands of private collectors or in the trash. Lacking a market (which is inevitable for all but the most priceless of the items), they throw them away. Probably because they fear consequences for the theft.

Since the looting was caught on tape, identities of the looters are known and they can be tracked down. Their photos can be shown on Iraq tv, rewards can be posted...all kinds of steps can be taken to get the treasures back.

I will not blame US troops for staying out of the art business. They had plenty to do...who knows, perhaps the marines assigned to the museum detail were killed by snipers on the way over. Ridiculous? No more ridiculous than the curator running around blaming us for what might legitimately be considered her own carelessness.

I hope to get to Baghdad as soon as it's safe, and am distressed that the museum has lost its treasures. However, the Iraqis had plenty of time to protect them. Hitler and the Nazis took exceptional care of German and European art, and pieces have turned up over the years in excellent condition.

Some Iraqi stuff is probably on eBay already or on its way to antiques roadshow. I don't mean this cynically. Collectors and dealers should keep an eye out and report stolen treasures to......to whom?