Loss Estimates Are Cut on Iraqi Artifacts

The New York Times ^ | 5/1/03 | Alan Riding

[windchime]

MISSING ANTIQUITIES Loss Estimates Are Cut on Iraqi Artifacts, but Questions Remain By ALAN RIDING

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 30 — Even though many irreplaceable antiquities were looted from the National Museum of Iraq during the chaotic fall of Baghdad last month, museum officials and American investigators now say the losses seem to be less severe than originally thought.

Col. Matthew F. Bogdanos, a Marine reservist who is investigating the looting and is stationed at the museum, said museum officials had given him a list of 29 artifacts that were definitely missing. But since then, 4 items — ivory objects from the eighth century B.C. — had been traced.

"Twenty-five pieces is not the same as 170,000," said Colonel Bogdanos, who in civilian life is an assistant Manhattan district attorney.

[windchime]

Looks like Baghdad Bob was conveying the news from the museum.

[mewzilla]

The fact that the museum staff was trained to stash this stuff is old news. FOX reported it weeks ago. See the Times is still a day late and dollar short, when they bother to report at all...

[MEG33]

I don't know if you were on some of the threads about this but this is a stunning change(except for the US bashing). 29 or 170,000 pieces,what's a few zeros when the blame America crowd gets going?

[Miss Marple]

TWENTY-NINE? THAT'S ALL?

They could have lost 29 from sloppy record-keeping!

[dawn53]

"The difficulty in determining what is missing is compounded by the lack of a master list of the museum's collection."

I read a wonderful Mark Steyn piece earlier in the week. His question to the world was this: "Why was Saddam's evil regime entrusted with this stuff in the first place?"

Here's a link to that piece. It was an excellent read.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/902303/posts

[windchime]

"I don't know if you were on some of the threads about this but this is a stunning change(except for the US bashing). 29 or 170,000 pieces,what's a few zeros when the blame America crowd gets going?"


That's exactly why it was worth reporting. They've even traced 4 items dropping the total to 25.

Yes, I have been following the wailing, hand wringing AND US blaming. This little list just removed ammo from our opponents.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Journalism be damned!

We've got a quagmire to find!

There was no plan to protect artifacts!

We don't need no steeenkin' facts!

We distort, you decide!

[MEG33]

You are going to love this museum update.Unbelievable!

[windchime]

Dawn, thank you! I usually read Steyn, but had missed this one. One of his best!

[MEG33]

This will interest you about artifact looting.Good news

[windchime]

That's good!:)

[livius]

29!!!! LOL! Well, let's see if this story gets as much play as the 170,000 number generated by the liberal Magic 8 Ball.

[windchime]

"Well, let's see if this story gets as much play as the 170,000 number generated by the liberal Magic 8 Ball."

Not a chance. Doesn't fit the agenda.

[mj1234]

This is now known: @25 objects missing, a untold number
damaged.

Can you say INSIDE JOB- they were party loyalists
that were incharge of the museum.

[You Dirty Rats]

There are MANY more than 29 stolen artworks hanging in the Louvre, thanks to Napoleon.

[azhenfud]

I just want facts 'Mam, just the facts.
That's the facts on the artifacts.

[geedee]

TWENTY-NINE? THAT'S ALL? They could have lost 29 from sloppy record-keeping!

Ahhhh . . . but then the leftist propogandist-jackals wouldn't have been able to blame us war-mongers, huh?

[hoosiermama]

Now only twenty-five pieces actually missing. Isn't that fewer than what was missing at the White House after Hill/Billy exited?

[geedee]

Now only twenty-five pieces actually missing. Isn't that fewer than what was missing at the White House after Hill/Billy exited?

Good Point!!!!!

[mass55th]

They could have lost 29 from sloppy record-keeping!

And there were those on this thread who felt our soldiers should be put in harm's way to rescue 29 items...pathetic!!!