LOOTERS !!!
El Greco | 18.04.2003 09:42
LOOTERS !!!
Bush's top cultural adviser steps down over looting of Iraqi museum
18.04.2003 [01:05]
Martin Sullivan, the head of President George W. Bush 's cultural advisory committee, stepped down this week in protest over the United States failing to stop the looting of Baghdad's museum.
In a letter to Bush dated Monday, Sullivan said he was resigning as chairman of the President's Advisory Committee on Cultural Property, a position he had held since 1995.
"The reports in recent days about the looting of Iraq 's National Museum of Antiquities and the destruction of countless artifacts that document the cradle of Western civilization have troubled me deeply, a feeling that is shared by many other Americans," he wrote.
Calling the looting a "tragedy," Sullivan said that it was not prevented "due to our nation's inaction.
The 11-member committee is made up of experts and professionals in the art world who are appointed to three-year terms.
Two are museum representatives, two are experts in archaeology and ethnology, three are specialists in worldwide art trade and four others are designated based on their areas of expertise.
A source close to the committee told AFP on condition of anonymity that another committee member, Gary Vikan, was also stepping down.
Sullivan serves as executive director of the Historic Saint Mary's City Commission, dedicated to one of the first British colonies, in the state of Maryland. Vikan is director of the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland.
Baghdad's museum, which housed one of the world's great collections of artifacts from early Mesopotamian civilizations, was ransacked by looters on Friday in the upheaval following US troops' entry into the city.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday that the United States was offering rewards for the return of items from the museum, or assistance in their recovery.
But critics have faulted US forces for failing to intervene in the extensive pillaging of the capital and other Iraqi cities after President Saddam Hussein 's regime collapsed.
18.04.2003 [01:05]
Martin Sullivan, the head of President George W. Bush 's cultural advisory committee, stepped down this week in protest over the United States failing to stop the looting of Baghdad's museum.
In a letter to Bush dated Monday, Sullivan said he was resigning as chairman of the President's Advisory Committee on Cultural Property, a position he had held since 1995.
"The reports in recent days about the looting of Iraq 's National Museum of Antiquities and the destruction of countless artifacts that document the cradle of Western civilization have troubled me deeply, a feeling that is shared by many other Americans," he wrote.
Calling the looting a "tragedy," Sullivan said that it was not prevented "due to our nation's inaction.
The 11-member committee is made up of experts and professionals in the art world who are appointed to three-year terms.
Two are museum representatives, two are experts in archaeology and ethnology, three are specialists in worldwide art trade and four others are designated based on their areas of expertise.
A source close to the committee told AFP on condition of anonymity that another committee member, Gary Vikan, was also stepping down.
Sullivan serves as executive director of the Historic Saint Mary's City Commission, dedicated to one of the first British colonies, in the state of Maryland. Vikan is director of the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland.
Baghdad's museum, which housed one of the world's great collections of artifacts from early Mesopotamian civilizations, was ransacked by looters on Friday in the upheaval following US troops' entry into the city.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday that the United States was offering rewards for the return of items from the museum, or assistance in their recovery.
But critics have faulted US forces for failing to intervene in the extensive pillaging of the capital and other Iraqi cities after President Saddam Hussein 's regime collapsed.
El Greco
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
Unbelievable
18.04.2003 10:38
laborintus
Plant
18.04.2003 10:43
ram
here is a link with the foto
18.04.2003 11:53
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libareted now
18.04.2003 11:57
libareted now
//
US forces behind anarchy in Iraq
18.04.2003 12:13
A former top ranking official of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) alleged on Thursday that the US was fanning anarchy to achieve its sinister motives in Iraq.
In an interview with "IRNA" here, Colonel (Retd.) Sultan Amir Imam said that behind fanning chaos and lawlessness, the US wanted to achieve its well defined "objectives" in Iraq and later in the region.
Amir Imam, an ex-key member of ISI's Strategic Wing, stated US-led forces, on the one hand were bent upon destruction of remaining infrastructure across the country. While on the other, he added, the invaders had occupied Iraq's oil resources.
"It appears, America wants to enslave the people of Iraq for a long time. With the same objective, conspiracies are already being hatched to encourage division of the country," he pointed out.
The analyst continued that under a plan, the US would like to divide Iraq into three parts: One comprising Sunni Muslims, the second Shiite Muslims and the third Kurds.
Division of Iraq, he noted, could serve America's political and economic interests in the region in a far better manner for which the invader could go to any limit.
Taking the United Nations as one of the hurdles in realization of its designs, Amir Imam stated that the US weakened and bypassed the world body and also would not tolerate any threat to its interests by the regional countries.
"American leadership is opposed to any country in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf that may at some stage pose challenge to Israel," he said, adding the action against Iraq and threats to Syria and Iran were part of the same game plan.
He also cited Hezbollah factor behind US threats to Damascus and Tehran as Israel considers Hezbollah guerillas as a hurdle to its expansionist designs.
Washington would like to see end to Hezbollah threat to Tel Aviv for which it could subject Syria to aggression, he cautioned and added such an option would immensely benefit the Zionist regime.
To a question, the analyst maintained that with the invasion of Iraq, the US had embarked on a plan of action to remove all hurdles in the way of Israel. He made mention of US support to some elements that could be handy in realization of its 'objectives'.
However, he cautioned that US always moved quickly to eliminate all those who provided support to her, making sure there is no clue available to its conspiracies.
In this context, he mentioned the instance of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussain, who was encouraged and supported to wage an eight-year long war with Iran and then to invade Kuwait.
"Saddam was targeted after Washington found he was no more of any significance to serve its interests," the analyst added.
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