Too Much To Dream

US troops looting in Iraq? Not bloody likely.

I'm not saying that because I think the troops are too professional to loot (although I do), but because there isn't anything to speak of in Iraq that a US troop would be interested in stealing. We can buy better stuff that most Iraqis have at freakin' Walmart.

Actually, I would think one would only expect to find the (US) troops (or any trrops for that matter) to be looting if they were a conquering force. You know, to the victor go the spoils and all that stuff.

Since they are a liberating entity the idea that they should be recognized for not doing something (looting) that they were not supposed to do in the first place sounds sort of silly to me. I mean the whole reason for their being there was to find WMD...er no, hunt down terrorists...er no, free the people, yes that's it!

The thing that astonishes me is that so many people say it is the fault of the US that the looting occurred. It seems to me that, since the looting was done by Iraqis, it is the fault of Iraqis that looting occurred. How hard is that?

What this particular blame game reveals is a couple of assumptions: First, that whatever bad thing happens, is America's fault. Not that I beleive that America can do no wrong, mind you, but some people clearly believe that if America were only plucked from the face of the planet, all would be sweetness and light. Second, that ordinary people are not responsible, only Government Authority is responsible. This is, of course, the nanny state mindset that justifies state micromanagement of your life.

Bert, where's my rubber ducky?

Oh, and BTW, Big Bird wants to know where's Osama?

Hey Ernie at a fake address.com, filling up my comments with useless, off-topic snarks is a good way to get your IP banned. Just so you know.

Yes, the Mongols were greatly feared for the way they would stand by and watch while other people looted. Even centuries later, people like the Russians still speak in whispers of how the hordes would sweep in and then stand around fidgeting; it made their ancestors that nervous. Genghis Khan's very name means "dreadful immobility" in Mongolian.

Oh, yes. All we need are reports of soldiers shooting Iraqi civilians for walking out of a Baath building with a clay pot or a sink, or something. The only way to ultimately enforce any rule is at the point of a weapon, and the military is not there for that. Who cares if the archeological legacy of Iraq ends up in the hands of people who will probably sell it?

Thanks Andrea - I'd often wondered what the consequences of getting a crack habit would be. Even if I can't maintain my habit, it looks like I'd still be able to blog something...

Happy news...

Jpb: I care. Iraq's archeological legacy is more valuable than most because it has a millenia-long series of the earliest civilizations we know about. And this episode wasn't like the English grabbing stuff from their Empire and carting it off to be studied, catalogued and displayed in the British Museum in London. It was conducted in a frenzy by free-lancers, probably many of whom were desperate amateurs who lacked the time/expertise/damn to pack, move, store, and market the artifacts properly. The looting must have been a madhouse, and inevitably some were broken and/or separated from their labels. It will be nearly-impossible to re-assemble this collection; what looter is going to show up at Tiffany's with a dossier on the history of his stolen goods? How many others, failing to find buyers, will melt down gold objects for their bullion? Further, it is in the U.S.' best interest that Iraq become a stable country instead of an international basket-case like Afghanistan or Somalia. (This is why Bush Sr. did not march on Baghdad or support the post-war revolts.) I speculate that stability is easier with the cultural legacy intact. This collection was Iraq's equivalent of the family photo album, often the first thing gone after in a fire, and if I could have saved it by sacrificing my life, I would have.

Jpb: I care. Iraq's archeological legacy is more valuable than most because it has a millenia-long series of the earliest civilizations we know about. And this episode wasn't like the English grabbing stuff from their Empire and carting it off to be studied, catalogued and displayed in the British Museum in London. It was conducted in a frenzy by free-lancers, probably many of whom were desperate amateurs who lacked the time/expertise/damn to pack, move, store, and market the artifacts properly. The looting must have been a madhouse, and inevitably some were broken and/or separated from their labels. It will be nearly-impossible to re-assemble this collection; what looter is going to show up at Tiffany's with a dossier on the history of his stolen goods? How many others, failing to find buyers, will melt down gold objects for their bullion? Further, it is in the U.S.' best interest that Iraq become a stable country instead of an international basket-case like Afghanistan or Somalia. (This is why Bush Sr. did not march on Baghdad or support the post-war revolts.) I speculate that stability is easier with the cultural legacy intact. This collection was Iraq's equivalent of the family photo album, often the first thing gone after in a fire, and if I could have saved it by sacrificing my life, I would have.

FOr a country like USA where an average citizen is quite ignorant of the history and the culture of the rest of the world, the are living is a fools paradise . America cannot boast of a history as that of the Mesopotamian civilization. So the destruction of the priceless pieces that were destroyed and looted are the responsibility of the so called US forces.
WHat do Americans care for, other than their comfort and intolerance of others culture and way of life. Its a shame that the US forces incapable of finding Saddam Hussein or weapons os mass destruction now turn on stripping the civilization of history.

Matt: you're out of the loop, which doesn't surprise me since you're commenting on an old post. I've done updates since, and now the latest reports are that the "looting" was carried out in a systematic manner before the US forces were in the area, and that the mob merely got to trash a few things. And the story is still developing, which is why we should never jump the gun when these reports first come out. But any opportunity to grandstand...

And now we come to Jean. "America cannot boast of a history as that of the Mesopotamian civilization." Great way to show your ignorance, babe. I guess you've never heard of the Mound Cultures of Ohio and Missouri, the ruins of the Anasazi culture in the southwest, and so on. Not to mention that the Native Americans have been here for at least fifteen thousand years or more. And that's only North America. But hey, like I said, a great opportunity to show off your ignornant America hatred.

I think that our country could have done a lot more to protect this museum. President Bush got letters concerning this matter that the museum should be protected long before it happened. I think it is not the fault of the our troops fighting it is the fault of Mr. Bush or whoever was in charge of planning the war. I think the war could have been planned more carefully. Our troops protected the oil fields and i think the museum could have been easily protected if they wanted to protect it. It is the loss to the whole world not just Iraq. The museum held some of the most priceless things that can never be replaced again and I think that it is our responibility to find some if not all of the things that have been taken from the museum.

Alek, did you even read any of my previous comments here much less my newer, updated posts on the Baghdad looting? I am getting really impatient with you lazy people who can't even be bothered to read before you post your screeds. I will repeat, ONE LAST TIME: "the latest reports are that the "looting" was carried out in a systematic manner before the US forces were in the area." If you will read my NEWEST ENTRY (no link, find the way to the MAIN PAGE yourself), you will find links to articles that talk about how Saddam Hussein and pals had been looting the country and destroying monuments for months, etc., etc., etc. But please don't post more ignorant, out of date, inaccurate diatribes on my blog.

Oh, and I am closing this post's comments early.