Agreed - I think Deb Fuller is the one voice of reason in this discussion.
I too feel a loss as to these treasures - but there is something much more
important than artifacts and books - people. Our troops have done a
magnificent thing here - I would bet the 150 children released from that
prison value their freedom much more than an artifact - I think some
perspective is needed here.
Lisa Moellering
Curator of Collections/Registrar
Holocaust Museum Houston
5401 Caroline Street
Houston, Texas 77004
713.942.8000 x110
713.942.7953 (fax)
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of michael russell
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2003 9:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [Iraq looting - blaming the troops - CNN article]
Thanks. About time we heard from the other side of the equation.
Deb Fuller <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I know this isn't a political forum but that last article from CNN really
cheesed me off and I really feel I need to say something.
In summary, the US troops were blamed for not stopping the looting of the
museum in Baghdad.
To quote one of the US commanders, "We're not a police force." (Not in the
article.) The military isn't a police force. They aren't trained to be a
police
force. They're trained to stop the enemy which they have done. Looting is
EVERYWHERE and there's just not enough tanks or troops to keep everything
safe.
These guys have been on the go for 3 weeks. They haven't had showers, used a
real flush toilet or probably gotten more than 4 hours of sleep a night in
those 3 weeks - not to mention spending many weeks before that on high alert
ready to move at a moment's notice. They've been shot at; they've seen their
friends shot. They're extremely on edge because they don't know if the Iraqi
in
civilian clothes coming towards them wants to thank them or blow them up.
Right
now, the average solider probably cares more about getting a home cooked
meal,
a hot shower, wearing something that isn't all shades of sandy brown and
getting a full night's sleep in a real bed than stopping someone from
filtching
a really old clay tablet. I can't really say that I blame him.
There are still pockets of resistance in Baghdad and the troops don't know
what
traps were laid by Saddam's troops as they fled. And up until Sunday AM,
they
were still looking for 7 POWs. 4 are still MIA.
Tanks and troops can't be everywhere nor is it their job. I could start
asking
where are the UN troops who's responsibility it is to do this, but I just
won't
go there. If the decision comes down to protecting the US troops in Baghdad
or
protecting a museum that's one of hundreds of buildings being looted, where
do
you think the tanks will go? My guess is that human lives are a bit more
important than artifacts.
The US troops freed the city and turned it over to the Iraqi people. THEY
are
the ones doing the looting. It is THEIR fault for destroying their own
artifacts. The US gets criticized for trying to revive colonialism and
control
Iraq. So we live up to our original assertion of turning control of Iraq
back
to the Iraqi people. Now the troops are getting blamed for NOT controlling
the
people. You can't have it both ways. Don't blame the troops for what the
Iraqi
people have done of their own free will. Once things die down, hopefully
cooler
heads will prevail and people will start returning the artifacts and
rebuilding
the museum. But again, it will be up to the Iraqi people to do so, NOT the
US
or any other outside group.
Sorry again for venting but that article was way out of line.
Deb
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