I picked up on this thread of discussion rather late, so I am not sure how it started. However, I have two comments: 1. Did the western museum professionals/archeologists discuss with the Iraqis about the distruction and looting of the Kuwait National Museum? Did they try to get any commitments to track down and return these collections to the people of Kuwait? Among the cultural patrimony destroyed in the Iraqi invasion was the sole surviving dhow, a arab ship that sailed the Persian Gulf. It seems that Iraq is eager to complain about the traumas they have had to endure, but unwilling to acknowlege the suffering they have inflicted on others. Academics should not allow themselved to be used by the present Iraqi government. 2. There is another side to this cultural patrimony issue. While these artifacts have been removed from their native counties, the artifacts have also been disbursed. This means that the artifacts are not concentrated in one place (the national museum) and prevents the destruction of an entire cultural patrimony through war, major accidents, natural disasters and acts of God. If one collection is destroyed, at least examples of that civilization will survive in other places. Alan Hawk National Museum of Health and Medicine [log in to unmask]