Revealed: The Real Story Behind The Great Iraq Museum Thefts

[Viggen]

The story of what really happened inside the Iraq Museum when thousands of valuable antiquities were stolen in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 US invasion has been revealed in a new book.

 

Written by the chief investigator, it says there were three separate thefts, at least one of which was an inside job, another the work of professionals, and a third where fleeing Iraq military had left open a door which let in the looters. At least 13,864 objects were stolen, making it the biggest museum theft in history.

 

full article at The Independent

[longbow]

I watched a programme about this on the telly just after it had happened.Dan Cruishank (British historian) had travalled to the museum to see what was going on.All the museum staff were being as unhelpful as they possibly could,saying they cany find the keys to certain rooms and when they eventually did find the keys (with the help of an American major and his troops) the ring of keys was so big it was comical ,the silly women was trying every single key in the lock until the Major got angry, took his pistol out and blew the lock off .

Inside was a right tip its no wonder they wouldnt let them in,there was antiquities lying in heaps and most were broken,you could tell they had been broken when they were happasadly placed anywhere at all, and in any position.Cruishank was asking the staff if this is how they normaly store the statues etc..her reply was 'yes'.

They allso found some RPG's and spent cases for the rockets,the Iraqi's had been using the museum to fire on the American troops.

 

Dan Cruishank 'return to Baghdad'

Edited November 14, 2005 by longbow