Bush Cultural Advisers Quit Over Iraq Museum Theft (Liberal Press Lie = Clinton appointees)

WP ^ | 4/17/03 | Reuters

[Steven W.]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of a U.S. presidential panel on cultural property has resigned in protest at the failure of U.S. forces to prevent the wholesale looting of priceless treasures from Baghdad's antiquities museum.

"It didn't have to happen," Martin Sullivan said of the objects that were destroyed or stolen from the Iraqi National Museum in a wave of looting that erupted as U.S.-led forces ended President Saddam Hussein's rule last week.

Sullivan, who chaired the President's Advisory Committee on Cultural Property for eight years, said he wrote a letter of resignation to the White House this week in part to make a statement but also because "you can't speak freely" as a special government-appointed employee. The president appoints the 11-member advisory committee. Another panel member, Gary Vikan, also plans to resign because of the looting of the museum.

The president appoints the 11-member advisory

[Steven W.]

What a fraud! These guys were Clinton appointees waiting in thew wings with the "Tim Robbins 'you can't speak freely' garbage"!

[gramho12]

I heard this guy on the radio, and I knew immediately that he was a Clinton appointee - you could tell by the way he talked. A typical liberal weasel. Anyway, thanks for confirming my initial impression. And Hallelujah, another Clinton hold-over bites the dust.

[skr]

Good riddance!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

ALREADY POSTED

[airedale]

Interesting thing about the museum that I've only heard once and I think that was on C-Span. It was right across the street from the Republican Guard Headquarters and there was some fighting in the area. You'd think the news media might mention that. It might explain why it took a little longer to get to it than the very first second of the first day.

Also any bets on the goods being stolen long before we got there and the only things that were looted when we were there is office type equipment and furniture.

The same thing could be asked about who torched the library. We wouldn't because it would give us a major black eye in the Muslim world. The people really wouldn't. The only people I can see gaining from that torching is the Baathist after they made off with the valuable stuff to sell in Europe. We get a black eye for not protecting it and they get the € € € or the ₣ ₣ ₣ to live the good life.

[caisson71]

I hope the door doesn't hit them in the ......anywhere as they leave.

[airedale]

It didn't pick up the symbols I used for the Euro and the French Frank. I guess FreeRepublic has joined the boycott of all things French

[o_zarkman44]

The song by Madonna comes to mind "Living in the Material World". These advisors are more interested in inanimate objects and "things" than the value of human life.

Objects can be replaced, human life cannot however.
These were the same people who were sooooo concerned about collateral damage and civilian lives being lost. When those things did not materialize in the scope of their dramatic, emotional rants, they have little else to focus on.

Was our military supposed to expose themselves to more risk and death by altering their plan of capture in Bagdad for a few items that may or may not have existed before the war?
I think our soldiers did an excellent job and commend them!

Good riddence to the Clintonians!!!!

[My2Cents]

I'll bet you a new Iraqi denari that this guy intended to resign around this time, and used his resignation as an opportunity to take a cheap shot.

I also predict that 80-90% of what was stolen from the museum will eventually be recovered. Where is anyone going to go to sell that stuff? It's hot, thereby making it worthless to those who lifted the items. Besides, the US military would have been royally criticized if they'd put a guard around the museum, and then civilians were killed in some riot they the US didn't have the manpower to put down.

[ilgipper]

Good riddance!

and now cut the budget for this worthless department.

[My2Cents]

Now that this guy is gone, the White House should shut down the commission on cultural property.

[The Old Hoosier]

Fraud, fraud and double fraud!

[JoeSchem]

I also predict that 80-90% of what was stolen from the museum will eventually be recovered.

I kind of wish it won't be. Where would the priceless artifacts of mankind's earliest civilization be safest? In the hands of a ruthless, corrupt dictatorial regime -- or in the hands of a private collector whose reverence for the items caused him to spend millions of dollars for their procurement?

I think this is an excellent example of privatization at work.

[Steven W.]

Maybe you can post the link - I'd searched and didn't find, unless Reuters changed the headline, like adding Bush for emphasis, for example ;)

[stubernx98]

There was an article in the BBC about the fact that most of the stuff stolen was poor replications of the real thing that was sold off by Saddam and his henchmen over two years ago.

[NetValue]

"'It didn't have to happen,' Martin Sullivan said of the objects that were destroyed or stolen...."

Why wasn't Martin Sullivan on-scene to prevent it?

[Theresa]

Of course the man could just be upset because he sincerely thinks the situation is what he says it is, not because he is a Democrat.

Today Robert Muller the FBI director announced that he would be sending agents to Iraq to help recover the stolen goods. Plus Sec Powell has also pledged to get back the stolen things. And Rumsfeld met personaly with Bush and Powell about it. We have people at the highest levels adressing the problem.. So it is being taken care of as well it should be since international law requires the occupying nation to control looting no matter if it is an inside job or not and no matter if they were fakes or not. The law has to be followed as all conservatives know.

[Theresa]

"There was an article in the BBC about the fact that most of the stuff stolen was poor replications of the real thing that was sold off by Saddam and his henchmen over two years ago."

I don't think that matters. If the people of Iraq want their fake stuff back that was looted in the chaos caused by us invading their country, it is our responsibility to help them get it back.

[APBaer]

"Today Robert Muller the FBI director announced that he would be sending agents to Iraq to help recover the stolen goods.....

and that Dr. Hatfill remains "a person of interest,"

and that General Franco remains dead?

[SkyPilot]

ALREADY POSTED!

Maybe so, but searching "Cultural" and / or "Quit" this is the only thread I could find of it.

Please post the link..thanks.

By the way, this is STILL a top story being run on the news and Yahoo. What a sham!