It would seem that, as some have suggested previously, at least some of the looting of museums was pre-planned, almost a "shopping list" kind of thing.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Some of the ancient artifacts stolen from Iraqi museums are already appearing on the international art market and at least one suspected piece was seized at an American airport, FBI officials say.
Lynne Chaffinch, manager of the FBI Art Theft Program, said art collectors and dealers in the United States have reported contacts from overseas suggesting they have access to some of the thousands of stolen items. Internet searches have also turned up some items of interest, she said.
+++++++
Chaffinch said she expects the thieves will attempt to sell most of the stolen pieces in wealthy countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan, France and Switzerland. People in the United States already buy about 60 per cent of the world's art, both legal and illegal.
+++++++
The University of Chicago's Oriental Institute has also begun posting on its Internet site descriptions of some important artifacts believed stolen. Experts at the university say between 50,000 and 200,000 items were stolen from Baghdad museums after the city fell to U.S. forces.

canada.com < a href = http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.asp?id=093780FC-A18C-4733-8177-6FB6A07A3739>April 22, 2003

Some concerns from the American Anthropological Association>/a>

An interesting perspective fromUNESCO on the importance of historical artifacts.

An international convention developed rules regarding cultural property in ttimes of war:

The following rules based on the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict are offered as a briefing sheet for junior ranks. It is suggested that in addition to briefing, the rules are incorporated into field training exercises whenever appropriate. Through this routine training, they will then become an automatic and accepted way of behaving in action.

Cultural property means such things as monuments, archaeological sites, religious centres (temples, churches, mosques, etc.), museums, art galleries and libraries. It can also include valuable objects such as small statues, jewellery, paintings, etc. This property might not only be regarded as of great value to our country but in many cases is regarded as being part of our cultural heritage as human beings. In our country for example the following places would be regarded as cultural property. list your own examples here-----------,

The 'law of war' says very clearly that property like this must be protected. Unless it becomes absolutely necessary (see below) it must not be attacked and it should not be used for any military purposes. This is because once such property is damaged or destroyed it is irreplaceable. It is lost to us and the whole world forever

UNEASCO> Hague Convention



Interesting that the United States was not signatory to the treaty, which also seeks to prevent illicit traffiking of antiquities.