'Pit bull' dogs Iraq Museum looters

Still, an estimated 13,500 artifacts were stolen from the museum last April. Of those, 4,300 have now been voluntarily returned by Iraqis or seized within the country and at national and international borders. Some, sawed-off heads of Greek statues and pieces of Islamic pottery, are thought to have been stolen by "professionals," Bogdanos says, possibly to order. Others, including many worthless copies, were taken apparently at random by looters who swept the contents of whole shelves into bags. Still others were stolen from a locked vault that showed no signs of forced entry. Bogdanos believes this theft could have been accomplished only by museum staff.

Staff members also hid many precious artifacts for safekeeping. Some 7,400 weathered the war in the vaults of Baghdad's Central Bank, nearly 40,000 ancient manuscripts were protected in a bomb shelter outside the city, and 8,400 artifacts are still in a hiding place about which curators swore a pact of secrecy before the war. Bogdanos says the museum will not reopen for at least a year.

Audience members, rapt through his many slides, seem so impressed overall with Bogdanos's work that in the question period many do not conceal their frustration at his defense of US forces' decision not to secure the museum.

"A parked tank is a sitting duck!" he barks. "If you're gonna park a tank in front of the museum you'd better write the letters to those boys' families now."

"What a stupid excuse," mutters an older audience member. When she stands to speak she praises his diplomatic and recovery efforts, but, "as a child who grew up in that museum, who has dusted the cabinets in that museum," begs him not to make excuses for US inaction.

Bogdanos tries to interrupt, but she's close to tears - "Please don't dirty your good work by spreading this lie" - and the crowd seems to be with her.

So he goes for a laugh.

"Excuse me, are we married? Ma'am? We're not married, right? That means I get to get a word in edgewise?" he asks.

"Yes, okay," she says.

"Next question," Bogdanos says, flashing that pit bull grin.

April 7, 2003

US forces occupy downtown Baghdad.

April 8

Last staff members leave National Museum.

April 8-9

Museum window used as Iraqi sniper position; fired on by US forces.

April 9-12

Looters have unfettered access to museum.

April 10

US forces occupy Iraq's Oil Ministry.

April 12

Some museum staff return to work.

April 16

US forces enter museum compound.

April 21

Bogdanos's team begins probe of looting and recovery of artifacts.

Sources: Col. Matthew Bogdanos; globalsecurity.org; Associated Press.

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