Jim Hoagland's attempt to excuse the Pentagon and the Bush administration for the loss or destruction of priceless archaeological artifacts belonging to Baghdad's National Museum of Antiquities is lame ["Victims of Civic Passivity," op-ed, April 17].
Before the invasion of Iraq, U.S. museum representatives expressed to Pentagon officials their concern for Iraq's cultural treasures in the event of war. Their plea was ignored. Yet the U.S. military was amply prepared to seize and protect Iraqi oil fields.
Mr. Hoagland said: "In any event, it is self-defeating for Iraqis (and others) to try to place all responsibility for this cultural disaster on the shoulders of the U.S. military. That perpetuates the myth that outsiders are always responsible for the failures of the Arab world." I can only respond that this tragic loss is a direct result of the invasion and that the U.S. military is responsible.
EDWARD McMANUS
Chief Conservator
National Air and Space Museum
Washington
This appeared in this mornings Washington Post editorial page. Words cannot express my disgust with Mr McManus. I believe the Director of the Air and Space museum is a former Marine. I hope they get enough bad press about this so McManus gets tossed — but I doubt if that will happen. |