catastrophe

Western museums groan under the weight of Iraqi antiquities that pioneers like Layard, Botta, Andrae and Koldewey, brought to Europe from such ancient cities as Ur, Babylon, Nineveh, Nimrud, Khorsabad and many another. Those monuments to Iraq's unique history are, of course, safe. But the treasures of the great Iraqi museums that have been nurtured by the world's leading archaeologists, not least the Iraqis themselves, have been robbed with impunity along with banks and shops. The American and British governments promised that the country's antiquities would be safe. It was clearly one worthless promise among many. The life's work of some of the finest European and American scholars was invested in Iraq. Gertrude Bell and Sir Leonard Woolley were prominent among the many 20th century Britons whose devoted work led to the discovery and preservation of masterpieces of Sumerian/Akkadian art and craft; artefacts that were the glory not only of Baghdad but of the British and Philadelphia museums that sponsored the dig at Ur and shared in the magnificent contents of pre-dynastic royal graves. Gertrude Bell founded Baghdad Museum, Iraq's national showcase.

There is little that can said or done about such matters after the event, except perhaps to ask with bitterness and a tear or two why it is that this war alliance can protect oil wells but not hospitals or the monuments to mankind's finest and earliest achievements. Doubtless, the politicians will have a plausible explanation of sorts when the true cost of the 'battle for hearts and minds' comes to be assessed. The damage has been done and can never be repaired. History will surely record that those who promoted this war set very dangerous precedents and lived with an unenviable burden of guilt.

HVF Winstone