Iraq finds missing artifacts in premier's storage

[sabra]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD — More than 600 ancient artifacts that were smuggled out of Iraq, recovered and lost again have been found misplaced among kitchen supplies in storage at the prime minister's office, the antiquities minister said Monday.

The 638 items include pieces of jewelry, bronze figurines and cylindrical seals from the world's most ancient civilizations that were looted from the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. After their recovery, the U.S. military delivered them last year to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office, where they were misplaced and forgotten about.

The artifacts, packed in sealed boxes, were misplaced because of poor coordination between the Iraqi government ministries in charge of recovering and handling archaeological treasures, said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Qahtan al-Jabouri.

He blamed "inappropriate handover procedures" but did not go into detail.

...

Only a fraction of the items have been recovered.

Authorities only realized the items misplaced at the prime minister's office were missing when they began putting together a public display of recently recovered artifacts in Baghdad on Sept. 7.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNBjKDz3h9YIEJbXFbWcs_pgGzTwD9IBN4A80

[derby378]

1. This is part of the "noble cause" that keeps our troops in Iraq

:mad:

[Blue Owl]

2. We've liberated 'em, all right

of their pesky ancient valuable artifacts.

[damntexdem]

3. I'm shocked, shocked!

"And here are your winnings, Premier."

[onethatcares]

4. I usually keep my antiquities in a drawer next to the bed

sometimes I get a bit confused and one or two get mixed in with the kitchen junk drawer stuff. It's really easy to have happen.

[Bossy Monkey]

5. The tipoff was when the directions for the George Foreman Grill were in cuneiform n/t