tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post491972489314434684..comments2024-03-27T04:46:33.198-07:00Comments on Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues: From Egyptian Museum to 'Torture Chamber': Some QuestionsPaul Barfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10443302899233809948noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-67805236895923460222011-04-20T20:44:47.756-07:002011-04-20T20:44:47.756-07:00Well, as I said, I do not know, I was just explori...Well, as I said, I do not know, I was just exploring this question - which would be totally unnecessary if we had a proper full report from the Museum explaining in full detail what (they say) had happened instead of an incomplete handful of facts and dubious sounding anecdotes which just do not add up.Paul Barfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10443302899233809948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-60805627353213582572011-04-20T18:58:49.316-07:002011-04-20T18:58:49.316-07:00I really do think it's a distinct possibility....I really do think it's a distinct possibility. Certainly, if we talk about a more general attempt to show unrest that required a military reimposition of order, then it's very plausible.<br /><br />However, if we're talking about an entire strategy constructed solely to get the military access to a single building, I think they could have easily said that they were establishing a military post at the museum for its protection, and archaeologists, and the international community more broadly, would have simply said, "Iraq Museum, no military, looting; Egyptian Museum, military, no looting...", and accepted the worth of the military presence at face value.samarkeologhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105252320758729314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-44302328502828502182011-04-20T12:19:11.046-07:002011-04-20T12:19:11.046-07:00....remember all the fuss we outside Egypt made, p.......remember all the fuss we outside Egypt made, petitions, databases, facebook pages "you MUST protect the Museum", and we too are jolly happy that the Army sat there in their tanks and jeeps "protecting the museum" - when it turned out and turns out that this is not really all they are doing there. <br /><br />Would we have done any of that - urge the army to occupy the Museum grounds and buildings - without the looting? Because of the looting I've not heard (though I may have missed something) western commentators saying as a consequence of these allegations its time for the soldiers stationed on the north side of the square to return to their barracks - and why not?Paul Barfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10443302899233809948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-37894616318975421692011-04-20T12:02:11.293-07:002011-04-20T12:02:11.293-07:00Well, I am just posing the question, so am "s...Well, I am just posing the question, so am "sceptical" too. But this is the problem when you realise that everybody is being 'economical with the truth', where do the lies stop? Why actually do we have to believe anything they are telling us, when they clearly are trying to pull the wool over everybody's eyes over some aspects? (The rope from the roof, the bag in the metro etc etc). <br /><br />The "official" version of the guys coming in from the roof also has a huge amount of complications when you start to analyse it. <br /><br />But its not quite as simple as you say. We should not look at this from today's perspective. On 28th/29th Jan. the army was not moving in to take over the country, it was still behind Mubarak and was there (ostensibly) just to restore security on the streets. It was also presenting itself as - if not the people's friend - neutral in the conflict. Staging a crime in the museum and whipping up international outrage about it would have been a clever way to slip into the museum right next to the protesters without raising suspicions... Just a thought.Paul Barfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10443302899233809948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-88485516884392175972011-04-20T11:10:18.044-07:002011-04-20T11:10:18.044-07:00I agree it's a possibility - but wouldn't ...I agree it's a possibility - but wouldn't it've been better publicity if they'd moved in before and thus prevented any looting? It seems like a needlessly complicated operation, so I am still sceptical.samarkeologhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105252320758729314noreply@blogger.com