In April 2003, the United States invaded Baghdad and failed to provide security to the Iraq Museum that housed some of art history's greatest treasures. There was no surprise that this cultural looting would happen.
The US government had been threatening to invade Iraq since September 11, 2001. Art historians, curators, and other arts professionals had asked the US government to protect the repository of the Cradle of Civilization. The US government had responded positively that the Iraq Museum would be protected, but did absolutely nothing to follow through on this promise.
