Dear Editor,

The recent Anglo American led attack and toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime has raised some serious questions for the whole world civilisation. Following the destruction of the Iraqi military the Americans proudly proclaimed control of Baghdad. The world could understand that. Saddam was a tyrant and well rid off.

Within a few days of American control, the Museum of Baghdad was looted and smashed under the eyes of American soldiers who remained silent spectators and smrked at the destruction. Similar was the case of hospitals which were stripped under American control.

The Geneva Convention clearly lays down the rules of war whereby once a country loses the war it is incumbent upon the victors to maintain protection of hospitals and archaelogical, cultural artifacts of the civilisation. Failing to guard them places the occupying force guilty of war crimes and those responsible can be tried as war criminals. By allowing the destruction of 6,000 years old priceless artifacts at the Baghdad Museum, George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld have left the whole human civilisation poorer. By quickly protecting the oil fields and allowing the destruction of Bagdad Museum, Library and hospitals this exposes their sinister, immoral minds.

Little did it matter that the 6,000 year old artifacts predate, Islam, Christianity, Jewish religions and that they did not belong to any single race of humans made no difference to these ignorant bunch. On a time scale of 6,000 years the American nation measuring 250 years is a tiny blip and the life of George Bush and Rumsfeld the size of a dot. Empires came and went before American ascendency to world domination and America will also disappear in future over this time scale but what these men of small minds have done is beyond repair and words.

It is clear that the remains of much of this looted artifacts is going to end up in the hands of rich private American collectors in New York and then make their way by donations into American museums. If this is not a clear cut case for trial of these two for war crimes, then there is not much hope for the world civilisation. Americans have lost the respect of the entire human race over this criminal act.

Are the lawyers willing to launch class action suit in International Court against the American leaders over this?

H. Kalsi
NJ, USA