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July 8, 2011

U.S. Returns Small Number of Stolen Iraqi Artifacts 
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The United States has returned a few dozen national artifacts stolen
from Iraq during the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. Thousands of priceless
items were smuggled out of Iraq by U.S. military personnel and
contractors after the U.S. seized Baghdad. On Thursday, U.S. officials
handed over around 30 items to Iraq's U.S. Ambassador at a ceremony in
Washington, D.C.

Samir Sumaida'ie: "The looting of the Iraqi museum in Baghdad was
heartbreaking for every Iraqi. It was really against our very identity
— and made us feel that our entire being as a nation was
threatened and in danger."

Around half of the stolen Iraqi artifacts have been returned, but
thousands remain missing.



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