Basically, can an American soldier legally keep any ancient artifact that he may find poking around Mesopotamian or Babylonian ruins.
2007-12-05 15:09:35 · 20 answers · asked by JimArroyo 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Totally and absolutely not. Any archiological or culturally significant artifacts discovered by ANY parties involved always default to the governing body of the land said piece or pieces were discovered/uncovered.
2007-12-05 15:16:53 · answer #1 · answered by Moosie 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. There isn't a lot of opportunity or interest in "poking around Mesopotamian or Babylonian ruins."
2. Every soldier is briefed that the "spoils of war" is heavily punishable.
3. Soldiers' bags are searched for various contraband by customs as they leave country for any reason (the search includes soil also)
4. Unit storage containers are searched at the unit level by the movements officer when they are preparing to redeploy back to the states. This is the best chance for a Soldier to get away with something, if his squad leader, platoon sergeant or the movements officer doesn't conduct a proper search.
2007-12-05 18:44:53 · answer #2 · answered by The Babe is Armed! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's my understanding that no private entity is permitted to keep any ancient artifact. I remember hearing once of some people getting arrested for finding Mayan gold and not turning it over to the government.
2007-12-05 15:13:52 · answer #3 · answered by DOOM 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope, and they have all been briefed on the ancient Mesopotamian ruins, and told to avoid vehicle operations in those areas. The badguys have no such training.
We used to refer to it as, "Driving through the Old Testament."
2007-12-05 16:26:19 · answer #4 · answered by John S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I met a man who was a soldier, and while marching in the Negev and he steped on some sand and it made a clinking sound, so then he found some ancient coins. He has kept some of them.
2007-12-05 15:19:05 · answer #5 · answered by David L 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, all such items remain the property of the Iraqi People and their Government.
Keeping such an item is LOOTING!!!
which is an offense under military regulations.
2007-12-05 21:35:45 · answer #6 · answered by conranger1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes or course he can keep it, but he does so at the risk of punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice...which in my opinion isn't worth the risk.
2007-12-05 15:38:22 · answer #7 · answered by NunyaBizzness 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it is deemed under international law as a national treasure and you should hand it in and be paid a bounty.
Thats the law anyway. but i cannot imagine anyone doing that.
2007-12-05 15:36:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am being scamed army sargent wants me to send seven thousand dollars for documents so that he can ship me 64 million dollars he found in a box. help! I told him it is the box or me . any comments? Im in ohio and met him on dating site.
2015-03-04 00:34:49 · answer #9 · answered by Susan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To sum it up, NO, NO, NO! It belongs to the people of Iraq. Looting by anyone is wrong morally and it is illegal.
2007-12-05 15:59:49 · answer #10 · answered by Nothingusefullearnedinschool 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋