by Sarah Becker “The art of a nation is one of its most refining influences, and is the highest expression of its civilization and culture,” The New York Times wrote in 1918. “Artistic endeavor must be preserved, for the history of a nation cannot be written without due regard to its artistic attainments: in many cases the art of a nation is the only thing that has come down to us.” In 1918 the First World War still raged. “Who has not heard the world cry out against the German destruction of art?” The New York Times continued. Belgium was one of the first countries to complain, on August 25, 1914 for the destruction of the historical library in Lovain. Whether the loss is associated with World War I, China’s Cultural Revolution, or ISIS it is often permanent. Tomb robbing is sometimes described as the world’s second-oldest profession and experts suggest the profession has grown “steadily” for the past 100 years. Cultural racketeering is on the rise and conflict antiquities fetch big dollars. Sultan Al-Aziz Uthman did not apologize for partially demolishing Egypt’s Pyramid of Menkaure in the 12th century. Neither did the United States after its 2003 invasion of Iraq. The U.S. invasion of Baghdad resulted in a net loss of 10,700 Iraqi museum pieces. Iraq’s National Museum, which finally reopened this year, suffered irreparable damage. The American bungle was topped only by the Islamic State’s summer destruction of artifacts in Mosul. In all, at least 28 Iraqi buildings have been destroyed including Shiite mosques, tombs and shrines. American history offers several examples of cultural destruction, including the British burning of Washington in 1814. Sadly America watched the District of Columbia’s public buildings, the White House and Capitol burn. Alexandria warehouse plunder was observed floating down the Potomac River….