An American archaeologist said in London this week that the “systematic looting of major archaeological sites and the destruction of artefacts” in Iraq “may prove a greater disaster than the well publicised looting and destruction at the national museum in Baghdad, and the museum in Mosul.” She urged that looters be killed if caught. “I would like to see some helicopters flying over these sites, and some bullets fired at the looters. I think you have got to kill some people to stop this.”