Assad Will be Ultimate Beneficiary of HR 1493

 

Peter Tompa draws attention  to a disturbing trend: "Assad to Be Ultimate Beneficiary of HR 1493?"

The Senate has passed HR 1493, a bill which imposes import restrictions on cultural goods removed illegally from Syria. [...]   the Assad regime has probably killed more people, destroyed more cultural heritage, and looted more artifacts than ISIS.   The only difference is that Assad's forces don't use social media to publicize their evil deeds. [...] antiquities seized under HR 1493 will ultimately be repatriated to the Assad regime.   The CPIA -- which HR 1493 does not change-- certainly requires seized artifacts to be offered to the source country.  And given the realities on the ground or in the air in this case-- what with Russian air power bolstering the regime-- it certainly looks like Assad will be the victor to whom these spoils ultimately will be returned.