Afghan Neglect

For more evidence that the national governments and archaeological groups like the AIA should refocus their priorities away from harassing collectors and museums and get back to the basics. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/opinion/03Marlowe.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Afghanistan is a poor country, but there is no lack of money going to the national and regional governments. And rather than spending all that money and effort on tracking down every last minor artifact that may have left the country in the last twenty years, why not instead direct that energy and money towards USAID to help the Afghans to shore up what remains of major archaeological sites in that country?

It makes little sense to repatriate minor artifacts to a country when so little has been done to preserve the major sites that should really matter to the culture.