Author of book on Iraq arrested for smuggling.

[Ripley]

I can't post this article in LBN since it is from yesterday's paper (that I just now had time to read).

snip>

The author of a book on rebuilding Iraq was arrested at Kennedy International Airport for smuggling stolen 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian artifacts out of Baghdad, Iraq...

Joseph Braude, author of "The New Iraq" was released on a $100,000 bond...

Braude, 28, brought the priceless artifacts into the US on June 11, U.S. Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf said. He was arrested Friday night after arriving at the airport on a flight from London, she said.

Braude bought the three cylindrical stone seals, made of marble and alabaster, for $200 during a visit to Baghdad in June, authorities said.

snip>

Does anyone know anything about this guy or his book...what angle does his book take?

I find it interesting it was given middle of the paper, bottom of the page status in my local paper (NYT affiliate).

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Iraqi-American Business consultant

" A slick Iraqi-American business consultant, full of hip chatter and bogus expertise, stands ready to lead an army of global capital into the "emerging market" of his ancestral homeland"

http://www.salon.com/books/review/2003/03/26/braude/index_np.html

Says he works for this comapany:

http://www.pyramidresearch.com/home.asp

"Founded in 1986, Pyramid provides international market analysis and consulting services to the global communications industry. Pyramid covers fixed, wireless, and Internet/media markets in more than 80 countries. Selected clients include:

Alcatel
Microsoft
SK Telecom
Telefonica

Pyramid offers a unique combination of international perspective and in-depth local insight. Our application of consistent methodologies across regions provides an accurate 'birds-eye' view of the world's communications markets. Our analysts have an intimate understanding of their assigned countries, monitoring them on a daily basis, speaking the local languages and grasping the nuances of their cultures."

[mjb4]

2. Pyramid as in scheme

run by repukes...figures...

[grasswire]

3. they could have been planted

I suspect there's something we don't see in this.