In Iraq, “when looting first broke out on April 9 [2003], there were indeed tanks stationed on the bridges over the river Tigris, which divides east and west Baghdad. As a result, potential looters were confined to the eastern side for that day, and the next. West Baghdad remained relatively peaceful and secure. On April 11 [2003], however, someone ordered the tanks moved from the bridges. Unconstrained, the mob streamed across the river and west Baghdad was soon in the same state of anarchic mayhem as the rest of the city. General David McKiernan, a cautious commander to say the least, refused to intervene in any way to stop the looting. ‘This is not my job,’ he reportedly snapped when urged to do something to arrest the destruction of Baghdad.”
– Andrew Cockburn, Rumsfeld, Page 183