Don't stop funding

I'm appalled that the British Academy is planning to halt funding to the British School of Archaeology in Iraq for its work with Iraqi scholars and the rebuilding of the country's heritage ("Middle Eastern bridges rocked by British Academy", February 9).

First, we beat up Iraq and permit the plunder and destruction of its museums and historic sites and, then, due to shortsighted and mean attitudes, we deny funding to the very societies that are assisting in reconstructing its culture.

It's also depressing to learn that the BA is planning to do further damage in the Middle East by pulling funding from the Egypt Exploration Society. I sincerely hope the academy will swiftly rethink its plans.

Paulina Palmer.
Cambridge