Iraq is a "civilised" nation. They pretty well invented civilisation.

And from what I have seen the looting seems to have been every bit as typical of an advanced civilisation as the looting we've seen on TV in American cities over the years.

As in this kind of situation you've got two things going on at once - desperate people trying to get basic stuff they need, such as food, and would-be entrepreneurs seizing the opportunity to rip off anything and everything they they can get hold of.