Martin Bell

Mongolia. Mongolia is the victim. The Mongolia officials we dealt with from the lead paleontologists to folks involved with the Mongolian embassy, they felt this very, very strongly. Mongolia is not an incredibly wealthy country. And I think that there is a certain underdog mentality that attaches to that. And they're being kicked in a way that they saw as being worthy of meaningful punishment.

Mongolia. Mongolia is the victim. The Mongolia officials we dealt with from the lead paleontologists to folks involved with the Mongolian embassy, they felt this very, very strongly. Mongolia is not an incredibly wealthy country. And I think that there is a certain underdog mentality that attaches to that. And they're being kicked in a way that they saw as being worthy of meaningful punishment.

What winds up happening is Mr. Prokopi winds up getting three months in jail.

What winds up happening is Mr. Prokopi winds up getting three months in jail.

What winds up happening is Mr. Prokopi winds up getting three months in jail.

Sometime after that, we're now sitting on this big collection of fossils that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has at a warehouse somewhere. And we commence the paperwork and the procedural stuff needed in order to do some repatriation ceremonies. And when you say ceremonies, how ceremonial are these ceremonies? We had multiple repatriation ceremonies. Wow.

Sometime after that, we're now sitting on this big collection of fossils that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has at a warehouse somewhere. And we commence the paperwork and the procedural stuff needed in order to do some repatriation ceremonies. And when you say ceremonies, how ceremonial are these ceremonies? We had multiple repatriation ceremonies. Wow.

Sometime after that, we're now sitting on this big collection of fossils that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has at a warehouse somewhere. And we commence the paperwork and the procedural stuff needed in order to do some repatriation ceremonies. And when you say ceremonies, how ceremonial are these ceremonies? We had multiple repatriation ceremonies. Wow.

Mongolia sent pretty high-level Mongolian officials.

Mongolia sent pretty high-level Mongolian officials.

Mongolia sent pretty high-level Mongolian officials.

They sent awards for us. I was one of a number of folks awarded the Mongolian Presidential Medal of Friendship and had it pinned to my lapel during this ceremony. So too did Robert Painter and Sharon, the Babe Ruth of Forfeiture.

They sent awards for us. I was one of a number of folks awarded the Mongolian Presidential Medal of Friendship and had it pinned to my lapel during this ceremony. So too did Robert Painter and Sharon, the Babe Ruth of Forfeiture.

They sent awards for us. I was one of a number of folks awarded the Mongolian Presidential Medal of Friendship and had it pinned to my lapel during this ceremony. So too did Robert Painter and Sharon, the Babe Ruth of Forfeiture.

Yes, yes. It's exactly that. I will say the Mongolians obviously were incredibly grateful. And I'm not someone to nitpick when it comes to sincere displays of gratitude like that one. There was one thing that happened that made me shake my head ever so slightly. Because this had become a big story in Mongolia and apparently had been a big political issue during that year's Mongolian elections.

Yes, yes. It's exactly that. I will say the Mongolians obviously were incredibly grateful. And I'm not someone to nitpick when it comes to sincere displays of gratitude like that one. There was one thing that happened that made me shake my head ever so slightly. Because this had become a big story in Mongolia and apparently had been a big political issue during that year's Mongolian elections.

Yes, yes. It's exactly that. I will say the Mongolians obviously were incredibly grateful. And I'm not someone to nitpick when it comes to sincere displays of gratitude like that one. There was one thing that happened that made me shake my head ever so slightly. Because this had become a big story in Mongolia and apparently had been a big political issue during that year's Mongolian elections.

President Elbigdorj ran for re-election and apparently securing and obtaining the repatriation of these fossils was listed among the big accomplishments of the Elbigdorj administration. And one of the bits of... want to call it propaganda.

President Elbigdorj ran for re-election and apparently securing and obtaining the repatriation of these fossils was listed among the big accomplishments of the Elbigdorj administration. And one of the bits of... want to call it propaganda.

President Elbigdorj ran for re-election and apparently securing and obtaining the repatriation of these fossils was listed among the big accomplishments of the Elbigdorj administration. And one of the bits of... want to call it propaganda.