Story thread · 3 reports / 3 sources

Baal out: Top diplomat's worry about pagan god elicits eye rolls

axios.com · 6h · first reportShare

The second-most powerful man at the State Department put the brakes on a U.S. international exhibit featuring a bull statue because he worried it might look like Baal, a pagan god some associate with Satanic child sacrifice. Why it matters: The anecdote illustrates the quirky interests of Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau, according to department critics, who say he spends too much time on social media focusing on the unimportant. Zoom in: The issue revolves around an international exposition next year in Belgrade, Serbia , where the U.S. plans to feature a statue of a bucking bull at an exhibit celebrating the American West. On Aug. 19, at 4:15 p.m., Landau sent an email to staffers about it: "I remain somewhat concerned by the Golden Bull imagery! Did a quick internet search and don't want it to become a distraction. The golden calf from the Bible is often portrayed as a golden bull." Providing hyperlinked footnotes and images of golden bull worship, Landau explored the ancient