(Iraqi) Doctor is haunted by siege of Fallujah

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041115/REPOSITORY/411150349/1013/NEWS03

Dr. Ahmed Ghanim's nightmarish week began with a phone call in the operating room of a triage center in downtown Fallujah.

On the line was the manager of the city's General Hospital. Iraqi national guardsmen and U.S. Marines, the manager said, had entered the hospital, handcuffed the doctors and were forcing the patients out to the parking lot.

The guardsmen "stole the mobile phones, the hospital safe where the money is kept and damaged the ambulances and cars," said Ghanim, an orthopedic surgeon who works at the hospital. "The Americans were more sympathetic with the hospital staff and . . . untied the doctors and allowed them to go outside with the patients."

But the worst was yet to come. In the coming days, Ghanim would narrowly escape a bombing, then run through his city's battle-torn streets. He would walk hungry and scared for miles, carrying with him memories of the people he could not save.

[leftchick]

1. these people in the military commiting these crimes....

are going to be very fucked up in the head when they get home. too bad for their families.

[Vanje]

3. Reading the entire article...

It was Iraqi Guardsmen that were stealing and looting.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Looks like we're creating another army as bad as Saddam's Thugs

I doubt if Iraqis will view them as a big improvement!

[leftchick]

5. uh excuse me but....

who is running the fucking war?!? I don't think it is the 'Iraqi army'!

[L84TEA]

2. YUP...YUP...

Another thing I keep thinking is...what is going to happen when all these Orphaned children and VICTIMS of this violence grow up???
If they aren't pissed off now... what are they gonna be like in say 15 yrs from now???

eek! Look forward to 1000s of Saddam's and OBLs with MAJOR chips on their shoulders!!!

[I_Make_Mistakes]

6. Oh my God

I just had a thought. What if another lesson from Nam was PTSD. Our country with Shock and Awe, continual use of overwhelming force for a long period of time is creating a country of PTSD civilians.
Man, that is really, really low, if that was their intent.

[w4rma]

7. …killed at least two or three of the young resident …most of the patients…

…
Late Tuesday, a bomb struck one side of the triage center. Ghanim ran out of the building.

A second bomb hit, crashing through the roof and destroying most of the facility. Ghanim believes it killed at least two or three of the young resident doctors working there and most of the patients.
…

[halobeam]

8. Yeah and Allawi said "no civilians" are dead

What a horror this is.

[Cheswick2.0]

9. "we could have saved hundreds."

"I think if the Americans let us treat the injured, even in the streets," he said, "we could have saved hundreds."

[eridani]

10. Stripping and beating doctors--

http://dahrjamailiraq.com/weblog/archives/dispatches/000120.php#more

The horrendous humanitarian disaster of Fallujah drags on as the US military continues to refuse the entry of an Iraqi Red Crescent (IRC) convoy of relief supplies. The Red Crescent has appealed to the UN to intervene, but no such luck, nor does the military relent.

IP’s, who are under U.S. control, have looted Fallujah General Hospital.

The military stopped the Red Crescent at the gates of the city and are not allowing them in. They allowed some bodies to be buried, but others are being eaten by dogs and cats in the streets, as reported by refugees just out of the city, as well as residents still trapped there.

Nevertheless they continue to get the word out. They report today that Asma Khamis al-Muhannadi, a doctor who witnessed the US and Iraqi National Guard raid the general hospital said, “We were tied up and beaten despite being unarmed and having only our medical instruments.” She said the hospital was targeted by bombs and rockets during the initial siege of Fallujah, and troops dragged patients from their beds and pushed them against the wall.

Al-Muhannadi went on to say that all of them were put under intense inspection and, “Two female doctors were forced to totally undress.”

She continued on, “I was with a woman in labor,” she said, “The umbilical cord had not yet been cut. At that time, a US soldier shouted at one of the (Iraqi) national guards to arrest me and tie my hands while I was helping the mother to deliver. I will never forget this incident in my life.”