Professionals like doctors and teachers are being targeted in Iraq

[atommom]

IRAQ:
Professionals On a Death Row
Brian Conley and Isam Rashid

BAGHDAD, Feb 28 (IPS) - Professionals like doctors and teachers are being targeted particularly in the crime wave sweeping Iraq.

"Really we don't know exactly who they are, but I am sure these criminals are not normal and they get training in other countries," Dr. Ali Al-Obeidi, a doctor in Mosul told IPS. "They know very well what they are doing. Their purpose is to destroy Iraq from the inside."

It is not just the U.S. forces that Iraqis blame for these crimes. They see also an influence from Iran. Dr. Isam Al-Rawi, member of the Association of Muslim Scholars and head of the Teachers Association of Iraqi Universities suggests that Iran is involved in assassinating educated and influential Iraqis.

Since the end of the Gulf War and the beginning of the sanctions regime academics, doctors and other professionals in Iraq have experienced hardships because they are professionals. Scholarly journals, research equipment, and medical tools were all banned from shipment to Iraq under the sanctions.

But now Iraqi professionals are facing a newer, deadlier difficulty. Since the occupation began in 2003, Iraqi professionals have been regularly killed, sometimes on a daily basis.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32320

[Crazy Dave]

1. Doctors were being threatened and assassinated by American troops

I've posted an article before on here about how doctors were threatened, harassed or just disappeared for reporting and recording civilians casualties. That's why most of the hospitals and clinics were destroyed in Iraq, not by accident as reported but to cover up evidence.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1366278,00.html

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Oh gosh

:( I wonder if any of them are from UAE. :shrug:

[sui generis]

2. intelligensia are always taken to the killing fields

Education and liberalism go hand in hand - you can't have a happy educated workforce selling falafels off the backs of donkeys, willing to be dominated by a religious oligarchy.

You can't have uppity women able to read think they have a right to make decisions for themselves.

[atommom]

5. Sad, but very true.

Even in our own country, conservatives are generally pretty unhappy with educated liberals.

[Neil Lisst]

3. I believe Iran is behind the current wave.

It makes sense for them, however horrific that may be.

[atommom]

6. See this thread also, on the targeting of Iraqis who speak out...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2484845&mesg_id=2484845

[Javaman]

7. Nice to see that they are bringing their brand of Pol Pot gov't to iraq...

:sarcasm: