AP Blogs From Iraq (Antonio Castaneda - embed with Marines)

[Roland99]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060303/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_blog_embed_iq99

After about four hours of searching Thursday, I walked into a courtyard where a group of about five Marines were huddled around a young girl covered in flies. She was partially wrapped in a white flour sack and trembling, apparently from some severe neurological disorder. She was close to death. Her mother spoke with tears in her eyes while some young boys, apparently neighborhood kids, ambled around the yard and curiously watched the Marines grouped around the girl. Every few minutes the girl would let out a short gasp. "This is just so sad," said one Marine, while most stood quietly watching with somber expressions.

One Marine unsuccessfully tried to swat away the dozens of flies hovering around the girl with a towel. The flour sack she was covered in had a large "Made in the USA" tag on its front. The commanding officer, Capt. Richard Pitchford of Norfolk, Virginia, immediately called headquarters for permission to have her evacuated. First a Marine doctor would be sent to see what could be done before a helicopter would be summoned.

"If she could get 24-hour care, she'd probably live for a while. But it sounds like the parents don't want to do that," said Lt. Brent Zamzow of Gaylord, Mich., as he took the girl's vital signs and explained that even advanced treatment would probably only prolong the inevitable by days. An Iraqi interpreter said the family was anxious about having her sent away to a military base for treatment.

By this point the operation was complete, with all the nearby homes searched. Pitchford remained in the courtyard, mostly quiet with the Marines around the girl. In the end, he ordered his Marines to regularly check up on the girl on their patrols to see if any medication or supplies were needed. They closed the gates and left in a long line of armored vehicles.

I know the men and women of our military are capable of such compassion (even in the worst and harshest of conditions).

It's too bad, though, that our Marines are being used as a peacekeeping and training force instead of what their purpose is. The role they have now is one that should be played by Iraqis, themselves, and in conjuction with UN or NATO troops.

Perennial war.

What would we do without it?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. the family is probably afraid

that if we took the child away, we'd torture her or kill her. Sad but true.

[leftchick]

2. that is very true

what a sad story and there are surely thousands like them. :(

[TacticalPeek]

3. Very interesting blog.

Thanks for the link.

[Roland99]

4. You're welcome. And, yeah, there are some good entries in there.

[Roland99]

5. Kick for a good read.