Shiite politician to U.S. for checkup

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - The leader of Iraq's largest Shiite political party has left for the United States for medical checkups, an official at his office said Friday.

Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim flew to the United States on Wednesday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media. He released no other details.

Al-Hakim, re-elected last week as leader of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, is not known to be suffering any health problems, but he is a heavy smoker. He addressed a news conference May 12 at the end of a two-day conference of his party, founded in neighboring Iran in the early 1980s.

Al-Hakim, who has led his party since 2003, is believed to be in his late 50s or early 60s.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070518/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_shiite_leader

[Greeby]

1. Bet you anything he does a runner

And who could blame him :shrug:

[daleo]

2. Maybe he will remain in the U.S. for "medical treatment"

I have a hunch it might do wonders for his life expectancy.

[Kagemusha]

4. Hakim's one of the best defended guys in the whole country.

I don't think he's some scardey cat. Not this particular individual.

I was reading how Iraq's oil minister spent 10 years in solitary at Abu Ghraib because he wouldn't work with Saddam's nuclear project. (Well such that it was.) Some of these guys are not shrinking violets.

[Benhurst]

3. What do you want to bet the American taxpayers will foot the bill?

This in one of the few industrialized nations not to provide national health for all its citizens.

The World's Only Superpower. What a pathetic dump!

We could do so much better.

[maddezmom]

5. Iraqi Shiite leader has lung cancer ...off to Iran for treatment

Iraqi Shiite leader has lung cancer By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer
32 minutes ago



BAGHDAD - The leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party has been diagnosed with lung cancer and has gone to Iran to seek immediate treatment, officials close to him said Sunday.

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Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Islamic Council in Iraq since 2003, has been a key player in Iraqi politics and a major partner in U.S.-backed efforts to build a democratic system after the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Attempts to push through major reforms such as a new revenue-sharing oil law, constitutional amendments and expanded opportunities for Sunnis in Iraq's government would face even more obstacles without al-Hakim's active support.

Al-Hakim flew suddenly to the United States on Wednesday for tests after doctors at a U.S.-run hospital in Iraq detected signs of cancer in one of his lungs. The diagnosis was confirmed at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the officials said.

more;http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070520/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_shiite_leader