For Iraqi Soldiers, A Medical Morass

[Hissyspit]

Source: Washington Post

For Iraqi Soldiers, A Medical Morass
Lack of Facilities Leaves Wounded To Seek Own Care

By Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 6, 2007; Page A01

BAGHDAD -- Mohammed Mizher Massen was a different man on the morning of Feb. 21. His muscles filled out his Iraqi army uniform. His posture radiated the confidence of a soldier who had helped capture insurgents. And his heart swelled: In a few hours, after his unit finished its shift guarding a Baghdad construction project, he was going to propose to his girlfriend.

Then the bomb in a cooking oil can on the roadside blew up, shredding his left leg and marking him with a constellation of shrapnel. Now 1st Sgt. Massen, 22, is a one-legged man whose brothers carry him from his bed, where he has dreams of loud explosions, to his computer, where he researches prosthetic legs. He spends his $460 monthly soldier's salary on the $3,400 in medical expenses that he has accrued.

As the U.S. military prepares for an eventual handover of security duties to Iraqi forces, more of Iraq's 120,000 soldiers are advancing to the front lines of the war, and more are being wounded. But because there are no Iraqi military hospitals, thousands have been left to the mercy of overtaxed and corrupt civilian hospitals and a military compensation system paralyzed by red tape and disorganization, according to soldiers, family members, doctors and military officials. Many, feeling abandoned, turn to their families for help.

"I was fighting and going into combat missions for three years. When I was wounded, I was thrown out to my house," said Massen, a baby-faced man who slumped over a table, eyes downcast, during an interview at a Baghdad restaurant. "They did not provide me crutches or a wheelchair. They provided me with nothing."

MORE

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/05/AR2007050501236.html?hpid=topnews

[Heidi]

1. Kick.

:kick:

[G_j]

2. For Iraq's hurt soldiers, little care

Source: WASHINGTON POST

For Iraq's hurt soldiers, little care
Published May 7, 2007

BAGHDAD - Mohammed Mizher Massen was a different man on the morning of Feb. 21. His muscles filled out his Iraqi army uniform. His posture radiated the confidence of a soldier who had helped capture insurgents. And in a few hours, after his unit finished its shift guarding a Baghdad construction project, he was going to propose to his girlfriend.

Then the bomb in a cooking oil can on the roadside blew up, shredding his left leg and marking him with a constellation of shrapnel.

Now 1st Sgt. Massen, 22, is a one-legged man who spends his $460 monthly soldier's salary on the $3, 400 in medical expenses that he has accrued.

As the U.S. military prepares for an eventual handover of security duties to Iraqi forces, more of Iraq's 120, 000 soldiers are advancing to the front lines of the war, and more are being wounded. But because there are no Iraqi military hospitals, thousands have been left to the mercy of overtaxed and corrupt civilian hospitals and a military compensation system paralyzed by red tape and disorganization, according to soldiers, family members, doctors and military officials. Many, feeling abandoned, turn to their families for help


Read more: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/07/Worldandnation/For_Iraq_s_hurt_soldi.shtml

[SayWhatYo]

3. Where is all the money going to?

Everything else aside, one would think that getting the Iraqi military and security forces what they need would be one of the top priorities....

[Bozita]

4. So what about all the new hospitals we built over there in Iraq?

I remember now.

The stuff we paid for the building of over there in Iraq? Falling down and non-functional.

Just like King George's "New Millenium Empire."

[Forkboy]

5. Weird to see this...I was just thinking about conditions at Walter Reed yesterday.

And it hit me...if the care our own men and women are receiving sucks just how bad is it for the Iraqis.

Sadly you let me know. :(

[Catalyst]

6. Time for the UN

To step in and do their jobs as 'World Police.' That would include Humanitarian missions. What a shit~storm they will have on their hands when we leave.