Universal Care for Health?

The 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment from Camp Lejeune, set out to provide the local population, just outside of Fallujah, with basic health care.  These knuckle jarheads risk their lives and limbs to bring eye drops and aspirin to people who often have no indoor plumbing, but share a feed to international satellite television with the neighbors.  Iraq is a place of surrealistic contrasts, of power games that are counter-intuitive and images that can be as clear as the piercing blue sky or as grainy as the sugar powdered dirt.  Between car bombs and cough syrup, many inhabitants of al Anbar have decided to just say no to violence both imported and domestic.

In the Sunni Triangle, death and suffering are always just a corner away.  For the Marines everyday reports of a car bomb, IED or suicide vest is the subject of concern, a speed bump before mission completion and a nagging reminder of mortality.  The preparation for a Cooperative Medical Engagement (CME) is exhausting, resources from the neighboring bases are marshaled, extra security demanded and coordination with the local Iraqi police and army added a special layer of complexity.  During the morning brief at 0700, there was a palpable sense of tension that normally arises at the start of something big.  Instead of busting in a doors, sweeping for IED's or collaring suspected insurgents, the Marines were going to perform a tougher task--preventing terrorists from attacking civilians and allowing doctors to get patients to "say ah".

I spoke with a female Navy medical officer and alumna of Georgetown University.  This former ROTC student rarely went outside the wire, but as a doctor in Iraq, her skills were especially precious in a country where the gender divide is more than hidden traits behind a dark veil. Female American military in Iraq are far outnumbered by their male brothers, which is why the Iraqi Army are often distracted by a female Marine's presence.  In a conflict where a battlefield could be a home or market female Marines in a civil affairs mission are crucial.

In the United States, this school, made impromptu clinic and pharmacy, would be unacceptable, but flocks of Iraqis lined up early in the day, when the temperature passes for mild, to seek aid for children with infections, burns and failing health.

Under Saddam Hussein, free medical treatment was the norm for communities that cooperated and denied to those who resisted.  The biggest impediment to receiving any quality of care is the current level of intimidation.  During a meeting with the Fallujah city council, translators gave details for the needs of Fallujah Surgical, one of the few operating hospitals in the locked down city.  The major concern for continued services was not keeping patients safe from germs, but free from intimidation, infiltration or insecurity.  The Fallujah director of health read off a list of necessities that sounded more like security plans for US Mint rather than remedies for a beleaguered population.   

The local law enforcement and neighborhood watches have become extremely important in providing security.  Before I came, I wondered how much cooperation there was between American and Iraqi forces.  I was impressed to see young men (I have yet to see an Iraqi female soldier or police officer) risk their lives to help rid their town of people who have kidnapped, tortured and beheaded their neighbors.  I often wonder how many people would speak out back home if it meant the high probability of becoming a target for a gruesome death. 

Everywhere I've gone with my camera, little Iraqi kids have swarmed me, but this time a police officer wanted me to take a picture of him on the roof next to the tri-color flag.  None of the Marines would dream of so flagrantly standing in the open, especially without a Kevlar firmly strapped to their head, but here was this Iraqi man who climbed the fence to plant a flag.  His footing was apparently sturdier than what it seemed. 

Comments

[thebronze]

BTW, I didn't know the 5th Marines had 10 battalions.

Hmmmm...

[BAILEY]

Cold turkey

[HUNTER]

Chop and change

[KEEGAN]

Blow your own trumpet

[lyclenreplere]

Heh. Nice. You bring out the best of my testy one Wanna joke?) Why do bagpipers walk when they play? They're trying to get away from the noise.