Something simple. Something that would work. Something we could learn from Hezbullah.
If the US wanted to do something relatively simple that would generate massive goodwill within Iraq and beyond, it would begin resupplying the hospitals in Iraq.
It is unconscionable that in the midst of all this violence Iraqi hospitals don't even have the most basic items, antibiotics, clean bandages, painkillers.
Unlike water, power, or other reconstruction, this could be a relatively contained operation. US forces drive up and drop off boxes and boxes and boxes of these very basic, very inexpensive supplies, and drive away. Simply flood the country with supplies.
Or, to take this one step further, open and publicize a fund in the US where the American people could donate to help the Iraqis, a March of Dimes campaign with collection cups at the Starbucks and every grocery store. Tell me you wouldn't throw in a couple bucks.
This is a relatively small thing, but it would make alot of difference both in the lives of Iraqis and as an expression to the wider world.
(This effort would have to be worked around the existing Health Ministry which has been politically channeling the few supplies available, and if the militias seized the supplies, it would destroy their image in front of their people, not ours.)
It is unconscionable that in the midst of all this violence Iraqi hospitals don't even have the most basic items, antibiotics, clean bandages, painkillers.
Unlike water, power, or other reconstruction, this could be a relatively contained operation. US forces drive up and drop off boxes and boxes and boxes of these very basic, very inexpensive supplies, and drive away. Simply flood the country with supplies.
Or, to take this one step further, open and publicize a fund in the US where the American people could donate to help the Iraqis, a March of Dimes campaign with collection cups at the Starbucks and every grocery store. Tell me you wouldn't throw in a couple bucks.
This is a relatively small thing, but it would make alot of difference both in the lives of Iraqis and as an expression to the wider world.
(This effort would have to be worked around the existing Health Ministry which has been politically channeling the few supplies available, and if the militias seized the supplies, it would destroy their image in front of their people, not ours.)
posted by mikevotes at
1:40 PM
10 Comments:
Great idea.
By
-epm, at 3:21 PM
Yrah, but it will never happen because it would put the focus on the deaths and injuries, and there's no way the Bush administration would do anything that could cause that.
And, I don't think it works the same if it is carried out by anyone other than the US. The Red Crescent has been trying so desperately, but their people are just not allowed in some areas, and they're very cautious at what they do because they don't want to accused of sectarianism as it would jeopardize the rest of their people in country.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 4:09 PM
couldn't agree with you more. Thing is it's so much easier to just throw a billion dollars at a project without even caring what it is spent on as long as it is spent. Cohesive spending strategies just take too long to devise.
I've actually been talking to an Iraqi who heads up an Iraqi NGO who refuses to accept U.S. funds for just this reason. In the past US officials would not allow him to spend US dollars on addressing the urgent needs of Iraqis, preferring instead that he just throw the money at some ill-conceived project, just so they could tell the us govt that they spent it. So you end up with hundreds of thousands of unemployed Iraqis sleeping outside multi-million dollar piles of bricks. Mission accomplished.
By
Matteo Tomasini, at 4:32 PM
Great idea. Why not try and push for it anyway? Make them suppress it. Let us not forget that "medical supplies" was on the laundry list of items that Bush promised on the eve of the invation and never delivered.
By
Praguetwin, at 4:40 PM
Matteo, very interesting.I've often wondered about that when we used to hear about the US rebuilding parks in Baghdad for instance.
Also, is there any concern that by taking US money, he would be in danger? Seen as a collaborator or whatever? I'd be really curious.
....
Praguetwin, What I remember them promising was not supplies so much as incredibly expensive US manufactured equipment like GE made MRI's for example, CAT scanners, computer systems for the hospitals. Highly profitable US made and sold capital investments, not supplies. That's from memory, I could be wrong.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 5:41 PM
Billions upon billions of dollars spent, and still collect from average people? I would want my money back, instead. Shake down some of those top few percent who own vast majority of pretty much everything.
By
Anonymous, at 10:54 PM
You are probably right. I remember something like, "Highways, Airports, Schools, Hospitals....."
I guess I probably assumed that a hospital would come complete with supplies. Silly me.
By
Praguetwin, at 1:19 AM
I think the cap equipment was being paid for by the US because the Iraqis might not buy it and where would the corporate giveaway be in that?
The supplies were probably expected to come out of the oil money.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 6:54 AM
Unfortunately, at this point just being involved with an Iraqi NGO makes you a target. Same goes for anyone else attempting to create some kind of order and stability out of this whole mess. Thus the targeting of teachers, journalists and other intellectuals.
Though he does not accept US money, he will accept funds from the UN, which says a lot; nearly all Iraqis either hate or are suspicious of the UN as a result of the sanctions period and all the related scandals that were later brought to light.
By
Matteo Tomasini, at 9:20 AM
Thank you. That answered my question. (and fulfilled my fears.)
Also, that's interesting what you say about the UN being suspect as well. From where I sit, I would've thought that the UN would be somewhat welcomed as a US alternative, but I didn't live through the incredible sanctions period.
If the UN had done that to me, and my family, and had authorized two invasions, I might hot want them either.
Thanks a ton.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 11:14 AM
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