Iraqi Amputees Travel From Houston to White House (Must Read)

The Houston Chronicle ^ | Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | Michael Hedges

[kristinn]

I had the honor of meeting these men yesterday afternoon. I interviewed one through a translator and spoke with the rest of the men after their press conference. I'll post a report later today.

This article accurately reflects the attitudes of the men about the situation in Iraq and their gratitude for our help and sacrifice.

[Bahbah]

I will be looking forward to your report.

[Guenevere]

looking forward to this!

[ohioWfan]

[ohioWfan]

[joesnuffy]

I hope our combat Veteran amputees get such high end medical treatment.....and top of the line prosthesis

[kristinn]

Thanks. C-SPAN showed the last twenty minutes of the press conference last night and earlier today. I hope people watched it. Even in the short version, it gave a good impression of the men.

[ohioWfan]

When I first walked into the White House, it was like I was surrounded by a halo," said Qassim Kadhim. "Then suddenly we were with the president, and he made us feel we were with a friend, that he understood us. For the most powerful man in the world to be so warm, it was the apex of my life."

Here it is again, MS B...........the light.

[mewzilla]

They're scheduled to be on FOX & friends tomorrow morning, BTW. Four of the Iraqi gentlemen and Mr. North, the man who made the documentary.

[COBOL2Java]

Waiting for this to appear in the New York Times....not holding my breath though...

[Angelwood]

I agree that this article is a MUST READ.

[kristinn]

I hope so too. From my visits there, and from news reports, it seems our men and women have been getting great care at Walter Reed.

[kristinn]

Looks like someone did that exorcism when the Clintons left after all :-)

[ohioWfan]

kristin, could you please ping me to your article? I am really looking forward to reading it!

And thanks for this post!

[Bahbah]

"it gave a good impression of the men."

I happened to catch it by accident and yes, I was impressed with the men, including, of course, GW.

[ohioWfan]

Seriously, kristinn.

The last time I was in the White House was when the debauched one and his partner in crime lived there, and there was DEFINITELY no light there....

[kristinn]

The Washington Post did a long front page story on the men on Monday, IIRC. Checking Google News (where I found this article,) the meeting with President Bush didn't get much play except in wire service copy. Deborah Orin of the NY Post was at the press conference. Her article is posted here.

[VOA]

Nine years ago the seven men were in Abu Ghraib, awaiting the terrifying moment
when they'd be placed on a gurney so a surgeon could slice off their limbs
while Saddam's secret police videotaped the mutilation.

Saddam's "trust, but verify" policy.
Plus, more documentary evidence to go into the family album that Saddam
could pass along to Uday.

[kristinn]

They had nothing but praise for President Bush. The vast majority of Iraqi people recognize that it was Bush who liberated them from Saddam while the Arab world did nothing to ease their suffering.

The men have special contempt for the foreign fighters coming into Iraq to fight the Americans. They know those foreigners do not have Iraqis' best interests in mind.

[kristinn]

I'm glad they'll be on Fox. I wonder if Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer are trying to get the men on their morning shows.