You've broken your word, says Baghdad boy who lost his arms

telegraph.co.uk ^ | (Filed: 15/04/2003) | By David Blair in Baghdad

[FBD]

Ali Ismail Abbas, the 12-year-old Baghdad boy who lost his arms in a US air strike, yesterday accused the media of letting him down.

He does not want sympathy. Speaking with fluent indignation, in his grimy ward in Chewader hospital, he demanded to know why numerous promises that he would be treated in the West had not been kept.

Ali Ismail Abbas: 'Please take me out of Iraq to be cured' "The journalists always promise to evacuate me - why don't they do it now?" he asked, his brow furrowed with pain and glistening with sweat. "Please take me out of Iraq to be safe and cured."

An American bomb destroyed his home in the suburb of Zafaranea three weeks ago. He lost his mother, father, brother and two sisters.

The family were asleep when their home was turned into an inferno. Ali received second and third degree burns on his abdomen when his bedsheets caught fire. Shrapnel riddled his arms and both had to be amputated.

Day after day he has had to endure a bewildering succession of visitors from the international media. His wounds have been uncovered for cameramen and all have offered kind words.

Some have gone further and made specific promises. The Mirror launched an appeal on Ali's behalf and the London Evening Standard used his face to launch their Red Cross "victims of war" appeal. But the highly-intelligent articulate boy now has his doubts.

"You are coming to make fun of me because I have lost my arms?" he asked. "Doctor, doctor, no more journalists please."

Ali's condition is described as "critical but stable". The greatest danger would be septicaemia. If he is to be evacuated from Chewader hospital, this must be before infection takes hold. Dr Mowafak Gorea, the hospital's director, said: "We need realities, not dreams."

Ali has already been moved once, after looters ransacked one hospital. If he is to be moved again, Dr Gorea said air transport must be used and the swiftest route worked out. Thought must also be given to his six surviving sisters.

A doctor with the US marines in Baghdad said the American military was willing to evacuate Ali by air to Kuwait but no firm agreement had been reached with the hospital.

The immense pressure of work on Chewader hospital might help explain this. Of the six general hospitals in Baghdad, it is the only one still fully functioning.

Yesterday in the Commons, Tony Blair said: "We will do whatever we can to help him."

Two Iraqi children had already been flown to Britain for treatment, he said, adding that they were in an area under British control.

[FBD]

The media used this kid, lied to him, all in exchange for showing photos of his injuries. I wonder if anyone here at FR has any connections with influential people, to get him extracted from Iraq. He sounds like an intelligent kid who deserves a chance. Anyone know of a way to help him?

[ConservativeMan55]

This reminds me of that Mattie Stephanek who is always on Oprah and other like minded liberal operations. Jimmy Carter is apprently his "hero" because he likes peace!
</sarcasm>

[Support Free Republic]

The king and queen of the free ride
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[FBD]

PING.
Does any one know of a way to get this poor kid out of Iraq for medical treatment? The mediots used him, and lied to him.

[SerpentDove]

>>"The journalists always promise to evacuate me - why don't they do it now?"<<

Your first mistake?

Believing a journalist.

[finnman69]

This poor kid should write DU, A.N.S.W.E.R. and the rest of the kooks and send him a dollar each. Even better, he should sue them for use of his likeness.

After all their protesting, human shielding (actually designed to promote their socialist causes, not protect civilians) and kvetching about civilian casualties, what good have they accomplished?

[Illbay]

Gag! I hate peace!

All good Americans hate peace, right guys?

[ConservativeMan55]

Exactly!

[FBD]

Ali Ismail Abbas: 'Please take me out of Iraq to be cured' "The journalists always promise to evacuate me - why don't they do it now?" he asked, his brow furrowed with pain and glistening with sweat. "Please take me out of Iraq to be safe and cured."

C'mon. He's a little kid, he just wants to live.

[Future Snake Eater]

War is hell, but sometimes it needs to be done. Unfortunately, innocent people get caught in the middle. However, it's been that way for thousands of years, and it will probably always be that way. Suck it up and drive on.

[rrrod]

i just emailed this to fox news..see what happens

[tiki]

I wish the military would fly this boy out of the country and give him the best medical care available. ASAP

The Arab media is going to make hay out of this.

[FBD]

Well, I'm going to make some phone calls today. There has to be a way to help this kid. I've seen the photos of his arms, which are cut off at the elbows.

[Illbay]

I'm sure we can fix him up with prostheses that will serve him quite well.

[FBD]

Suck it up and drive on.???

My God, you are being heartless here. The kid is alive and ASKING FOR HELP.

[FBD]

Thanks, FRiend.

[FBD]

ping to Mud...a little boy needs help.

Ali Ismail Abbas: 'Please take me out of Iraq to be cured' "The journalists always promise to evacuate me - why don't they do it now?" he asked, his brow furrowed with pain and glistening with sweat. "Please take me out of Iraq to be safe and cured"

Mud, you know some Iraqi FReepers, don't you? Can you ping them to this article? I'd like to see if there is a way to get this kid out of Iraq, for medical help. Thanks FRiend.

[chiller]

At the risk of sounding cold and cruel....imagine if every casualty of war demanded this treatment.

Lots of dollars are committed for humanitarian aid in Iraq.

Saddam coulda', shoulda' stopped it, Saddam could have obeyed Geneva conventions and not hidden behind civilians, Iraqi's shouldn't have vandalized their hospitals....and we did everything within our power to prevent civilian injury.

We all feel for the kid and hope he finds help.

[Future Snake Eater]

I wasn't talking about the kid. I was talking about the inevitable reaction of complete revulsion to war (no matter the necessity for it in some cases). This boy's tragedy is terrible, but by no means should that lull anyone into any thoughts of "never again, no matter what." War is justifiable, and tragedies like this are inevitable in such circumstances.

[Future Snake Eater]

I totally agree.