NPR and the latest from Iraq

Well I finally heard the NPR story done about the AFTH (Air Force Theater Hospital), here in Balad. I like NPR, despite the fact that some of my politics are so right wing as to make Sean Hannity look like a commie. The Republicans don’t always have the moral high ground. I think it takes both extremes to help keep America on course. The constant push and pull of the two sides steer us down a moderate course and keep us from investing ourselves in some of the more dangerous political adventures that have been problematic for other western nations. So I listen to NPR. They cover such a wide variety of news topics from around the entire globe. Many other news outlets are so America focused that I only get some of the picture. It just may be entirely possible that France has the right approach to something. But I’d never know if all I listened to was Bill O’Reilley (sp.?). I believe the French got wine and cheese correct; Oh! and art. So diatribe aside let me give you the link to the story:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5298089

If that didn’t get you there go to the NPR home page and click on archives. The story will be found on the March 23rd page, under “All Things Considered”.

The story is pretty accurate. All the surgeons are USAF, with the exception of the neurosurgeon, he is in the Army as stated. In addition, the Lt.Col. interviewed is a Nurse Anesthetist not a Nurse Anesthesiologist. She is also my boss. In the picture I was standing just to the left of the doctor with his back to you. That’s J. Stormo, MD. He’s a buddy of mine from Wilford Hall (USAF Hospital) in Texas. Almost everyone in the picture is a friend of mine. Patients go to an Intensive Care Unit, not internal. I guess these are just quibbles. In reality this story captured a lot of what it is like here. But nothing short of coming here can do it justice.

I still believe that despite our best efforts and examples we will never install a true democracy here. Islam, and years upon years of factionalism will prevent it. Until our president is able to truthfully articulate to the world the evil that is Islam, no good will come of this conflict. No one is ever remembered for heroic diplomacy.