The Hospital Raid in Iraq...
Fuzzy discusses the press coverage of it in her post over at her place (also linked in the H&I above) but I thought I would make my "Right Wing Stooge of the Administration" bones today and post the US government's side of the story, incomplete as it is, being an active investigation.
The slides that accompany the brief are available by clicking here.
Rear Adm. Smith, MNF-I; and Dr. al-Dabbagh, GOI: Feb. 13 Wednesday, 13 February 2008 Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, director of MNF-I's Communication Division, and Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, Government of Iraq spokesman, provide an operational update, Feb. 13.Rear Adm. Smith's Opening Remarks
Good afternoon and Assalamu 'Alaikum.
It is a pleasure to be joined by my friend, Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the government of Iraq.
Tomorrow, formal responsibility for the command of Multi-National Corps-Iraq will transition from LTG Odierno and the Three Corps Headquarters to LTG Austin and the Eighteenth Airborne Corps.
This transition marks the end of an extraordinary period of service and sacrifice by the Three Corps team. Their leadership, teamwork and toughness under-pinned the broad improvements that have been achieved in recent months. Their ability to operationalize a new strategy and intensify the focus on population security has led to new confidence by the Iraqi people.
Most importantly, the sacrifices of their soldiers and families have created a new opportunity for Iraq. We have, quite simply, been honored to serve with them. We wish them a safe redeployment and joyful re-union with their families and friends who anxiously await their return. God bless the men and women of the Phantom Corps.
We always want to welcome the 18th Airborne Corp Commanded by LTG Llyod Austin.
There are just a couple of operational updates to cover and then I will defer to Dr. al-Dabbagh.
On Sunday, Iraqi and Coalition forces detained a hospital administrator in connection with the possible exploitation of mentally impaired women by al-Qaeda.
On February 1st, two women were used to deliver a backpack filled with explosives and a suicide vest into crowded pet markets in Baghdad.
(SHOW SLIDE 01 – ISF searching doctor’s office)
View Slides (PDF)
As part of the investigation into these tragic events …last Sunday Iraqi and Coalition forces detained the acting administrator of the al-Rashad Psychiatric Hospital of Baghdad at his office, and conducted a thorough search of the facility.
(SHOW SLIDE 02 – ISF searching doctor’s office)
The administrator remains in coalition force detention and is being questioned to determine what role he may have played in supplying al-Qaeda with information regarding patients at the al-Rashad Psychiatric Hospital or from other medical facilities in the Baghdad area.
Because this is an ongoing investigation, I’m not at liberty to share any further details at this time, but will provide more information as it becomes available.
The rest of the briefing can be obtained simply by clicking here.
