The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear Sama and Yasser, I owe you an apology. I should not of disclosed the fact that the both of you are medics to CASI. I really am very sorry, I wrote that e-mail in a moment of anger and frustration at the current situation. I honestly believe that both of you will make very proficient medics, my aim was not to question your professional competence, the fact that you study at a couple of the most prestigious colleges in this country speaks for itself. I was writing out of sheer frustration. I know you are probably in a better position to speak about affairs concerning Iraq, and as Iraqis your views hold a lot more importance than my own, and I understand that you are a lot better informed about Saddam's gencocidal dictatorship, if not witnessed a degree of it first hand, merits that your voice and views are heard and acknowledged above not only mine but other contributors on the list, despite our intentions. In my defence though, I was speaking out of compassion and an obsession to preserve human life, after all this is what I have pledged my life to do. It was emotion getting the better of rational thought; perhaps the both of us have tripped on this. I am sorry again for any offence that I have caused; it was not my intention to do so. I am further ashamed since neither of you retorted or voiced anger, which you were both fully entitled to do. Best wishes, Naeemah -----Original Message----- From: Haji, Naeemah Sent: 13 March 2003 09:47 To: 'casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk' Subject: RE: [casi] ... And why I will not Dear Bert, Elga, Yasser and Sama, Bert and Elga, speaking as a student doctor, I am in complete agreement with the both of you. Yes, Dr Khalid's stance is highly suspicious, since if there are any principles that unite doctors chief amongst those has got to be the one that we all voice in our medical admissions interview that is the belief in the sanctity of life. I am both astounded and horrified at the thought of a member of my profession giving the green light to kill and maim thousands of people for the sake of one man, whom many say was a monster created by the very same people upon whom it has just dawned that a member of the old alumni is an incredibly evil specimen of a human who must be dealt with without delay and at any cost. This leads me to another worrying thought; choosing to practice medicine is thwart with all kinds of ethical dilemmas, worst of which is abstaining to treat a patient; violent individuals, murderers, rapists, paedophiles and other 'villains' in general all fall ill and have to be treated. What concerns me is that would it not be incredibly dangerous if medics started to allow personal antipathy to hinder the level of medical care they provide. If I found Sadaam Hussain lying gravely ill, pleading for help despite the utter abhorrence and repulsion I feel for him I know I would treat him, because I can't bear human suffering. To that end Yasser and Sama, as medics yourselves, I don't understand how you can justify the pain and suffering your people will feel, it is redundant to say at whose hands, since pain is pain no matter who is inflicting it. I think I am fair in saying that the overwhelming majority of doctors, thankfully, are against war. In fact, I have yet to come across a colleague who justifies war within any capacity: UN led, US led, 2nd Resolution or not, quite simply our life-long endeavour is to save lives, and therefore, avert war at any cost. Best wishes, Naeemah Medical Student, Imperial College School of Medicine -----Original Message----- From: Bert Gedin [mailto:gedinbert@hotmail.com] Sent: 13 March 2003 00:45 To: citext@chebucto.ns.ca; casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk Cc: gedinbert@hotmail.com Subject: Re: [casi] ... And why I will not Dear Elga, You may not be the only one who questions Dr. B. Khalaf's credentials, if any. His opinions will appear unsavoury to most of us, I believe. "a pro-war opinion given by (a) health professional might be assumed to carry more weight"? Perhaps, if genuine. Sometimes one does find exceptions to the rule, though. Without doing James Bond stuff, there would be some professional body in London, to confirm whether, or not such a person is registered, as a neurologist. If not, he should be taken no more seriously than those who pretend that their information, having been plagiarised & used in official documents, is unimpeachable. Greetings, Bert Gedin, Birmingham, UK. >From: H Sutter <citext@chebucto.ns.ca> >To: casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk >Subject: Re: [casi] ... And why I will not >Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 18:54:11 -0400 (AST) > > >Dear Hazim, Yasser, and List, > >Thank you to those who shared 'Dr B Khalaf's' opinion. >Sama and Yasser posted it just recently and someone else >posted it a few weeks back. > >I agree, Hazim, it would be unethical for a medical doctor >to "so strongly support the killing of possibly hundred of >thousands of innocent Iraqis just to change a regime". It >would also be out of character. > >Besides, 'Dr. Khalaf' seems to cherish the illusion that this >would be a "war against Saddam Hussein" - leaving everyone >else untouched (?). Yet he has supposedly experienced the >carnage of war: Iran-Irak and the Gulf massacre where >hundreds of thousands of conscripts and civilians were killed. >(By sheer coincidence, IPO also talk about the "war on Saddam". >So of course does the media.) > >There are other things too, e.g. style and tenor: From >someone with 'Dr. Khalaf's' professional background and >maturity one would expect a little more finesse in >getting a point across. > >Actually, to me there seems so much out of character in >this piece that I can't really believe in 'Dr. Khalaf's' >credentials. Still, I can see why a pro-war opinion given >by health professional might be assumed to carry more weight. > > > Locum consultant neurologist, London > >Yes... But just as an idea, this piece could have been >concocted by anyone, couldn't it? :) Sorry if I sound >paranoid. That's what all this propaganda is doing to me. > >Regards, >Elga Sutter > > >------------Original Message------------ >From: "hazim awbi" <hazimawbi@hotmail.com> >Subject: Re: [casi] ... And why I will not >Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 14:24:41 +0000 > > > > This guy has no knowledge of politics and he is totally out of touch. > > Besides, he is anethical regarding his profession. How would a doctor >of > > all people so strongly support the killing of possibly hundred of >thousands > > of innocent Iraqis just to change a regime? > >HA > > >>From: "Yasser Alaskary" <ya1980@hotmail.com> > >>To: <casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk> > >>Subject: [casi] ... And why I will not > >>Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 23:40:37 -0000 > >> > >>[11] http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,895397,00.html > >> > >>... And why I will not > >> > >>Dr B Khalaf > >>Friday February 14, 2003 > >>The Guardian > >[....] > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. >To unsubscribe, visit >http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss >To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk >All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://messenger.msn.co.uk _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk