Iraqi Official Visits Walter Reed, Thanks Troops, Praises Facility

Iraq ’s interior minister Jawad al-Bulani visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center and thanked U.S. servicemembers and their families for their sacrifices on behalf of his country. From the DOD:

Jawad al-Bulani told reporters that he wanted to convey his country’s “gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made by these great warrior-soldiers, in the freeing of the Iraqi people and in helping us in Iraq to recover from tyranny and dictatorship.”

 

The senior Iraqi official also told reporters that he’d witnessed “the level of technical and medical sophistication” that is being practiced at Walter Reed. Observations at Walter Reed will be employed “to help our own wounded and many, many victims of terrorism and violence in Iraq,” Bulani said.

 

“We believe that we need facilities similar to this in Iraq, and we need to learn from not only the medical, but also the administrative and other systems that are in place here to help victims of war and violence,” the Iraqi minister added.

 

When asked about media speculation on possible windows of time for possible phased withdrawals of U.S. forces from Iraq, Bulani commented that his government is engaged in ongoing discussions involving many issues that “will depend on all kinds of considerations that will come into play.”

It’s good to know someone appreciates our wounded vets enough to visit them, isn’t it?  It’s also nice to see someone appreciate the 1st world conditions at Walter Reed.  PERSPECTIVE.

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Comments

[Americaneocon]

Thanks for sharing this, Amy!

It is good to see some appreciation...

Hope you're doing well.

[robert verdi]

That is a nice story, they are our partners in one of the tougher struggles this and their country has faced.

[David M]

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 07/30/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

[Amy Proctor]

I think it's impressive in two ways; first, the obvious that our allies recognize the impact our involvement has on our personell (they have endured more injuries than we have, however).

It's also impressive to see what our facilities look like to someone from an other country. Congress etc. condemn conditions at Walter Reed, and perhaps rightly so, but it should give us a sense of gratitude that our crappy conditions are better than the best conditions in other parts of the world.