headline - "Powell begs aid agencies to stay in Baghdad "

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1073092,00.html

Powell begs aid agencies to stay in Baghdad

Terrorists will win if humanitarian workers retreat, says secretary of state, as frontline charity pulls out its staff

Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor
Wednesday October 29, 2003
The Guardian


Médecins sans Frontières, a frontline aid agency with a reputation for working in warzones where other agencies refuse to go, is to join the exodus of international workers from Baghdad despite a plea for it to stay from the US secretary of state, Colin Powell.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, whose headquarters was bombed on Monday, is also considering whether to scale back its operations in the city.

Mr Powell expressed hope that non-governmental bodies, contractors and the UN would stay despite the dangers: "They are needed. Their work is needed. And if they are driven out, then the terrorists win."

Many organisations left after the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad in August, and Monday's attacks have forced the remainder to weigh the risks to their staff against their humanitarian duty.

"This is a horrible decision for us to have to make," said Marc Joolens, Iraq operations coordinator for MSF. "We are committed to our work in Iraq, but now that the heart of neutral humanitarian assistance has been attacked, we have to think again."

MORE.........

[Spazito]

1. Sadly, I think Powell's plea has less to do with the welfare of the Iraqis

and more to do with not wanting Bush's ass to be hung out to flap in the wind.

[dArKeR]

12. It's not an 'I think'. You just said the truth which not even the

journalists sworn to tell the truth will dare publish.

[dbt]

2. Suck it up, Colon

Chrissakes, qwitcher whinin'

:evilgrin:
dbt

[spinbaby]

3. Contractors?

"Mr Powell expressed hope that non-governmental bodies, contractors and the UN would stay despite the dangers."

Is that vaunted free-enterprise supply system about to pull out?

[ThorsteinVeblen]

4. The Right Wing media hates MSF - they even have a French name.

Limbaugh and Hannity and O-Reilly have done everything they can to destroy the reputation of this incredible organization and now Powell is reduced to begging them to stay and clean up the mess the Bush admin. has made.

I urge MSF to get the hell out now. Bush cannot secure Iraq because his administration is incompetant. The US right wing hates you because you are compassionate, strong, apolitical and don't work for profit. Don't follow the US off the cliff.

Let Halliburton and Bechtel sacrifice their men. At least their bosses are making money off their deaths. Make them pay for their blood money.

[Neutrino]

5. They keep killing and maiming Iraquis, and then complain

that no one is anxious to pick up and patch up the remains.
Arrogance that overshadows mere hubris.

[RuB]

6. The American media allowed Bushie to lie to the American people.

Every Republican and some Democrats joined in that lie by giving Bushie permission to invade Iraq. HELLO!! The terrorists have already won. Republican foreign policy is a disaster for America! And every time we have lied to invade a country it has been a disaster for America! Our sons and daughters pay the price. Politicians retire with fat government pensions.

[BarbaRosa]

7. How many

Terrorists will win if ________! scenarios are we going see before this is all over?

My guess, alot more.

[ignatius]

8. off your knees, Powell. You don't want to wear

'em out if the bossman needs you.

[GainesT1958]

9. First, we were begging other nations for their troops...

Now, we're reduced to begging their aid agencies to stick it out after they've been bombed. It's REEEEEEEALLY hard to see how things are "getting better" in Iraq these days! :mad:

B-)

[hatrack]

10. MSF is pulling out? Wow!

They're renowned for sticking around when the shit really starts flying. If they're leaving, this is not a good sign.

Things must really, REALLY suck to force this decision.

[Malva Zebrina]

11. "the terrorists"

Powell said the terrorists will win--I think it is the Iraqi resistance he means--branding them terrorists is more double speak -- Powell sticking to the instructions as usual.

[mainer]

13. some Repubs are whining about "cowardly" aid groups

I saw a few letters to the editor today deploring the possible withdrawal of Red Cross personnel, saying the ICRC has the "responsibility" to stay and get shot at!

Is this the new Republican tactic now? Calling MSF and ICRC cowards because they are getting killed while working OUT IN THE OPEN, with a minimum of protection? Aid workers are volunteers, not soldiers. If it's getting too dangerous, they have every right to leave.

[dArKeR]

14. Another Grim Milestone In Iraq - CBS

Two major aid agencies on Wednesday announced plans to reduce staff in the wake of recent violence, as the U.S. death toll passed a grim milestone.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it would cut back on its international staff in Iraq, but remain in the country for the sake of the Iraqi people.

The ICRC said it reconsidered its deployment in Iraq following a wave of suicide bombings in Baghdad on Monday. One of the attacks badly damaged the agency's Baghdad headquarters, killing two Iraqi Red Cross employees and as many as 10 other people outside the compound.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml