Kidnappings Bleed Iraq of Doctors

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20040531/ts_latimes/kidnappingsbleediraqofdoctors&cid=2026&ncid=1480


There's perhaps one doctor in Iraq (news - web sites) talented enough to save her life: a neurosurgeon ranked among the best in the Middle East.

But Dr. Abid Hadi Khalily is holed up in his home, recovering from a traumatic kidnapping in April. Colleagues say he's too depressed and frightened to return to work and is preparing to leave the country.

For two months, someone has been kidnapping the best doctors in Iraq. Health officials and doctors estimate that as many as 100 surgeons, specialists and general physicians have been abducted from their homes and clinics since the beginning of April. Some were beaten and tortured. Most were released after the payment of between $20,000 and $200,000 in ransom.

Already plagued by outdated equipment and drug shortages, Iraq's fragile healthcare system is buckling under this new security threat. Some doctors who have not been kidnapped have fled Iraq — just as the nation most needs their help.

At $100,000.00 per day paid for by the US taxpayer.

strange.