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TheCroutonFuton
- Mr. Setlists -
USA
1728 Posts |
 Posted - 07/29/2004 : 09:54:15
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Minister: Saddam Has Prostate Infection
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20040729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_saddam_s_health
By RAWYA RAGEH, Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein suffers from a chronic prostate infection and has refused to have a biopsy to rule out any chance he has cancer, an Iraqi official said in an interview Thursday on Al-Jazeera television.
Photo
AP Photo
X-rays and blood tests carried out by U.S. military doctors did not show anything more serious than the infection and Saddam seemed to be in good health otherwise, Iraqi Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin said.
He said blood tests came back negative for cancer, but officials wanted to take a biopsy to be safe.
Chronic prostate infections are common, occurring in about 35 percent of all men over 50, but are not linked to cancer. However, routine screening for prostate cancer, especially among older men, is becoming more common.
Saddam, 67, has been held under U.S. detention at an undisclosed location in Iraq (news - web sites) since his capture last December.
There have been several media reports saying his health was deteriorating — which the U.S. military denied Thursday.
"Saddam did not have a stroke and he is not dead," 1st Sgt. Steve Valley told The Associated Press. He did not have further information.
A Jordan-based spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, the only neutral entity with access to Saddam, said Thursday the organization had no information about a downturn in Saddam's health.
"Saddam's sickness was rumors spread by the media," Mu'in Kassis told The Associated Press. The ICRC said it has visited him at least twice to check on his condition and carry messages to his family.
According to Amin, Saddam has lost weight after following a diet. He spends his time reading the Quran, writing poetry and tending to a garden, Amin said.
Mohammed al-Rashdan, a member of Saddam's defense team, said the lawyers have received unconfirmed information that Saddam suffered a stroke. He urged the Iraqi government to allow them, his family or a neutral party to send a doctor to Iraq to examine Saddam.
Officials at the Iraqi prime minister's office said they had no information on the deposed leader's condition.
Caused by a variety of bacteria, prostate infections develop gradually and can remain undetected for a long time because symptoms are typically subtle and sometimes there are none at all.
The most common symptoms include a feeling of having to urinate all the time, pain or burning during urination, discomfort when the bladder is full and having to get up many time each night to urinate.
The infections are not easy to cure because antibiotics do not accumulate in high concentrations in the prostate. Treatment usually involves several months of strong antibiotics.
Gah! Why the fuck should anyone care if he "feels discomfort when his bladder is full"?? Oh no! God forbid! Stupid fucking press. I hate the news.
"Freedom is a state of mind and the condition and position of your ass. Free your mind and your ass will follow." - Funkadelic |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2004 : 10:59:09
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To answer your (maybe rhetorical?) question, we should care so that a precedent of uncaring is not set. We want to treat or appear to treat prisoners humanely and respectfully, so that when and if the tables are turned, we are afforded the same treatment. Obviously, it is hard to swallow when the subject has done horrible things, but that is how our justice system and international laws work. I'd hate to move even closer to a police state than we already are in -though I'm not sure we are more than a few percentage points away from 100%.
Almost forgot, but I think they are trying to keep him alive so that they can prosecute him. If he has cancer, that's a risk. |
Edited by - apl4eris on 07/29/2004 11:00:45 |
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TheCroutonFuton
- Mr. Setlists -
USA
1728 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2004 : 11:01:00
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No, that's not what I meant at all. I agree that we should take care of our prisoners. But I meant the average everyday people, like us. Why in the hell should we give a shit? It's headline news. That's what amazes me. They don't need to report it and set it as a headline.
Also, apl, you seem to forget to sign-in a lot.  
"Freedom is a state of mind and the condition and position of your ass. Free your mind and your ass will follow." - Funkadelic |
Edited by - TheCroutonFuton on 07/29/2004 11:02:12 |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2004 : 11:03:29
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| Yeah, I didn't speak to that. The media is the general public's guarantee (to an extent) that the justice system is not being abused. It's historical record. It's also important to note that he is denying biopsy, which could determine if he has cancer, whhich could effect whether a trial is able to be conducted. |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2004 : 11:10:18
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quote:
Originally posted by apl4eris
To answer your (maybe rhetorical?) question, we should care so that a precedent of uncaring is not set. We want to treat or appear to treat prisoners humanely and respectfully, so that when and if the tables are turned, we are afforded the same treatment. Obviously, it is hard to swallow when the subject has done horrible things, but that is how our justice system and international laws work. I'd hate to move even closer to a police state than we already are in -though I'm not sure we are more than a few percentage points away from 100%.
Almost forgot, but I think they are trying to keep him alive so that they can prosecute him. If he has cancer, that's a risk.
They are way more cautios with Saddam than with the simple soldiers from Abu Ghraib (how does that spell in english?). |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2004 : 11:21:24
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| Yeah, but he's the "jewel" of the Iraq war, n'est pas? If he gets sick or dies, there's no "justice done", and there would be huge repercussions from that. |
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Aww. Everyone's favorite dictator has burning pee.
