The Wire

Over the weekend most members of Iraq’s long-awaited new government were sworn in at a special session of the nation’s parliament, marking the formal end of the process of Iraq’s transition to democratic rule. But the political manoeuvres seem to have had no impact on life for ordinary civilians -since the cabinet was sworn in on Saturday, at least 33 people have been killed in a series of attacks across the country. In a bid to give a human face to the overwhelming death toll, Dr Salam Ismael a representative from Baghdad-based “Doctors for Iraq”, is currently in Australia, offering his unique perspective on the human cost of the War in Iraq. He founded “Doctors of Iraq” along with other junior doctors in order to bring aid to the people of Iraq. Dr Ismael treated causalities during the first siege of Fallujah in April 2004 and again during the attacks of November that same year. Dr Ismael spoke with the Wire about some of the biggest issues facing Iraq’s future.