Iraq Country Handbook - Europe Link

project, or piece of equipment has a problem, then it means the entire
plan, project, or piece of equipment is a problem.
Paranoia. Arabs appear paranoid by Western standards. Many perceive
problems as part of a plot to foil their attempts to make life more pleasant.
Arab history of foreign domination and totalitarian governments
may be the root of this paranoia. It often means that Middle Easterners
view Americans living in the Middle East as secret operatives. Family
members may be suspected of plotting against other family members for
opportunities. The government is usually viewed as plotting against the
people for its own gain.
MEDICAL ASSESSMENT
While well organized, the health care system does not function effectively.
Medical care is generally restricted to major urban areas. Although
inadequate, the health care system can provide basic health care services.
Limited amounts of medical materiel and the generally poor quality of
the medical infrastructure limit Iraq’s ability to effectively handle a
disaster. The central ambulance service has limited assets and is
restricted to a few large cities. Ambulance services, although crude and
unreliable, are available in Baghdad. Most city hospitals use small vans
or conscripted private vehicles for patient transport.
Private hospitals offer the best medical care in Iraq and are better
equipped than their government counterparts. However, the quality of
all health care is below U.S. standards. Moreover, all Iraqi hospitals
function well below acceptable U.S. sanitary standards.
Iraq cannot produce or obtain adequate supplies of medical materiel;
extreme shortages exist. The quality of most Iraqi-made medical products
is substandard.
The blood supply is not safe. Blood banks supply adequate quantities of
blood for peacetime needs; some blood is tested for hepatitis and HIV.
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