[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              USNS COMFORT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CYNTHIA McKINNEY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following for the Record:

       In an effort to save both U.S. and Iraqi lives by adhering 
     to International War and common decency, I sent the following 
     letter to the Captain of the Navy's top hospital ship. Thomas 
     J. Nagy, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow in Public Health, Johns 
     Hopkins, '77-'79.

                                                November 12, 2006.
       To the Captain, USNS Comfort: Would it not be to the 
     benefit of all if the USS Comfort were to return immediately 
     to the Persian Gulf to provide life-saving health care to 
     Iraqi infants and children who are dying in huge numbers for 
     the lack of medical services and supplies.
       Further, does not the Geneva Convention on the 
     Responsibilities of Occupying Powers require that the U.S., 
     as the de facto if not de jure Occupying Power in Iraq 
     furnish lifesaving health care to Iraqis?
       Finally, please forward my note to the U.S. Navy's Judge 
     Advocate General as well as the captain of the USN HOPE and 
     the captains of any other USN Hospital Ships.
       I request a written reply.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Thomas J. Nagy.
                                  ____
                                  
     From: Shimkus, Albert J CAPT
     To: Thomas J. Nagy
     CC: Herden, Mary J CAPT
     Subject: Your Email of 12 November
     Date: 14 Nov 2006
       Dr. Nagy: Thank you for your email note of 12 November.
       I will forward your email note as you have requested.
           Sincerely,
     A. Shimkus,
       Commanding Officer, Medical Treatment Facility, USNS 
     COMFORT (T-AH 20).

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