Chapter 21 – Camouflage Blues
Approximate reading time – 5 minutes
August 6, 1990
“This will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait.” -- George H. W. Bush.
Saturday morning, he arrived accompanied by a tense mood, one of anxious anticipation. By now, everyone knew something about the invasion. The BBC reported stories of refugees streaming across the Saudi border toward Dammam and Riyadh. But no one knew for sure what the future would hold. That was the most challenging part, the unknown. As Nick had warned, rumors circulated about Saddam's arsenal of weapons; biological agents, nerve gas, and atomic weapons. After all, a few years before, he had ordered one of his ministers, 'Chemical Ali,' to attack the village of Halabja with nerve gas. Saddam had used chemical weapons against the Iranians during their ten-year war. So there was good reason for fear.
Colonel Khalid returned from the weekend wedding. His uniform had changed dramatically; from the usual khaki, he now wore brown, grey, and tan desert camouflage fatigues and a pistol as a sidearm. All officers displayed sidearms, even Captain Faraj, which worried many. The only thing that hadn't changed was his chain smoking.
The previous day an order had gone out from Riyadh mobilizing the Saudi armed forces. The command now presented Colonel Khalid with a new challenge. He had to find all the soldiers on his roster and supposedly under his control and organize them. To accomplish this, the Colonel began by scheduling a meeting. Omar had anticipated this and had set things in motion. He arranged two sessions, the first with Captain Salim and his security personnel to address the absent soldiers and then a second meeting with Julian, Nick, and Sally, the Nursing Director, to assess the hospital's needs in the event of hostilities.
The first meeting went as Colonel Khalid had expected. Captain Salim explained that his top men would search for the soldiers on the roster. He had already talked with the airbase commander about his efforts to find their enlisted men. It seemed that without an external threat, discipline had grown lax. Many soldiers had taken second jobs and now would have to give them up and report for duty. Salim told the Colonel that he expected this could be completed by week's end, middle of the following week at most, possibly two weeks - inshallah.
The captain then added the need for increased base protection. Privately, he had informed the Colonel that he was growing his 'observation' of the Palestinians and Yemenis. Statements their leaders made about Saddam and Kuwait had made him nervous.
Colonel Khalid knew his meeting with the Westerners would be more delicate, more critical for the hospital. It now began to occur to him that he might have to administer an actual military hospital and not just a private clinic and maternity service for the soldiers and their families. He could have battlefield casualties in weeks or months, for which he knew he was ill-prepared.
Julian, Nick, and Sally had received the calls within a few minutes of each other. They were each surprised to hear Captain Salim on the phone instead of Bobby's high-pitched voice summoning them to Colonel Khalid's office. Each finished what they were doing and made their way to the meeting. When they arrived, Bobby, looking uncharacteristically nervous, quickly ushered them into the Colonel's office, where the men were waiting. The Colonel put down his cigarette and rose to greet the trio.
"Thanks for coming on short notice. Yanni, as you see from my new uniform, some things have changed. Please sit."
They sat on the couch while Colonel Khalid sat down, retrieved his cigarette, finished it, and crushed it in the ashtray.
"Here's what I know now."
He paused for effect.
"Nothing! That's right, nothing. We get only the order to dress like this. I now look like a chocolate chip cookie."
"Yanni, here's what I want you to do. Dr. Nick, I'm gonna put you in charge of preparing for the war. I know you come from Los Angeles, and Yanni, that is like a war zone, according to Captain Faraj, so you're the right guy."
Nick spoke up.
"Speaking of Captain Faraj, did you give him any bullets for his pistol?
The Colonel smiled, and Captain Salim broke in.
"Wallah, we gave him blanks."
Laughter spread through the room. Nick then resumed addressing the Colonel.
"I appreciate your confidence in me, but an ER in LA differs from a war. Still, I guess I know what we must do to prepare."
Colonel Khalid smiled.
“Mafi muskala, (no problem). You make a good leader for the hospital; the people trust you, and who knows more about emergencies than you? I bet you even treated a few gunshot wounds, right."
"Yes, many more than I care to remember. OK, I'll take responsibility."
Colonel Khalid pointed to Julian and Sally.
"That's why they are here. But I also want Julian to be honest with us about who we have on staff and who we don't. No more games, Yanni. Omar will make sure of this."
Julian spoke up.
"Colonel, I will provide you with the best I can. But we need to talk about a couple of important issues first."
Colonel Khalid seemed puzzled.
"What issues? We don't have issues; what we got is an invasion. Saddam may be here next week."
Julian hesitated before voicing the problems.
"First, some staff have already come to my office asking for home leave, and I guess they don't plan on returning. They're planning a 'runner,' if you know what I mean. I need direction on what policy we should take concerning leave. Second, some have asked if there will be an evacuation if Saddam invades and gets close to Riyadh. I will need an answer to these questions soon. Lastly, I suggest we start finding LOCUMS for temporary assignments. We desperately need more personnel in radiology and the lab. We need to hear from Sally about the nursing staff as that is our other weakness going into an uncertain future."
Sally, usually shy and reserved around Colonel Khalid, spoke up without hesitation.
"Colonel, I am concerned with the women, especially the Filipinas. I think most of my Western staff are dedicated enough to stay. Julian will have to see if he can get more operating theater nurses, and I'll talk with the midwives to see if they could help on the wards as I assume we will shut down the maternity ward if it comes to war."
Nick spoke up to support Sally.
"I think that is an important point. I assume the MASH units and field hospitals will provide triage and first-line emergency treatment. We will provide long-term treatment for the wounded. First, Julian needs to see if he can recruit some nurses with war experience or a serious rehab background. Second, we need to look at our supplies. We will need different drugs, more bandages, OR supplies, etc. Third, let's consider how we will transport patients. Do we have enough ambulances? Today we wait for patients to come to the ER, but in a war situation, we may have to go out and get them or bring them from wherever the helicopters land. Finally, Colonel, you need to confirm with Riyadh where we will fit into the levels of treatment."
Nick paused, seeing some confusion on the Colonel's face. Colonel Khalid lit a cigarette and sat back before commenting on Nick's points. He turned and spoke with Omar in Arabic. Appearing satisfied with Omar's answers, the Colonel said again.
"OK, here's what we gonna do. Come back to me in a week with a plan. I will ask Riyadh if they have a plan for this care you talk about."
With that, he adjourned the meeting. They all left to begin a journey into an unknown future facing this new reality.