Osg3 2012-07-30 SYRIA

The Osgood File.  This is Dave Ross on the CBS Radio Network

It’s not easy to get into Syria’s war zone.  But CBS’s Clarissa Ward did…

TAPE:…isn’t a doctor.”

…More after this from Charlie: 

(((SPOT)))

CBS’s Clarrissa Ward has a close up look at the rebels trying to overthrow the Assad regime in Syria – in a civil war that the Syrian government is determined to win, regardless of the human cost.  The job of the rebels’ medical battalion is to keep up the best it can:

Clarissa met the man who runs it – he goes by Shamil.  Not Dr. Shamil, as it turns out, because he was arrested as a rebel supporter just as he was about to graduate:

"If we didn't help the people, who can help? This is our job, my job - so I must help people." (:08)
*****SOT - "Shamil" - with Clarissa Ward, CBS News Correspondent*****
"(Ward:) So you have given radios to all these different towns. They call you when they have a problem. (Shamil:) Yes. (Ward:) And then you go. (Shamil:) Yes, we go there. Like Kafar a Takharim..." (:13)

Two weeks ago, the call came from a town called Kafar a Takharim:

WHEN FIERCE FIGHTING BROKE OUT IN THAT TOWN TWO WEEKS AGO  , THE MEMBERS OF "THE MEDICAL BATTALION" CARRIED OUT AS MANY OF THE WOUNDED AS THEY COULD. MANY WERE CHILDREN CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE. THERE WAS ONLY SO MUCH THE MEDICS COULD DO.
The medical battalion also has to treat civilians – because when you’re fighting a dictatorship, and the government runs the hospitals, when the rebels take a town, the hospitals close:
 
ON THIS DAY, THE MISSION WAS TO DELIVER THESE EMERGENCY MEDICAL KITS TO REBEL FIGHTERS IN THE AREA. WE USED BACK ROADS AND STOPPED WHEN LOCALS WARNED US THAT SYRIAN GOVERNMENT TANKS WERE BLOCKING THE WAY AHEAD. THE TEAM TOOK SHELTER IN A LOCAL HOME AND PRAYED. 
IT WAS NIGHT BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO TRY TO SNEAK THROUGH. THE TEAM TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AS WE RACED PAST THE SYRIAN ARMY'S CHECKPOINT --- (NAT) --- "THANKS BE TO GOD," THEY SAID --- WHEN THEY WERE BACK IN THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF REBEL-HELD TERRITORY. 
THEY'RE BUILDING MAKESHIFT CLINICS AS FAST AS THEY CAN SMUGGLE SUPPLIES ACROSS THE BORDER WITH TURKEY, BUT THERE IS ONE SHORTAGE THAT THEY CAN'T OVERCOME.
*****SOT - "Shamil" - with Clarissa Ward*****
"(Shamil:) We need doctors - especially surgical doctors. (Ward:) Why can't you find more doctors? (Shamil:) Frankly, a lot of doctors scared." (:09)

I think I can understand that.   By the way, Clarissa is back safely in London.

The Osgood File.  This is Dave Ross on the CBS Radio Network