Reread lines 32–49. Explain Izzy’s dilemma. Why does the author pose two questions in lines 45–49?
Lines 32-49: “The only hope you have is to get her to an American hospital?”
Cumings asked, repeating what Izzy had just said. Izzy started to answer.
The cell phone went dead. “Izzy?” Cumings said. “Izzy?”
How did moments of decency occur in this war?
“Izzy,” Cumings said, calling him back. “Bring your daughter here.”
That was how.
“Oh thank you, sir. Thank you, sir,” Izzy said.
And that’s when things got complicated. Even this war had its rules,
and one of them covered who could be treated at an American aid facility. Americans could, of course, but Iraqis could not, unless they were injured by the American military, and only if the injury was life-threatening. Since the car bomb had been an Iraqi bomb, none of the injured was entitled to American care, including, it seemed, Izzy’s daughter. But Cumings had in mind Izzy’s previous life, before he was an interpreter. If the daughter who was injured had been born in New York City, did that make her eligible? Could an American-born Iraqi who was injured by a non-American bomb receive medical care in an American military medical facility?
Lines 45-49: But Cumings had in mind Izzy’s previous life, before he was an interpreter. If the daughter who was injured had been born in New York City, did that make her eligible? Could an American-born Iraqi who was injured by a non-American bomb receive medical care in an American military medical facility?
