CNN Breaking: Ariel Sharon's health has seriously deteriorated

[Rhiannon12866]

He had a CT-Scan, earlier today, and it was found that his digestive system had deteriorated. He had undergone surgery, and "his life is in danger," according to Israeli radio, from CNN International. No link yet.

On edit: Latest link I could find:
Hospital says Ariel Sharon's life is in danger
Jerusalem, Feb. 11(AP): The condition of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, has worsened and his life is in danger, a hospital spokeswoman said.

In a CT of Sharon's stomach on Saturday, doctors discovered that his digestive track had been seriously damaged, said Yael Bossem-Levy, spokeswoman for the Hadassah Ein-Kerem hospital where Sharon is being held. In light of the damage, it was decided to immediately operate on Sharon, Bossem-Levy said in a statement.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200602111401.htm

[NYC Liberal]

1. Link:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/11/sharon.update/index.html

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Thank you. I hadn't seen this one yet. n/t

[dave29]

3. o boy

:(

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I know. This news does not bode well for this already embattled region...

:-(

[VolcanoJen]

4. Reuters/Yahoo Link here

Sharon Undergoes Emergency Surgery

JERUSALAEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, incapacitated by a January 4 stroke, underwent emergency surgery on Saturday for digestive complications, Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital said.

"A CT scan revealed serious damage to the prime minister's digestive system and he has been admitted to surgery," hospital director Ron Krumer said.

The procedure was a fresh setback to any hopes of a recovery by Sharon, 77, whose powers have been assumed by interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Israel Radio's health correspondent called Sharon's situation "very worrying."

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Thank you. Wow. This is not good news. n/t :-(

[Rhiannon12866]

5. The latest from The Guardian: 15 minutes ago

Hospital: Ariel Sharon's Condition Worsens

Saturday February 11, 2006 8:46 AM


JERUSALEM (AP) - Ariel Sharon's condition has worsened and his life is in danger, a spokeswoman for the hospital caring for the Israeli leader said Saturday.

In a CT scan of Sharon's stomach Saturday, doctors discovered that his digestive track had been seriously damaged, said Yael Bossem-Levy, spokeswoman for Hadassah Ein-Kerem hospital. In light of the damage, it was decided to immediately operate on Sharon, Bossem-Levy said in a statement.

``Sharon's life is in danger,'' Bossem-Levy told The Associated Press in a phone call after the statement was issued.

Sharon, 77, suffered a severe stroke on Jan. 4 and has been unconscious ever since. A CT scan of his brain earlier this week showed that he remained in serious but stable condition.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5610257,00.html

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Say what you want about him, he's a tough old dude...

Watching CNNI - he's heading into surgery right now.

P.S. I fell asleep @ 9pm ;):hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Hell, I was just going to send this to you...

According to CNN, he had emergency surgery earlier. He may be tough, but he is old and quite overweight. It doesn't look good, from what I've heard and read. He's not one of my favorite people, but this is really bad news for the stability of this region...:-(

I called at 10, as you asked, and left you a message...:-)

[Cooley Hurd]

10. CNNI saying he's heading back into surgery again...

They should let this man die already - there's NO chance he'll ever regain consciousness.

P.S. I got your message :hi: - I'm glad I recorded Arrested Development, I fell asleep in the middle of it...

[Rhiannon12866]

11. If this man dies, all hell could break loose.

My friend, whom you know, has said that Israelis look to him for safety. I've never completely understood this, but he knows what he's talking about. I dread thinking about the possible repercussions in this already volatile region, if he should die...

What channel was this on, anyway? I looked for it, but got stuck on AMC, "The Day the Earth Stood Still," which explains my message.

[Cooley Hurd]

12. Israel will most likely elect someone...

...even MORE hardline than Sharon (given the results of the Palestinian election):

Who loves ya, Bibi?

:scared:

[Rhiannon12866]

14. Please don't even suggest this. This is too frightening for words.

But I take your point. After the Hamas election victory, fears will definitely run high and a hardliner may be the obvious choice.:-(

My personal choice would be Shimon Peres, since he seems to be the most reasonable and a definite advocate for peace, but I don't have a vote and don't have to live there...:-(

[rodeodance]

44. seems to me that the people have had time to prepare for his anticipated

death.

[Rhiannon12866]

65. Perhaps so, but I don't really believe that this is the case.

Nobody ever believes that a loved one is really going to die. I've experienced it with my own family, and I think that this is the case with Sharon. This is also probably the reason that they've taken such extraordinary measures with him. It will not be a good thing for this region if he dies.

[DoYouEverWonder]

45. That's probably why they are bringing him to surgury

They can't just unhook him from the machines and let him die, like you might do to a regular person. 'We lost him on the operating table' is a much more acceptable excuse under the circumstances.

[hang a left]

53. How did you get so smart?

:)

[DoYouEverWonder]

54. I use to make up alibis

for my friends whenever they got in trouble with their parents.

I was a master of coming up with a plausable excuse for almost any situation.

[hang a left]

59. Can I PM if I get in too deep?

:evilgrin:

[DoYouEverWonder]

82. No problem

I've never even charged for my services.

One of the best ones I ever came up with was telling my mother the bag of seeds and stems she found was dirt from John Lennon's car. I kid you not.

[Up2Late]

13. I was wondering when we would hear more...

...I guess this is why.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. I'm posting all I know, my friend.

But perhaps you are right. This is such a volatile region, it may be that they were fervently hoping that Sharon would regain his health. I was, as well, though I never supported his policies. I'm sorry, but it doesn't look good...:-(

[Up2Late]

16. Sharon likely to die today: hospital source (Reuters)

(This looks serious!)

Sharon likely to die today: hospital source

Sat Feb 11, 2006 04:56 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Doctors do not expect Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, incapacitated by a stroke he suffered last month, to survive an emergency operation on Saturday, a hospital source said.

"We expect him to die today," said the source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=11178640§ion=news>

[varkam]

17. Poor Sharon...

sort of...

[Rhiannon12866]

22. I take your point, varkam, and welcome to DU!

Sharon is not one of my favorite people, either, but if he dies, this could definitely throw this already embattled region into more chaos. I'm hoping that he recovers, because of this, but it doesn't look good...:-(

And welcome to DU, varkam! We're very glad to have you with us!:toast:

[DoYouEverWonder]

46. Calm you fears

Sharon has been dead for weeks and the world is still turning.

[Rhiannon12866]

111. The world will probably still keep turning, no matter what happens

But it's the events taking place on the ground that worry me, especially here...:-(

[DoYouEverWonder]

117. Then you are falling into their trap

this is how they control and manipulate people, by making them afraid. Your 'sky is falling posts' only serve to feed the beast.

[Rhiannon12866]

123. I'm only trying to report the facts, as we learn them,

and I don't think I'm being an alarmist to fear more violence in this volatile part of the world. There's more going on than most of us here are aware.

The coma and the conspiracy theory

By Bradley Burston

Monday, 13 February (43 days to election day)

Forget monitoring vital signs. Monitor talkbacks.

The moment that Ariel Sharon takes a turn for the worse, the messages flood in. Thankfully, the great majority are wishes that he might not suffer, or prayers for a miracle recovery.

It is a measure of the unbearable meanness of the Internet, however, that the first to arrive are almost always those who wish him ill, wish him hell, or alternatively, those who voice the hope that he will live on to suffer through endless rounds of new surgeries and unimaginable cutting-edge bio-tech tortures.

<snip>

Within minutes of Ariel Sharon having been rushed to an operating theater for emergency abdominal surgery on a Sabbath morning, the debate was not should he die in pain or live in agony, but rather When Olmert Will Let Him Die for Maximal Electoral Advantage.

This group is clearly one of a number of what may be called Web Anthills, in which the members of a like-thinking e-clan instantaneously share the same take on a given issue.

In a sense, this is no conspiracy theory. Why not? Because, as far as the writers are concerned, (A.) It's no conspiracy, it's only Kadima, and (B.) It's no theory, because we all know it to be true.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=681830&contrassID=2

[Up2Late]

18. Update: Sharon on verge of death: hospital source

Sharon on verge of death: hospital source

Sat Feb 11, 2006 05:16 AM ET

By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, incapacitated by a stroke on January 4, was undergoing emergency surgery for digestive complications on Saturday and a hospital source said he was likely to die by the end of the day.

"We expect him to die today," said the source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media on behalf of Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital. Earlier, hospital spokesman Ron Krumer said a CT scan had revealed "serious damage to the prime minister's digestive system" and he was being taken for emergency surgery.

Yael Bosem-Levy, a hospital spokeswoman, said Sharon's condition had deteriorated to its most critical point since his admission to the facility. She said at 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT) that surgery could take between three and six hours.

After suffering his massive stroke, Sharon, 77, was put into a medically-induced coma. Doctors later tried without success to rouse him. Long reviled in the Arab world but increasingly regarded as a peacemaker by the West, Sharon suffered his stroke at a crucial juncture in Israeli politics, as he was fighting for re-election on a promise to end conflict with the Palestinians.

(more at link below)

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=11178702>

[malaise]

21. At the risk of sounding cold and cynical

why didn't they just remove all the life support and allow the man to die.
What is the point of surgery at this time.

[Rhiannon12866]

23. Good point, but think of whom you're dealing with.

This man represents the Israeli people, and they depend on him for stability and safety. If he dies, all hell could break loose. They need him to survive, but, unfortunately, it doesn't look good.:-(

[malaise]

26. I didn't know a single human being

was indispensible, but if I had a rethink, this murderer would be very low on my list.
Edit - add

[Rhiannon12866]

29. Perhaps. But if he dies, many more people could die in the chaos

that follows. I'm no more of a supporter of his than you are, and I do know his history, but it's the repercussions that could result from his death that I'm thinking about.:shrug:

[malaise]

32. The region is already a total mess

thanks to Bushco and Sharon and while they claim to be about freedom, more Iraqis die daily as a result of their chaos.

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Of course this region is already a total mess.

But instead of advocating for peace, as Clinton and Carter did, Bush* has totally ignored the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and ignited yet another crisis in Iraq. I am no fan of Sharon, with his targeted missile strikes in already-beleaguered Gaza, but I recognize what he means to this region and how his death could result in more deaths and real chaos. For this reason, alone, I hope that he pulls through.

[malaise]

38. Well there is no way he is pulling through

He's only breathing because of life support.

[Rhiannon12866]

40. Miracles happen, but I don't see one happening in this case.

We can only wait, and hope. And my sympathies are not so much with him as for the Israeli people, since this beleaguered region has already withstood so much. They really don't need this, especially not now...:-(

[TankLV]

100. That's the problem in a nutshell. Trusting ONE man to "protect" a nation

instead of it's INSTITUTIONS no matter who the "man" is.

Sounds disturbingly familiar here in the USA.

Only our "idiot" never was one to be trusted with leading a nation - that has aleady been GLARINGLY proven!

[Zhade]

120. At least half of Israeli Jews, perhaps more, would disagree with you...

...that he "represents the Israeli people".

[Olney Blue]

63. Because Bill Frist reviewed the video, and declared Sharon OK.

[Rhiannon12866]

24. Yikes! Thanks! This is to be expected, but it's still shocking... :-( n/t

[Zhade]

119. It'll be a tragedy if he dies.

One more who escaped punishment for his crimes - like Reagan.

I for one hope he recovers so he can be tried in chains at the Hague, but that looks less likely today than ever.

[Habibi]

19. If they expect him to die

I wonder what the point of the surgery is?

[Rhiannon12866]

25. The point is who he is.

This man represents the Israeli people, and they depend on him for stability and safety. If he dies, all hell could break loose. They need him to survive, but, unfortunately, it doesn't look good. :-(

[mzmolly]

85. He may be dead already ?

Sometimes a bit of mourning time is allowed for family/friends before officially making an official announcement.

Goodness, this is such a touchy situation.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. NY Times: Hospital Reports Worsening in Sharon's Condition

Filed at 5:17 a.m. ET

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Ariel Sharon underwent emergency surgery Saturday after an abdominal scan revealed severe damage to his digestive tract, and hospital officials said his life was in danger.

Sharon, 77, suffered a severe stroke Jan. 4 and has been in a coma since then. Earlier this month, a feeding tube was inserted, suggesting doctors were preparing him for long-term care.

An abdominal scan Saturday revealed problems with the blood flow to his intestines and that his digestive tract had suffered severe damage, said Yael Bossem-Levy, spokeswoman for the Hadassah Ein-Kerem Hospital.

After the scan, it was decided to operate on Sharon immediately, Bossem-Levy said in a statement. The operation began at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday and was to last between three and six hours, she said.

''Sharon's life is in danger,'' Bossem-Levy told The Associated Press in a phone call after the statement was issued. His condition is now ''very serious, or critical,'' she said.

Sharon's son Omri rushed to the hospital Saturday morning, and other family members were on their way.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Israel-Sharon.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Behind the Aegis]

27. Sharon...since you cannot say it...

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Please translate.

I'm thinking this might be a prayer, which would be appropriate at this time. Thanks.

Rhiannon

[Up2Late]

33. Well, time for sleep, don't stay up to late Rhiannon...

...they say the surgery will take 3 to 6 hours.

Good night (or good morning)

[Rhiannon12866]

36. Thanks, my friend. I'm about to sign off.

I'm not a doctor, so I can be of no use to Sharon, except to report what I've gathered, and others are here to do that. Goodnight and good luck...:-)

Rhiannon:hi::boring:

[Behind the Aegis]

34. Transliteration and translation

Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad.
Barukh Shem k'vod malkhuto l'olam va-ed
V-ahavta et Adonai Elohecha b-chol l'vavcha u-v-chol naf'sh'cha u-v-chol m'odecha.
V-hayu ha-d'varim ha-ayleh asher anochi m'tzav'cha ha-yom al l'vavecha.

Hear, Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.
Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever
And you shall love the Lord your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart.



This is the Shema, one of the holiest prayers in Judaism. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

[Rhiannon12866]

37. Wow. Thank you so much.

I thought it must be a prayer, but I had no idea of the power of the words. My thoughts and best wishes are with you, as well. Thank you for sharing this.

Rhiannon

[Behind the Aegis]

39. You're welcome.

I just hope, if he does pass, that people here will be respectful. They don't have to mourn his passing, but they shouldn't celebrate it either.

Sleep well.

[Rhiannon12866]

42. Thank you and I absolutely agree with you.

No death is ever a cause for celebration, and is always a loss to those of us who remain. Thank you so much for your words of wisdom, since I think we're going to need them, fairly soon. Thank you and goodnight and good luck. *sigh*

Rhiannon:hug:

[Name removed]

41. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[brer cat]

97. Thank you for sharing. Shalom. n/t

[barb162]

137. That was very beautiful, BTA, thank you for putting that prayer

on this board

[Up2Late]

31. Translation Please!

Most of us can't read that. :evilgrin:

[tazzerman2004]

51. Thank you

Behind the Aegis, thank you for this and for your support of Israel..

[Rhiannon12866]

28. CNN link: Sharon's life reported in danger

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Doctors and hospital officials say the life of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is in danger and that he has been taken into emergency surgery.

"The condition of Prime Minister Sharon worsened this morning," Ron Krumer, spokesman for Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, told CNN on Saturday.

His family is with him, Krumer added.

The spokesman said a CT scan of the Israeli leader's abdomen was conducted Saturday morning and indicated that his digestive tract has suffered serious damage.

Krumer described Sharon's condition as critical and unstable.

A spokeswoman said the surgery would last three to six hours, and that updates would not be available until afterwards.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/11/sharon.update/index.html

[rodeodance]

43. lack of blood supply, part of his body tissues are necrotic (dead)

[malaise]

47. He's been dead for over a month n/t

[alarcojon]

52. You're probably right

Mr Sharon's failure to wake up after being taken off sedatives last month has led to speculation that he has suffered severe brain damage.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4704126.stm

[malaise]

56. After his second stroke

I was at a function with more than a few medics and they said he could not recover since the thinner used after the first stroke, to prepare him for heart surgery, only increased bleeding in the brain and he was as good as brain dead since then.

They better let him go since all his organs will die the way his intestines did.

Gr.

[Rhiannon12866]

69. Thanks for this important link.

I hope that everyone who posts here takes the time to read this updated story.:-)

[Vinca]

48. They need to let this man go. Allow him a grain of dignity in his death.

[niallmac]

70. I wonder if he had a living will etc. What he is going thru

I do NOT want for myself or my family.

[Psephos]

98. You mean like Arafat had? n/t

[BlueIris]

49. Not good. Best of luck to Mr. Sharon, his family, his nation and its

neighbors. I don't love every decision he's ever made, but that doesn't mean I think his loss would be a good thing as regards the peace process in the Middle East.

[Festivito]

50. Gone a month. Would the funeral bring violence? I'd doubt it.

Violence would only be profitable to our unchurched CIA.
I'd think the Palestinians would not provoke easily over this.

I wish a peaceful end.

[DoYouEverWonder]

55. They had to wait to be closer to the election

there was some rule about having to elect(?) a new PM within 30 days and that would have messed up the election that was already scheduled.

[Cooley Hurd]

57. K&R-please recommend this to the greatest page...

...so those who start their DUing there will see this.:thumbsup:

[DoYouEverWonder]

58. Sharon emergency op 'a success'

11 February 2006

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has undergone nearly four hours of surgery in Jerusalem following a deterioration in his health.

A hospital spokesman said the operation, to repair damage to his digestive tract, was "a success". He is now back in intensive care.

Mr Sharon, 77, has been in a coma since 4 January, when he suffered a severe stroke and underwent surgery.

Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert assumed his powers in January.

Doctors are to give an update on Mr Sharon's condition at 1700 (1500 GMT).


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4704126.stm

[wordpix2]

61. I watched my dad deteriorate with operation after operation, too---none of

which helped him.

[gauguin57]

60. Sanjay Gupta on CNN said Sharon had 50 cm of his intestine removed.

It was filled with gangrene. 50 cm is a lot of intestine, Dr. Gupta says.

I never had much hope for Sharon ... the kind of stroke he had -- I just never believed he'd come back very far from it ... God bless him. If his "time" is today, I hope he goes peacefully.

[sushi]

62. If he makes it

then he can't eat much anymore, which is good, but he's still in a coma... I wish his family strength.

[Rhiannon12866]

67. Thanks for your kind post.

These are pretty thin on the ground on this thread. For what it's worth, I share your sentiments, since his death seems inevitable, but hope that this comes later, rather than sooner. This region has endured enough.:-(

[Up2Late]

77. Ewwww, that's not good! Gangrene of the Intestine is a very bad sign.

Basically, he's dieing from the inside out. I'm not sure what causes it (other than lack of blood flow), but it's basically dead tissue that needs to be cut out of the body, because it spreads rapidly. :puke:

Probably all that extra weight he has, is pressing down on blood vessels, cutting off blood flow.

[Dulcinea]

88. Isn't this just delaying the inevitable?

IMHO, it sounds like Mr. Sharon will never regain consciousness, & if on the off chance he does, he'll pretty much be a vegetable. Wouldn't it be more humane to just let the poor man go?

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rhiannon12866]

66. You can say what you want about Sharon

I have never been a fan of his, either, and agree with most of your assessment, but think of the people of Israel and what his death could mean to them. This region has endured enough violence and chaos and, for that alone, I hope he survives. :shrug:

[Cooley Hurd]

68. If only more people on both sides of the conflict thought like you...

...what's lost in all of this is the humanity. Right now, he's a sick old man. Nothing more, nothing less. :(

[Rhiannon12866]

72. Thank you. My friend, you know where I'm coming from, as do most in I/P.

Ariel Sharon may be old, and deathly ill, and he may be responsible for a lot of the problems in this region, or not, depending on who's doing the posting, and he is a human being, but much more than that, he's the chosen leader of the Israeli people. This is the important reality. For this, alone, I wish him a return to health, as remote a possibility as this may be, because this beleaguered region has endured enough, for several lifetimes. When he dies, and it looks like he will, I fear the violence that will result. The people living there don't deserve that.:-(

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rhiannon12866]

73. Okay. I'm not saying I disagree with you.

I am well aware of the deaths in the Janin refugee camps, which were never properly investigated, and the fact that Sharon could be brought up on war crimes, which took place in 1982, after he left office. But this is LBN, not I/P, and I'm just posting the news, as it happens. And my thoughts, today, are for the people of this beleaguered region, for whom anymore violence is more than enough. And my fear is that his death would result in more violence.

This is not a flame war. We need to know what happens with this. If the discussion degenerates, this thread will be locked. I'm surprised that it's lasted this long, since little involving I/P is allowed outside of I/P, for this very reason. Thanks.

[DemInDistress]

74. I love your dog ....

[Rhiannon12866]

75. Thank you. And this really is my dog. :-)

He's sleeping behind me, in my chair, as I type this. My friend animated him for me, to add to my sig. Here's his Dogster page, if you'd like to see more pix of him...:loveya:

http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?j=t&i=170168

[Cooley Hurd]

76. Dog? I thought that was a squirrel!

:evilgrin:

[Rhiannon12866]

86. Hey! I said that this was LBN, not a flame fest!

Leave my poor little dog alone!!!:evilfrown:

[Cooley Hurd]

90. Tell him to stop trying to bite me, then!

:evilgrin::evilgrin:

[Rhiannon12866]

92. WTF?! My dog did not do that to you or to anybody else! Sober Up!

This is a serious thread, and we're not in The Lounge! Jesus!:rofl:

[DemInDistress]

79. wow...a dogster page..I love it I'm going to look now...bye..

:hi: :pals: :hug:

[Rhiannon12866]

87. Thanks! Enjoy! And check out my other dog. I have two...

:D

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Colorado Blue]

80. Wow. What a sensitive comment. I'm impressed.

NOT:(

[DoYouEverWonder]

81. Doesn't sound like a pleasant way to go

One more reason to get a living will.

[Rhiannon12866]

94. Good point. My grandmother had one and she went in her sleep.

I never approved until I was there and saw it happen.;(

But somehow I think it may be different for a head of state. It is in everyone's interest that he remain alive, at least by definition.:-(

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Colorado Blue]

84. I'd like to add a prayer for peace.

Y'all can make up your own words.

But let this hatred end, let healing begin, before it's too late.

Shalom.

[Rhiannon12866]

89. Thank you, my friend. I agree. This is exactly what we need.

Peace,
Rhiannon:-)

[Name removed]

91. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rhiannon12866]

93. Please. Let's stop with the flame wars...

This is a serious thread, about serious news. We need to keep it going to remain up to speed on what is a most important event in this world. You can think what you want about Ariel Sharon, but the arguments belong in I/P, not LBN. I'm hoping that this thread can remain alive until his health situation is resolved, one way or another. And we all want peace, in the Middle East and on this board. Flame fests are not the answer, nor is the death of Israel's leader, whatever anyone thinks of him. Thanks.

Rhiannon:-)

[barb162]

95. good points

kick

[Rhiannon12866]

96. Thank you.

Rhiannon:pals:

[TankLV]

99. This was to be expected. The docs did extraordinary things to keep that

man alive.

The stroke was enough to do him in.

I think it was cruel to prolong his suffering like they did.

More "medical experiments" I guess.

[flashdebadge]

101. I pray for him and his family.

[Rhiannon12866]

107. Thank you for this, flashdebadge, and welcome to DU.

This is exactly what the situation calls for, just now, especially with sentiments running so high. We're very glad to have you with us.:-)

[Moderator]

102. Kick

[Rhiannon12866]

105. Thank you!

:-)

[mom cat]

103. Sharon in Critical Condition After Surgery

Feb 12, 7:08 AM EST

Sharon in Critical Condition After Surgery

By KARIN LAUB
Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Ariel Sharon was stable but critical after an emergency surgery to remove nearly 2 feet of his large intestines, his seventh operation since suffering a debilitating stroke last month, the hospital treating the premier said Sunday.


snip

Dr. R. Sean Morrison, a professor of geriatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, said that "long-term comatose patients typically die of complications like this," referring to necrosis.

Morrison said Sharon's prognosis was extremely grave even before the latest complication, and that chances for survival are now "extremely small, almost zero."


snip

Sharon's sons have acquired guardianship over the prime minister since his incapacitation. Under Israeli law, any decision to perform emergency surgery or to discontinue medical treatment would require their consent, said Jonathan Davies, a leading Israeli medical law expert.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ISRAEL_SHARON?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

[Rhiannon12866]

104. Thanks for the update!

We need to remain up to speed on this, since the health of Sharon affects the stability of this region probably more than anything else. Fortunately, the situation has remained fairly peaceful, up to now. But I dread what the news of his passing could mean, the March elections notwithstanding.

on edit: The fact that Sharon's sons are making the decisions about what treatment he'll receive, under Israeli law, is an important one. Some here have asked if he has a Living Will, but laws regarding continuing or stopping treatment in extreme cases are different in different countries, and now we have an answer on this.

[54anickel]

122. Difficult to understand the sons consenting to put him through all of this

A tough decision. What a terrible way to go. I don't think I could do that to my father. Wonder if Sharon had a living will of some sort?

[wordpix2]

127. in MD, it's the wife who decides and grown kids have no say

[Spankydem]

106. Still alive.....critical but stable.

Hope he recovers for the sake of peace in the ME.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

108. Why am I thinking of "Generalissimo Francisco Franco?"

[Rhiannon12866]

109. You're not the only one, my friend, for those of us who remember this...

Th news was always that he'd "taken a turn for the worse," and this went on interminably... For all I know, he's still hanging in there...:eyes:

[Rhiannon12866]

110. 1 hr. ago: Sharon listed as stable after intestinal surgery

By Greg Myre The New York Times

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2006

JERUSALEM Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel was in stable condition Sunday after undergoing emergency surgery on his large intestine, although he remained in a coma, the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital said.

Sharon, 77, has been in the coma since suffering a major stroke Jan. 4, and hopes for a recovery were fading even before the latest complication.

Doctors observed that Sharon's abdomen was swollen, and after conducting a CT scan, he was taken into surgery Saturday morning, Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, the director of the hospital, said at a news conference. Surgeons found damage to part of his large intestine and removed about 20 inches, or about 50 centimeters, Mor-Yosef said.

Hospital officials initially said Sharon's life was in danger. But after the four-hour operation, Mor-Yosef said, "The situation is serious, it is stable, it is critical, but there is no immediate danger to the life of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/12/news/sharon.php

[Tom Joad]

112. Sad about Sharon. Never stood trial.

Looks like Pinochet is too old and feeble and he too will escape accountability.
Let's hope we can get the legal gears going for George W.

[meti57b]

113. Do any of the following list bother you? .. or just Sharon bothers you?

1) Omar al-Bashir, Sudan. Age 62. In power since 1989. Last year’s rank: 1

2) Kim Jong-il, North Korea. Age 63. In power since 1994. Last year’s rank: 2

3) Than Shwe, Burma (Myanmar). Age 72. In power since 1992. Last year’s rank: 3

4) Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe. Age 81. In power since 1980. Last year’s rank: 9

5) Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan. Age 67. In power since 1990. Last year’s rank: 15

6) Hu Jintao, China. Age 63. In power since 2002. Last year’s rank: 4

7) King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia. Age 82. In power since 1995. Last year’s rank: 5

8) Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan. Age 65. In power since 1990. Last year’s rank: 8

9) Seyed Ali Khamane’i, Iran. Age 66. In power since 1989. Last year’s rank: 18

10) Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea. Age 63. In power since 1979. Last year’s rank: 10

PARADE’s Annual List Of...The World’s 10 Worst Dictators:

http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_01-22-2006/Dictators

[Tom Joad]

114. If you see a thread in DU mourning their demise, let me know. eom

[Rhiannon12866]

115. Interesting that all of these are also senior citizens.

Hopefully, the world will change in the next few years, when these guys either die off or become too old...:shrug:

[Malikshah]

116. Parade??!?!?!?!

Oh my dear God. Parade????

What a fantastic source....


This is the same kind of logic used for why we shouldn't have invaded Iraq...or shouldn't invade Iran...but wow-- the irony is neck deep.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

135. -p--a--r--a--d--e--- ----- RAIN on THAT Parade!!!!-

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

132. someone had to say it! funny how people can react to the truth !! n/t

[Zhade]

118. No sympathy for the war criminal.

Tons, however, for his family.

[wordpix2]

128. if Sharon's a war criminal---then what are Arafat and Hamas IYO?

[NoodleyAppendage]

131. They are terrorist organizations, too. But, we're not talking about them.

Sharon's past is checkered with the same type of terrorist activities that Jews accuse the Palestinians of using today. The Palestinians haven't forgotten this eventhough the modern mass media seems to have amnesia.

JB

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

133. truth is hurting people here at DU--stop it already will ya! -tissues, ok!

then cry for those who died because of a "leader" and his decisions--
Cry for the families and the innocent ones on both sides because of decisions he made.

[Danmel]

121. There are fates worse than death

And this is one of them. My mother had a serious stroke 7 years ago and she lingered for about 6 weeks in a comatose state before she mercifully passed away. My worst fear was that she would recover just enough to be aware of how compromised she would have been. She could not speak, swallow, was paralyzed- she was a vibrant smart woman who was an avid reader and was up on everything. And worse than seeing her like that was seeing my father who adored her, seeing her like that, begging for her to come back to him.

I think they should really just let him go- ultimately it's better for everyone, especially his family. Having been there, I can tell you it is hell.

[Rhiannon12866]

124. I am so sorry, Danmel!

And I agree. My sympathies are with both you and your Dad. I lost my Dad to cancer and the fact that he suffered a great deal and understood exactly what he faced and what was happening to him is something that will haunt me forever. I am so glad that your mother was spared this. As for Sharon, according to Israeli law, his two sons are now responsible for any decisions regarding his treatment and whether or not to continue it. For his sake, I hope that they have your compassion.

Rhiannon:hug:

[Rhiannon12866]

125. Sharon's son has "no regrets" after jail sentencing

JERUSALEM, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The son of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, sentenced to nine months in prison over a political fundraising scandal, said he had no regrets and hoped his comatose father would recover.

"I was young. I was foolish. I did stupid things... Even so, I believe I helped do the right thing," Omri Sharon told Israel's Maariv daily newspaper in an interview published on Friday.

An Israeli court this week sentenced the 41-year-old to nine months in prison over the illegal party funding of his father's 1999 campaign to head the right-wing Likud party.

The court delayed the start of his jail time for six months out of consideration for his father's medical condition. The prime minister suffered a massive stroke on Jan. 4 and remains unconscious.

Omri Sharon said he still holds out hope for his father's recovery, though most experts say that is highly unlikely.

"He is with us. He is fighting. He is not giving up... We believe he will survive this. That he will return," the younger Sharon said.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-02-17T122205Z_01_RID744303_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-SHARON-SON.xml&archived=False

[NoodleyAppendage]

126. Sharon was a terrorist early in his career. But, we don't talk about that

Sharon was instrumental in the deaths of hundreds, and his relatively recent incursion on Muslim holy sites sparked discord that resulted in death and discord. I have no pity for him.

JB

[wordpix2]

129. link, please

[NoodleyAppendage]

130. Haganah; Qibya Massacre; Sabra & Shatila Massacre; & Kahan Report

Here ya go. The truth and buried history can be so inconvenient, can it?

Haganah - the Jewish paramilitary organization that Sharon joined after being a member of Gadna, a Jewish paramilitary organization.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haganah

The Qibya Massacre, where Sharon's hands were bloodied with the deaths of civilian women and children in 1953.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qibya_massacre

Sabra & Shatila massacre in 1982, which resulted in the deaths of 600-700 refugees.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabra_and_Shatila_massacre

The Kahan Commission who held Sharon directly responsible for their deaths and resulted in his being removed as Israeli Defense Minister.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahan_Commission

JB

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

134. thanks!! but realize the truth hurts some people here- you shouldn't 've

Let these people cheer their team without raining on their parade!!!
Why do you have to expose these facts?
This is non-sportsman-like conduct!!!
:cry:

[NoodleyAppendage]

136. Sometimes nationalism trumps one's ability to handle the truth.

The Palestinians and Hamas are far from angels and have their own transgressions to answer for.

I only raised the issue of Sharon's terrorist ways to highlight that neither Jew nor Palestinian are devoid of fault in this decades-long struggle.

Sharon's passing may prove to be an opportunity for peace...this assumes that Netanahu(sic) and his radial, neo-con Jewish party doesn't come to power. If this happens, you can bet that the terrorist cycle on either side will continue or even magnify.

JB