Iraq Refugees

I dare say that most Americans don't give much thought to the refugees of the Iraq war. Human rights groups are very concerned and now the U.S. is going to grant up to 7,000 Iraqi refugees asylum over the next year. What our politicians in Washington do not understand is that if we can get peace established in Iraq, there will be no need to take in refugees. These people can go home and return to their lives in their own country.

The votes taking place in Washington this week on non-binding resolutions is a waste of time. It serves no purpose except to tell the world that the United States could be pushed to retreat without victory when the going gets tough.

The US plans to increase the number of refugees from 202 last year to 7,000 this year.

Peace and Freedom makes a comparison to the Viet Nam refugees:

When the Vietnam War ended and Saigon fell to the Communists in 1975, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese feared for their lives. Many had assisted the United States in many ways, great or small, and they knew there would be retribution from the Communists.

A hemorrhage of people began to flow into the South China Sea in small, un-seaworthy boats. Many were lost at sea or killed or othewise abused by pirates. [snip]

I’ve spoken to many re-education survivors: the lucky ones. Some spent 5, 8, 10, 12 years detained. Some never recovered as contributing members of society.

In 1975, Senator Kennedy, working with President Ford and many members of the House and Senate, crafted the legislation that allowed the United States to rescue, feed and house thousands of Vietnamese refugees. Today they are a thriving community of immigrants and the sons and daughters of immigrants contributing to the American economy, society and way of life.

Iraqi Refugee Dilemma

Although the United Nations estimates that 3.8 million Iraqis have fled their homes since the war began nearly four years ago, few have made it here to the United States. Meanwhile, Iraq’s neighboring nations are virtually awash in Iraqi refugees. (read more)

'The United States also said it will immediately contribute $18 million for a worldwide resettlement and relief program. The United Nations has asked for $60 million from nations around the world.

The UN estimates that some two million Iraqis have fled the country.

About one million are living in Syria and up to 750,000 in neighbouring Jordan, UNHCR says.

Jordanian government spokesman Nasser Judeh said the number proposed by the US paled into insignificance compared with Jordan's intake.

"Seven thousand Iraqi refugees is just 1% of the number we have," he said. (BBC)

WSJ also has an article on the refugees. What do you think about this?

Comments

[Debbie]

Conservababe: I want to know what kind of investigation goes on before these people are allowed to enter the US. Seems like we swing open the doors of the US to anyone claiming to be a refugee, without doing proper checks on their background.

[Conservababe]

Hate to say it, but I have yet to meet 1st generation refugees from Vietnam that love our beautiful country. And I have met many, on the contrary, they complain and criticize our society for not being "moral and respectful" enough. Why do we bring these animals here, and why would we even consider bringing iraqis here??? And no, Im not a racist, the people I am referring to are the parents of some of my closest friends, who happen to be Vietnamese...