.A Royal Shame
"Britain, apparently, has hung out its Iraqi interpreters to dry.Didn't I read something similar about our policy the other day...It is six weeks since the Government promised an “urgent review” of the situation of Iraqis whose lives are in danger because of their work as interpreters for the British Army. During that time, the 5,000 British troops have pulled back from central Basra to the airport, mainly for their own safety. Nothing has been done for the interpreters. Several have already been tortured and killed. Some have received death threats from militia thugs who accuse them of collaboration. Their homes are unprotected and their families live in terror. Out of loyalty and honour, they remain at their posts, helping British troops understand the dangers and the confusion. In return, they have been contemptuously brushed aside, as though they were trouble-makers demanding special favours. This is utterly shameful.Indeed.
This is a decision no soldier would make."
CounterColumn
"What they have seen instead is a slow dribble, though it is speeding up. The head of the State Department's refugee office, Ellen Sauerbrey, said recently that 400 Iraqis had entered the U.S. over the past month — a big jump over the 190 who made it in the rest of the year before August.Not sure how that would change if we upped and left, but so far we are not exactly a shining light in the darkness.
Overall, though, the sluggish process has left refugees confused and angry — particularly those who risked their lives working for the Americans in Iraq and now feel abandoned by the U.S. at their time of need.
USAToday
I think it might have something to do with the GOP hanging it's last hope on immigration as it only chance to gain power, ever again.
posted by madtom at 9:56 PM
8 Comments:
Good gawd--- no one spins like you do , Mad-one. How you can pin the desire to abandon Iraqi allies to the Republican Party is astounding when it is blatantly obvious which party is dismissive of the impending slaughter that would follow a surrender. The reluctance to allow Iraqis to flee Iraq for the US should be obvious even to you who looks ofr right wing conspiracies behind every tree--- if Iraqi allies are allowed to think that they can move to America if they declare themselves endangered, there won't be an Iraqi worth a damn in Iraq within a year. I know they all declare their 'love for Iraq', but I don't think they are all idiots.
"if Iraqi allies are allowed to think"
Well it so nice of you to be willing to make those choices for them. No need to let them be bothered by details, just fill in the blanks to your/their advantage
You think it should be their choice? Those who wish to immigrate to America raise your hand? Even telling them that if their efforts fail, don't worry because we'll take you to the US would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.
Come on Will, were not talking about going out on the street and letting anyone get on the bus. These people are working hard, they are volunteers, their lives and the lives of every member of their family is at risk. Even their youngest children will be killed, cut to little pieces, and dumped in the trash...You cant really be that cold.
There must be a breach of contract morality that could persuade you.
Typical liberal thinking--- if it makes you feel good, it must be be compassionate and moral thing to do, right? The compassionate thing to do would be to align with forces for modernity and liberty, and destroy every one and everything that gets in the way. Telling them they can always come to America removes their incentive for success and dooms generations that remain in Iraq to lives of slavery and depredation. They need to work and fight like their lives depend on the outcome. Again, that may make us all feel good, that 'took care of our friends', but it is hardly compassionate in the big picture.
That being said, if the Dims have their way and we surrender the Middle East to radical Islamist influences, then we should do what we did the last time the Dims got their way and take as many allies as we can from rooftops if necessary. But it won't make me feel good.
I guess that makes you a liberal thinker
We are in agreement.
From the looks of it, the Brits are on the roof tops now, and are shooting down anyone that tries to get up on the roof to evacuate with them. Which is what this was about.
My comment was that we would appear to have the same policy in place. Hopefully that is not the case.
The first entry was about the Brits leaving 'terps behind--- that is about them and the 'enlightened' approach to occupation and their criticism of our aggressiveness. See what they did for Basra?
The second entry was criticism that we are not taking in refugees. We haven't left, yet, and it is the stated policy that we aren't planning to leave any time soon. Taking refugees would be contradictory to that policy, wouldn't it? If we aren't bringing our home, we sure as hell don't need to be bringing them here while the fight is still on. We have enough Iraqi bloggers on our shores and don't need any more.
"See what they did for Basra?"
I have no way to explain the total and absolute failure of our allies. I have no way to explain how it is that they have now exposed our flank to a known enemy.
The only way that I can square it in my mind is that it is all a black op. That by appearing to leave, it is what has scared the sunni to change sides, fearing that the shia will now be coming for them and that the only way to save Iraq is to work with us to take back the ground...in this scenario when the shit really hits the fan, the Brits will come out of their hiding place like the Calvary in those old movies and save the day..., but even I can't bring myself to believe it.
" wouldn't it?"
Not necessarily, I do see your point, but there are many places outside our control, and there are many people at extreme risk which it would seem to me only add to the cannon fodder on the ground and could be evacuated without effecting those grand strategic goals.
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