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You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War / The Refugee Crisis

The Refugee Crisis

by John Cole|  August 29, 20079:28 am| 23 Comments

This post is in: War

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Depressing piece in the NY Times:

Despite a stepped-up commitment from the United States to take in Iraqis who are in danger because they worked for the American government and military, very few are signing up to go, resettlement officials say.

The reason, Iraqis say, is that they are not allowed to apply in Iraq, requiring them to make a costly and uncertain journey to countries like Syria or Jordan, where they may be turned away by border officials already overwhelmed by fleeing Iraqis.

The United Nations, which defines a refugee as someone who has fled his or her home country, has submitted more than 9,000 Iraqis to the United States for consideration since the State Department announced a new resettlement program in February.

But only about 5 percent of the applicants are former employees of the American war effort, according to figures provided by the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration, the agencies processing the cases.

***

State Department officials said that they might consider being flexible about processing potential refugees in Iraq, but that security concerns have prevented it. There is also the United Nations’ definition of refugee, though the United States is not bound by it.

“It’s an issue that is being looked at constantly,” said Ellen Sauerbrey, an assistant secretary of state, on Tuesday in Jordan, while announcing a $30 million pledge to help educate Iraqi refugees in the region. But, she added, “How do we keep them safe for four and five months in Iraq” during processing? There is also the safety of embassy employees to consider, she said.

For many Iraqis, the travel is no longer possible.

Of course it is reasonable to make people travel to another country to try to flee the country. That makes sense, if you are Joseph Heller.

And what does it say about the overall security situation if we can not even keep those who have actively assisted us safe?

*** Update ***

There are times when James Joyner and I form a sort of blog mind meld, and here is another one (notice the Heller reference in the title). I am reasonably sure this observation will be distressing to James.

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Reader Interactions

23Comments

  1. 1.

    Ned Raggett

    August 29, 2007 at 9:30 am

    You cynic, John. They’re leaving Iraq because, everything being so stable, they no longer need to assist the military and are selflessly seeking to provide similar services elsewhere.

  2. 2.

    Wilfred

    August 29, 2007 at 9:51 am

    But the thing that brought me up short was the discussion of Iraqi refugees’ prospects for entry into the United States:

    AMY GOODMAN: What are the politics of this, given that the US said they went into Iraq to save the people of Iraq, only allowing in 700 here?

    NIR ROSEN: Well, there are various reasons for why they won’t take them in. I think the fact that they’re Arab and Muslim is probably one of them. The main factor is probably that if you take any refugees, you’re admitting that your whole program in Iraq is a failure. If Iraq is exporting refugees, people are fleeing Iraq for their lives, then everything we’ve done is a failure, which indeed it is, of course, failure.

    Duh. The article where this interview is quoted (and the interview itself) are worth readinghere

  3. 3.

    Pb

    August 29, 2007 at 9:52 am

    State Department officials said that they might consider being flexible about processing potential refugees in Iraq, but that security concerns have prevented it.
    […]
    “How do we keep them safe for four and five months in Iraq” during processing? There is also the safety of embassy employees to consider, she said.

    The surge is working! Iraq is just like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summer time! We’re making tangible progress!

    “I see tangible progress. Iraqi security elements are being rebuilt from the ground up.

    The institutions that oversee them are being reestablished from the top down. And Iraqi leaders are stepping forward, leading their country and their security forces courageously in the face of an enemy that has shown a willingness to do anything to disrupt the establishment of the new Iraq.” — David H. Petraeus, 9/26/2004

  4. 4.

    Ugh

    August 29, 2007 at 9:54 am

    As I noted at James’ place, the policy makes perfect sense if you want to claim you have a policy in place for admitting Iraqis without actually have to admit any.

  5. 5.

    James Joyner

    August 29, 2007 at 10:00 am

    I am reasonably sure this observation will be distressing to James.

    Heh. Probably not the most advantageous positioning, anyway, in a medium where consistent partisanship and lots of red meat are highly rewarded.

  6. 6.

    SPIIDERWEB™

    August 29, 2007 at 10:17 am

    I want to be perfectly clear here. If any Iraqi helped the US in any way they deserve asylum in the US. Fuck the bureaucratic red tape or any other hindrances. Take ’em in.

    If I’m not clear on this, please let me know.

  7. 7.

    rachel

    August 29, 2007 at 10:25 am

    It’s not just about what they deserve (although that alone is enough) but not giving these people asylum sends a horrible message to any foreign national who might consider helping our troops in the future. It’s worse than callous, it is a gross blunder.

  8. 8.

    Elvis Elvisberg

    August 29, 2007 at 10:36 am

    what does it say about the overall security situation our indifference to Iraqi lives and any semblance of morality if we can not even keep those who have actively assisted us safe?

    Spiderweb is right. We should be loading planes up with these guys and their families.

  9. 9.

    Pb

    August 29, 2007 at 10:43 am

    not giving these people asylum sends a horrible message to any foreign national who might consider helping our troops in the future

    In the sending a horrible message dept., see also: Valerie Plame, CIA; Jose Padilla, American; Scooter Libby, felon; etc., etc….

  10. 10.

    Zifnab

    August 29, 2007 at 10:48 am

    And what does it say about the overall security situation if we can not even keep those who have actively assisted us safe?

    That we’re turning a corner?

    Isn’t this exactly the reason we shouldn’t leave, Iraq?

    The fact that only 5% of refugees fleeing to such terrorist harboring nations as Syria and Jordan just proves that we’re winning in Iraq by forcing terrorist sympathizers to evacuate the country and make room for Shining Democracy Rays Of Freedom.

  11. 11.

    rachel

    August 29, 2007 at 10:51 am

    Yeah, but nothing says “fuck you” quite like leaving allies unprotected in enemy territory while at the same time showing them that you could help them if you wanted to and tormenting them with a distant hope of rescue.

  12. 12.

    The Other Steve

    August 29, 2007 at 11:10 am

    Oh come on. These “refugees” are just looking for a book deal.

    Not even worth our time discusssing, cause everybody knows the Surge is working and we are winning in Iraq.

  13. 13.

    The Other Steve

    August 29, 2007 at 11:12 am

    I want to be perfectly clear here. If any Iraqi helped the US in any way they deserve asylum in the US. Fuck the bureaucratic red tape or any other hindrances. Take ‘em in.

    Huh? Are you seriously implying that we should invite terrorists into this nation?

    Why don’t we just get Osama bin Laden on the phone and offer him a green card. Sheesh

  14. 14.

    whippoorwill

    August 29, 2007 at 11:28 am

    Look at it from the administration’s perspective. Why would you want to invite into your home the citizens of a country you invaded and turned into a mecca for murder and mayhem.

    All the compassion talk about helping bring democracy and justice to “good Iraqi’s” is just that, talk. They know they’ve created monster in the form a country full of very pissed off people, nearly all of which have had relatives tortured and murdered within a culture that values revenge above just about everything else.

  15. 15.

    Jake

    August 29, 2007 at 11:33 am

    Ellen Sourberry, another ringing endorsement of the Bush Administration.

    while announcing a $30 million pledge to help educate Iraqi refugees in the region.

    Educate? Iraq has (or had) a well educated population. How about food, or protective body armor or a ticket out of the hell hole the US has created?

    “How do we keep them safe for four and five months in Iraq” during processing?

    So what’s the concern here? I guess Sauerbray is worried Iraqi citizens applying for refugee status will get killed while they’re being “processed” (yikes) and all that time and paper work will be for naught, causing a drop in morale among bureaucrats.

    Oh wait, here we go:

    There is also the safety of embassy employees to consider, she said.

    Yes, because we know those brown folks are dangerous!

    I rarely ever say such things about women and if my comment gets wiped I’ll understand:

    Ellen Sauerbrey is an ignorant twat from hell and it makes my head hurt to hear that cold-hearted bitch run the ragged dickhole beneath her nose.

  16. 16.

    BARRASSO

    August 29, 2007 at 11:57 am

    So Bush is loyal only to people who don’t deserve it, who saw that coming?

  17. 17.

    Bubblegum Tate

    August 29, 2007 at 12:05 pm

    Great posts, The Other Steve. This part sounds like a pitch-perfect Sean Hannity impersonation:

    Why don’t we just get Osama bin Laden on the phone and offer him a green card. Sheesh

  18. 18.

    Wilfred

    August 29, 2007 at 12:16 pm

    Let’s not forget the counterinsurgency formula:

    Counterinsurgency = Political Action + Civic Action + Counterguerrilla Operations

    Letting a grand total of 166 Iraqi refugees into the U.S. after creating the conditions for nearly 2 million others is perfect Politics and Civics, no? I wonder if anyone will ask Crocker or Petraeus about this when they testify.

    Then there’s the ‘material support of terrorism clause’, brought to us by the same people who ginned up the ‘objective support of fascism’ mantra. If an Iraqi family pays ransom to recover a kidnapped relative that’s material support of terrorism – no visa.

  19. 19.

    The Other Steve

    August 29, 2007 at 1:00 pm

    Great posts, The Other Steve. This part sounds like a pitch-perfect Sean Hannity impersonation:

    Damn, I was going for a Bill O’Reilly. Gotta work on that.

    Maybe I should have screamed something about them coming into the country and raping your daughter.

  20. 20.

    Tsulagi

    August 29, 2007 at 3:16 pm

    Apparently, in addition, it’s also not necessarily a cakewalk strewn with flowers and candies when you get to Jordan to get your visa to the US. PJ Media’s very own Omar who writes Iraq the Model got a little glimpse last month.

    He was going for a visa to start a master’s degree program in international relations at a “prestigious university” in the US. Maybe Liberty University?

    Anyway, he didn’t get to the US embassy in Amman that told him his visa was waiting. Instead, he got some friendly interrogation at the airport, got to see holding facilities, then got his butt shipped back to Iraq without his visa. Not uncommon.

    Oh well, worked out for the best, Omar. You’ve consistently been a fan of the Bush and his nation-building acumen. He needs you in Iraq. What better place to study international relations? Plus, since The Surge is unquestionably a success as you’ve written, anytime now the tender buds of democracy will finally bloom forth and kumbaya will descend upon the region. You don’t want to bug out before that happens, do you Omar?

  21. 21.

    HyperIon

    August 29, 2007 at 4:18 pm

    FUBAR

    we are screwed, they are more screwed.
    thus endeth the lesson.

  22. 22.

    scarshapedstar

    August 29, 2007 at 4:30 pm

    John, I think you’re making the common mistake of thinking that the Republicans give a shit whether anyone living in Iraq lives or dies.

  23. 23.

    TenguPhule

    August 30, 2007 at 3:35 am

    And what does it say about the overall security situation if we can not even keep those who have actively assisted us safe?

    Nothing fit for print, that’s for sure.

    If Al Queda ever gets around to offering a decent benefits plan with full medical and dental, they’ll wipe the floor with the troops in Iraq.

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