Yes, she's strange and different...but not THAT different.

17 September 2007

Iraqi refugees

Because of the chaos and strife in Iraq brought about by the invasion of the U.S.-led "coalition" and continued presence of troops, Iraqis are fleeing their country in droves - tens of thousands per month according to the U.N. - for surrounding countries, although that avenue of escape is almost closed. Jordan no longer admits Iraqi refugees and Syria will close its borders to them at the end of Ramadan next month. But wait - there may be some hope! The United Nations has referred 10,000 Iraqi refugees to the United States, and the U.S. has said that it expects to process 7,000 by the end of September. But how many have gotten in so far? Since the start of the war in Iraq in 2003, 1,521 refugees have been admitted, with 829 of those entering in the last year. Current estimates are that the total by the end of this year will be a whopping 2,500. So what's the holdup? It seems that in addition to the actual bureaucratic hassles of security screenings, medical examinations, orientation briefings, etc., the departments of Homeland Security and State are involved in a finger-pointing argument about who's holding things up - for months seemingly without end for the refugees in limbo. I wonder how much faster they could get into the country if they weren't ... you know ... Muslim and brown and ... foreign.

  • On 9/17/2007 3:19 PM, Blogger Jen said…

    and something even more brilliant? Where they're being sent... we're getting 2000 in MI. That makes sense - we have a large Iraqi expat population. However... we have the second highest unemployment rate in the nation right now (we keep sharing the top honor with Ohio, who's holding it, currently). So... nothing like being in a new country, new culture, and not being able to find a job. Not just because you're foreign and Muslim and brown, but just because, you know, there are NO jobs.
    Brilliant, eh?
    I liked the days when we opened with better open arms, so to speak, instead of just invading other countries with arms...
    Sheesh, I wrote a novel here.

     
  • On 9/17/2007 5:56 PM, Blogger soccer mom in denial said…

    Brilliant. Just freeking brilliant.

    I left a little gift for you over at my place.

     
  • On 9/17/2007 10:00 PM, Blogger exskindiver said…

    I wonder how much faster they could get into the country if they weren't ... you know ... Muslim and brown and ... foreign.

    sigh.

    i know.
    i am brown and foreign and so i can relate to people who have actually been turned away.

     
  • On 9/17/2007 11:11 PM, Blogger Grundir the Implacable said…

    Mordor welcomes all refugees. Of course, they will be pressed into slave labor, but at least the climate is similar to Iraq's.

     

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