Bush Administration refusing to deal with refugee crisis in Iraq

[ck4829]

Because that would mean that they would have to acknowledge that they have failed.

"For Iraqi refugees without financial means, little help is available. Unlike other global refugee crises, in which governments work with aid agencies to help victims, this refugee crisis dares not speak its name.

For political reasons, neither Iraq's neighbors nor the United States wants to recognize these Iraqis as refugees -- or grant them permanent residency status. Small countries such as Jordan and Syria can't afford to be permanently burdened with hundreds of thousands of newcomers who have few resources.

Washington has other, more political concerns. ''For the United States . . . to recognize the existence of a million refugees would mean admitting they have failed to establish peace and security in Iraq,'' states Sarah Leah Whitson, who directs Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division.

As the White House struggles to produce a new strategy for ''victory'' in Iraq, this Iraqi exodus is an inconvenient reminder of Iraq's unremitting violence. As a result, the international response to the Iraqi refugee crisis has been dismal, according to Kenneth Bacon, who heads Refugees International. Despite refugee numbers that could approach those displaced in Darfur, aid agencies have few funds to deal with this crisis."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/16252939.htm

[Double T]

1. bushco has a hard time with reality, THEY don't believe it exists

[rodeodance]

2. seems the surrounding countries are just as quilty of ignoring them.

As the White House struggles to produce a new strategy for ''victory'' in Iraq, this Iraqi exodus is an inconvenient reminder of Iraq's unremitting violence. As a result, the international response to the Iraqi refugee crisis has been dismal, according to Kenneth Bacon, who heads Refugees International. Despite refugee numbers that could approach those displaced in Darfur, aid agencies have few funds to deal with this crisis.

Both Jordan and Syria treat these Iraqis as temporary visitors, with the possibility of deportation. Neither country allows them to work, leaving many in economic peril.

[Tuesday_Morning]

3. more from Herald article

Refugees International calls this ''the world's fastest growing refugee crisis.'' Unless Washington and the world acknowledge this fact, the problem will become far more desperate. It's time for the administration to face the problem and mobilize contributions to aid agencies -- and Arab countries -- that are helping the refugees.

And it's way past time for the White House to start making contingency plans to rescue thousands of Iraqis -- like George -- who worked with Americans over the past three years. Their lives are already in danger; if U.S. troops pull back, thousands of them will be killed.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. For more on the Iraqi refugee situation

includng recommendations on what to do, go to

www.refugeesinternational.org

[verse18]

5. * doesn't care about Katrina "refugees"

let alone Iraqi.

[bluedeminredstate]

6. Well, that is the real truth of the matter

If Americans in abject poverty, left homeless and without resources can't manage to get his attention - he's too busy talking to the developers and speculators to worry about them - then you can be sure that those ingrates over in Eye-rack can just take a number and plan on waiting until '08, because he's not even thinking about the chaos he's created for a whole country of humans. I mean he liberated them dammit! What more do they want? Sheesh!

:eyes: