[angelize56]

Your thoughts on this?

BREAKING
Feb 14, 11:18 AM EST

White House Opens Doors to Iraq Refugees

By ANNE GEARAN

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration plans to allow about 7,000 Iraqi refugees to settle in the United States over the next year, a huge expansion at a time of mounting international pressure to help millions who have fled their homes in the nearly four-year-old war.

The United States has allowed only 463 Iraq refugees into the country since the war began in March 2003, even though some 3.8 million have been uprooted. A senior State Department official described the expanded program on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement later Wednesday.

The administration also plans to pledge $18 million for a worldwide resettlement and relief program. The United Nations has asked for $60 million from nations around the world.

The 7,000 would be resettled from nations outside Iraq where they have fled. The U.S. proposal also includes plans to offer special treatment for Iraqis still in the country whose cooperation with the U.S. government puts them at risk from sectarian reprisal.

The U.N. classifies most Iraqi refugees as having only "temporary protection status," rather than as permanent refugees - presumably because it assumes most will return to Iraq after the fighting ends. Guterres' office has said it hopes to permanently resettle this year up to 20,000 Iraqis whom it considers the most vulnerable, including women, children, survivors of torture, the seriously ill and minorities.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...02-14-11-18-05

[Chicon]

Hi angie,

They will all settle in Port Huron !

[katonca]

IF everything was on the up-n-up and our government did any sort of background check (besides asking them if they hate America), then I'd say fine. But you know there will be gliches and we''ll be wondering if we left in more terrorists

[Fidelista]

Its happening all over again . First step in the process. >f

[GoneForNow]

Originally Posted by Fidelista

Its happening all over again . First step in the process. >f

I say make them float on rafts to the shores of Florida. If they get dry feet they stay. We'll Cubanize them.

[Fidelista]

Originally Posted by gbrumb

I say make them float on rafts to the shores of Florida. If they get dry feet they stay. We'll Cubanize them.

If you want to kill them -- and use survivors as political asset -I suppose.
Seriously, this looks like admission of failure.
I remember Viets streaming into Travis Airforce Base in N. Calif in early 70's, when all was lost.
I doubt they will return , at least if they are smart --this war is lost IMO --was from start.
I really don't know how to deal with humanitarion concerns in this case --we are responsable for the refugee problem ---nearly a million of them ,if what I have read is correct. >f

[poochee]

Originally Posted by katonca

IF everything was on the up-n-up and our government did any sort of background check (besides asking them if they hate America), then I'd say fine. But you know there will be gliches and we''ll be wondering if we left in more terrorists

[ekim68]

Thanks angel, I read about this today...I wonder if they're filtering who they let in, but...

Fidelista made some good points..Another thing I remember after the Vietnam war, was
an increase of homeless people almost everywhere...History, and all.....

[poochee]

Report: 1 million Iraqis may flee in '07
-- The Associated Press
Last Updated 8:44 am PST Friday, February 16, 2007

GENEVA (AP) Unrelenting violence and insecurity in Iraq could cause as many as 1 million Iraqis to flee their homes this year, the world's migration body said Friday.

"The numbers of people that are being displaced are increasing every day," said Jemini Pandaya, spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration. "The security situation is not improving. It's not changing."

Pandaya said the organization's estimate was made "on the assumption that security conditions will continue much as they are."

The possibility of neighboring countries, such as Syria, closing their borders would mean even more of the displaced would only be able to get as far as other parts of Iraq.
On Thursday, the U.N. refugee agency appealed to the European Union to do more to protect refugees fleeing Iraq, saying the war was the cause of the biggest displacement of people in the Middle East in recent history.

"The humanitarian situation is grave and deteriorating. States should respond to the protection needs of Iraqi asylum seekers on their territory," said Madeline Garlick, a spokeswoman for the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Brussels.

That appeal came a day after Washington announced it will allow about 7,000 Iraqis into the United States this year - up from 202 in 2006 - and will pay more to help Iraq's neighbors cope with the surge of refugees.

As the bloodshed in Iraq has increased, European governments have come under increasing pressure to open their doors to asylum-seekers. Many are worried that an escalation in violence in 2007 could generate a fresh wave of refugees.

Rest at:
http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/front/s...12782357c.html

[LANMaster]

I think it's a great idea.

Unfortunately this will be just a drop in the bucket if the Democrats get their cut & run goung.

We'll have another set of millions coming if that happens.

[angelize56]

Originally Posted by katonca

But you know there will be gliches and we''ll be wondering if we left in more terrorists

Hi Dave...yes...that is a main concern of mine too! Just because a refugee is a woman or child...doesn't mean they can't be a terrorist! If this influx of Iraqis is begun...I hope the time is taken beforehand to run checks on each and everyone considered for entry into the U.S. While it may prove to be time consuming...too bad...better safe than sorry!

I also feel sorry for the thousands of homeless Ameircans here in the U.S. that are ignored while care is given to these refugees...seems unfair to me! This brings to mind as an example...the young mother and her 4 children in Philadelphia a short time ago who died in a fire sleeping in an abandoned house where they had sought shelter from the cold...let's take care of our own...first!

[Fidelista]

Originally Posted by LANMaster

I think it's a great idea.

Unfortunately this will be just a drop in the bucket if the Democrats get their cut & run goung.

We'll have another set of millions coming if that happens.

Lan , can you see that this flood of millions of refugees comes directly from our occupation?.
We are responsible , Bush is responsible.
Sometimes I think you really believe we are "helping" Iraq --the Iraqi people, and I have to disagree completely. They {the vast majority } don't want us there , want our soldiers killed, and of the rest ? --many want us there so they can carry out their agendas , kill their enemies{tribal/religious/political ect.} . This will not end with a troop surge , nor by remaining there--IMO.
For the most part , I believe the Shiite's are playing us along for one one reason -- weaken Sunni resistance so that they can slaughter them. Are we to remain to protect them? --or welcome them as refugees?.
The longer the occupation goes on--- the longer the civil war. The longer the civil war -- the more unrest in neighbor nations that could result in even more instability and warfare.
More refugees are assured.
We are creating refugees , thats a fact. >f

[Fidelista]

Lan, When I posted this >>"Sometimes I think you really believe we are "helping" Iraq --the Iraqi people"<<< --I did not mean that in bad way or sarcastic.
I really do believe you trust that we are building a better Iraq --free -- democratic ---ie , helping the Iraqi/nation people.
Some will support or oppose a war based solely on which party supports it--strictly a "team thing". I don't believe you are that way.
It does disturb me that people believe we are helping Iraqi, and that we are not cause of death and destruction that otherwise would not be taking place.>f

[poochee]

Too bad about the refugees but we have issues to deal with with our own people! Poverty, homelessness, health care, education, etc., etc.

[Fidelista]

Originally Posted by poochee

Too bad about the refugees but we have issues to deal with with our own people! Poverty, homelessness, health care, education, etc., etc.

You are of course -right. Leading by example is right in all ways, and that requires dealing with our own problems.
poochee , my point is that people stop rationalizing the hell unleashed in Iraq as "helping".
We both know it isn't.
It will overwhelm all efforts, finance wise , as well as all other ways to acheive anything here.
We will not be able to tackle any problem at home if want to rule the world--cost no object.
Not to say that some very expensive arse kicking needs to be done, it just has to done by competent leadership --somethings violent, sustainable, and justifiable . >f