President’s Corner: More Administration Delay on Iraqi Refugees
Monday, September 24, 2007
Last week I reported that Stephen Hadley, the president’s National Security Adviser, conceded that the Bush administration was not doing a good enough job in protecting Iraqi refugees. “We have got to do better,” he told a meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations on Sept. 17, 2007.
In light of that pledge, it is outrageous that the Bush administration is opposing a Senate bill designed to sharply expand resettlement opportunities in the U.S. for Iraqis who have worked for—and frequently risked their lives for—American soldiers and diplomats in Iraq. As a result, many of those who worked as translators, purchasing agents, and administrators have faced threats against their lives and had to flee Iraq.
The bill, S. 1651, the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act, was introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). It has gathered support from both pro-war and anti-war senators, all of whom believe that the U.S. has an obligation to protect Iraqis who took risks for the U.S. Last week Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) joined Senators Kennedy and Smith in speaking on behalf of the bill.
The Senate bill would require the government to expand the processing of so-called Iraqi allies for resettlement in the U.S. While the administration says it supports the goal of the legislation, the bill is unnecessary because “existing authorities provide the requisite funding and programmatic flexibility to respond to the current situation.” This is a very puzzling statement considering that the U.S. has admitted fewer than 1,000 Iraqis for resettlement in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.
The administration’s stance is just another sign of its unwillingness to show loyalty and gratitude to Iraqis who have taken huge risks for the U.S. If you think the Bush administration should do more to protect Iraqis who helped protect our troops, let your senator know or sign this petition and tell President Bush that the current policy is simply unacceptable.
--Ken Bacon
For more information about RI's work with Iraqi refugees and updates on upcoming missions, visit our website.
In light of that pledge, it is outrageous that the Bush administration is opposing a Senate bill designed to sharply expand resettlement opportunities in the U.S. for Iraqis who have worked for—and frequently risked their lives for—American soldiers and diplomats in Iraq. As a result, many of those who worked as translators, purchasing agents, and administrators have faced threats against their lives and had to flee Iraq.
The bill, S. 1651, the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act, was introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). It has gathered support from both pro-war and anti-war senators, all of whom believe that the U.S. has an obligation to protect Iraqis who took risks for the U.S. Last week Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) joined Senators Kennedy and Smith in speaking on behalf of the bill.
The Senate bill would require the government to expand the processing of so-called Iraqi allies for resettlement in the U.S. While the administration says it supports the goal of the legislation, the bill is unnecessary because “existing authorities provide the requisite funding and programmatic flexibility to respond to the current situation.” This is a very puzzling statement considering that the U.S. has admitted fewer than 1,000 Iraqis for resettlement in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.
The administration’s stance is just another sign of its unwillingness to show loyalty and gratitude to Iraqis who have taken huge risks for the U.S. If you think the Bush administration should do more to protect Iraqis who helped protect our troops, let your senator know or sign this petition and tell President Bush that the current policy is simply unacceptable.
--Ken Bacon
For more information about RI's work with Iraqi refugees and updates on upcoming missions, visit our website.
Labels: Iraqi Refugees, President's Corner
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