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President’s Corner: Foreign Confusion about U.S. Policies and Values
October 24, 2008 | Kenneth Bacon |
On Monday I met with about 30 teachers from around the world who are spending the summer here learning about and trying to understand the United States. They are intelligent, well read and, quite frankly, puzzled by what they are seeing and learning.
They have read about America’s commitment to rule of law and respect for human rights, yet they are hearing about prisoners being held without charge and allegedly tortured at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. They also wanted to know why the U.S., while working to stabilize Iraq, isn’t more concerned about five million Iraqis—20% of the population—who are displaced.
When we discussed the case the International Criminal Court is bringing against President al Bashir of Sudan, several wondered if the ICC will bring charges against President Bush or others in the United States for the invasion of Iraq or alleged mistreatment of Iraqi and other prisoners. (The answer, for a variety of reasons, is no.)
Their tour is part of the Fulbright Program sponsored by the State Department. Unfortunately, the very administration of the program highlights the inconsistency of U.S. policy. A teacher from Iraq was supposed to participate in the program, but one of the other teachers in the program said that the U.S. government wouldn’t issue her a visa.
This not only deprived the Fulbright program participants from hearing about what is happening in Iraq, but it prevented one Iraqi teacher from discussing U.S. policy in Iraq with a wide range of Americans at precisely the time when both countries need to understand each other better.
--Ken Bacon
They have read about America’s commitment to rule of law and respect for human rights, yet they are hearing about prisoners being held without charge and allegedly tortured at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. They also wanted to know why the U.S., while working to stabilize Iraq, isn’t more concerned about five million Iraqis—20% of the population—who are displaced.
When we discussed the case the International Criminal Court is bringing against President al Bashir of Sudan, several wondered if the ICC will bring charges against President Bush or others in the United States for the invasion of Iraq or alleged mistreatment of Iraqi and other prisoners. (The answer, for a variety of reasons, is no.)
Their tour is part of the Fulbright Program sponsored by the State Department. Unfortunately, the very administration of the program highlights the inconsistency of U.S. policy. A teacher from Iraq was supposed to participate in the program, but one of the other teachers in the program said that the U.S. government wouldn’t issue her a visa.
This not only deprived the Fulbright program participants from hearing about what is happening in Iraq, but it prevented one Iraqi teacher from discussing U.S. policy in Iraq with a wide range of Americans at precisely the time when both countries need to understand each other better.
--Ken Bacon
Labels: Iraqi Refugees, President's Corner
