by Andrea Mitchell
05/30/2007

To read the entire transcript, click here.

Below is an excerpt from NBC's Nightly News:

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor: Now we turn to Iraq and the growing refugee crisis there. Tonight, the Bush administration says it is, quote, "poised" to admit more Iraqi refugees into the US after criticism they've received from members of Congress and others that America is failing thousands who fled. Because they helped the US during the war, they now feel their lives are in danger in Iraq. But the US has only agreed to admit 59 more refugees. Our chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell now on this growing crisis.

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ANDREA MITCHELL reporting: Iraqi refugees seeking asylum and desperate for health care and food. Many, like 32 year old Basil al-Nashi. He worked for the US and the UN in Baghdad, survived the truck bombing of UN headquarters in 2003, but was then threatened by insurgents and fled for his life. His uncle, a New Jersey pediatrician, says al-Nashi was turned away at the US Embassy in Damascus.

Dr. SUHAIB NASHI: He wasn't given an interview, they told at the door to go somewhere else, that--gave him a number and e-mail to contact, and he did, but he didn't get any response.

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MITCHELL: Since the fall of Baghdad four years ago, only 535 Iraqi refugees have been admitted to the US. In the last seven months, some of the deadliest of the civil war, 69 have gotten in. In contrast in the last year alone, 18,000 have gone to Europe, nearly half to Sweden. Why can't the US help more people fleeing from Iraq?

Mr. KEN BACON (Refugees International President): I think there's some political reluctance to acknowledge this is a big problem. It does indicate failure, on the one hand.

MITCHELL: Tonight the administration tells NBC News it hopes to reduce the back log by sending more experts to screen refugees, trying to eliminate possible terrorists. So far, that is a higher priority than providing safe haven to the millions fleeing Iraq. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, at the State Department.