posted on February 14, 2007 09:12:09 AM
White House Opens Doors to Iraq Refugees
Updated 11:17 AM ET February 14, 2007
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.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Wednesday with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres to outline the expanded U.S. program. 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.
Most refugees have fled to Syria and Jordan, both of which have recently tried to restrict the influx. The U.N. estimates that 40,000 to 50,000 people flee Iraq each month and have dwindling options of where to go. Other Iraqis relocate inside then country, with some leaving neighborhoods that were once mixed among Sunnis and Shiites and resettling where their sect is more concentrated.
U.S. diplomats have discussed the refugee situation directly with the Syrian government, the State Department official said. That is notable because of the administration's reluctance to engage Syria in high-level discussions about security in Iraq. The U.S. has also discussed the refugee problem with Jordan, a close ally, the official said.
The U.N. and allies have suggested the previous U.S. policy was stingy considering the U.S. role in starting the war. After The Associated Press reported the plan to allow far greater numbers to come to the United States, Jordan's chief government spokesman did not sound impressed.
Nasser Judeh said 7,000 is still a small number compared to the 700,000 Iraqi refugees Jordan has had to accommodate.
"7,000 Iraqi refugees is just 1 percent of the number we have," Judeh said.
Syria has taken in an estimated 1 million Iraqis. It was the last Arab country to take in large numbers.
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.
The worsening humanitarian crisis has resulted in calls for action by members of Congress and a plea from the United Nations for more countries to help out.
"It's not fair that the burden is not being shared effectively. A very limited number of countries is paying a very heavy price," Guterres said on a recent tour of the Mideast.
In a budget request filed with Congress last week, President Bush asked for $35 million to help Iraq's refugees next year, and another $15 million for this year."""
(YOUR TAX DOLLARS )
"""Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the administration "has been slow to react to a worsening situation, amid ample warnings." Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., told Rice at a hearing last week that the United States could admit about 7,000 Iraqi refugees this year.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
posted on February 14, 2007 09:18:53 AM
I go to the White House all the time . I live in it. Hope he does not invite too many of the refuges to my home.
I guess I better make ready sleeping quarters for my guest.
O I never ACTUALLY read news articles, just the headlines.
Did Bush mean my White House ??
I just take what others interpret the story as saying as the gospel.
Someone will decipher it and tell me what it says. I do know it must be BAD, cuz President Bush said it. That is the correct thinking, isn't it?
posted on February 14, 2007 12:24:16 PMThe 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.
Welcome to the US. Now that you are here, we will put you into camps until a time we see fit to let you go.
Maybe the US can work out an agreement with the countries that are holding the Iraqi refugees. Perhaps we can "swap" the Iraqi refugees with those that are still displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on February 14, 2007 08:03:30 PM
Now if this isn't the mingopig double standard.
Bush wants to bring over 7000 Iraq refugees, to give them a safe home and they criticize. But when her Demomoron Betty McCollum goes to Thailand recruiting Hmong people, over 25,000 at that, they state it should have been more.
Personally, I think that mingopig should open her house up to the Iraqi refugees.
Now that's a snowball's chance in hell.
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"Unfortunately there are levels of Stupid that just can't be cured!!" The current Demomoron motto.
posted on February 15, 2007 12:21:10 AM
Babblings from the incoherent stoned:
"""Now if this isn't the mingopig double standard.
Bush wants to bring over 7000 Iraq refugees, to give them a safe home and they criticize.""""
Who's "they"...can't be me, there's only one of me and I didn't criticize about them bringing Iraqi's here.
"""But when her Demomoron Betty McCollum goes to Thailand recruiting Hmong people, over 25,000 at that, they state it should have been more."""
Again, WHO is "they"...why do you think it's me.....I never mentioned Hmong and what have they got to do with the Iraqis???....what ARE you smoking????
"""Personally, I think that mingopig should open her house up to the Iraqi refugees.
Now that's a snowball's chance in hell."""
Well, ya got one thing right although the reasoning is non-existent... could you explain just why you think I should ??
Ya, stoned, this is a lot for you at once so I'll understand if all you can do in reply is chant
posted on February 16, 2007 10:41:48 AM
No mingopig,
I don't sit in front of a computer 24/7 eating bon-bons like you do.
Yes mingopig, your Demomoron Betty McCollum in fact went on a recruiting mission to bring more Hmong into our community. Nothing against the Hmong, but it's time to close the boarders. Ms. Demomoron puts a strain on the St. Paul Schools and expects everyone else to pay for it (except her). Yes, it is a they as in demomorons that are jamming the Hmong down our throat, but when the Pres wants to bring over a handful of Iraqi refugees, they cry foul.
"""Personally, I think that mingopig should open her house up to the Iraqi refugees.
posted on February 16, 2007 10:48:46 AM
Looks like you learned from linduh about how NOT to answer questions....and here I thought you were incapable of learning....
How many people do you know, including yourself, who have to give refugees of any kind shelter in their homes?
posted on February 16, 2007 01:43:51 PM
To me this is like when those of us who are against abortion....ESPECIALLY partial birth abortions.....say so....then the lefties here ALWAYS tell us/ask us IF/that we should be willing to adopt them.
Same issue....different topic.
Same double standard, imo.
So....I still can't tell if this is just another of sybil's bashing bush threads or if he/she is really for or against these refuges being allowed to come.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on February 16, 2007 03:14:53 PM
""How many people do you know, including yourself, who have to give refugees of any kind shelter in their homes?
Why should anyone?""
Still no answer.
Sad to think that stone thinks millions of Americans are pigs because they don't offer their homes to refugees....there is no logic whatsoever in that.
posted on February 16, 2007 07:11:12 PM
But ya know, I just thought of a nice big ranch in Crawford Texas that has plenty of room for refugees
But maybe the pig who lives there doesn't want them ......
posted on February 16, 2007 09:04:08 PMHow many people do you know, including yourself, who have to give refugees of any kind shelter in their homes
Are you really this stupid? You have never heard of host families? Problem is your Demomoron Betty McCollum continues to recruit the Hmong to our country and you support it. Then the Pres wants to rescue 7000 Iraqis, who actually need it, you cry like a whiny little pig that you are. There is your answer. Speaking of answering questions, how about answering the ones that you were exposed as dope as you are?
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"Unfortunately there are levels of Stupid that just can't be cured!!" The current Demomoron motto.
posted on February 16, 2007 09:08:05 PM
"""Then the Pres wants to rescue 7000 Iraqis, who actually need it, you cry like a whiny little pig that you are. """
Show where I cried about it in any way ???????....
Answer: I didn't. You're hallucinating...poor thing...
Are YOU a Bunghole?
