"From now on," he said, "I don't want anyone to come in to see me while I'm here. Is that clear?"

Jesse Walker | August 30, 2007

From The New York Times:

Despite a stepped-up commitment from the United States to take in Iraqis who are in danger because they worked for the American government and military, very few are signing up to go, resettlement officials say.

The reason, Iraqis say, is that they are not allowed to apply in Iraq, requiring them to make a costly and uncertain journey to countries like Syria or Jordan, where they may be turned away by border officials already overwhelmed by fleeing Iraqis.

John Cole comments: "Of course it is reasonable to make people travel to another country to try to flee the country. That makes sense, if you are Joseph Heller."

Comments

|8.30.07 @ 10:50AM|#

Consider it a test of their true committment to getting out.

|8.30.07 @ 10:51AM|#

Is it the Iraqi government that's making them go elsewhere to apply, or is it us?

I blame Major Major, myself.

The Owner\'s Manual|8.30.07 @ 10:56AM|#

"So, when did you say that about the General?"
"I NEVER said that about the General!"
"Yes, but WHEN did you never say it?"
"I ALWAYS never said it!"

Trollaphile|8.30.07 @ 11:07AM|#

This isn't really a problem ....as long as we have no honor, morality and don't intend to invade anyone else for 50 years.

|8.30.07 @ 11:07AM|#

Is there any awareness in the US of the size of the refugee problem?

There's 750k-1m refugees here in Jordan - adding to a population of only 5.75m.

That would be like America taking in 40-50m people - but you're worrying about admitting a few thousand.

Thanks.

DJB|8.30.07 @ 11:09AM|#

Catch-22? Has more of a "Monty Python" air in this Brit's head, at least. Think about it. A long and arduous journey, and what then?

"An American citizen you want to be, first you must answer these questions three..."

|8.30.07 @ 11:25AM|#

If the neocranks are worried about Al Qaeda sneaking in through Mexico, I'm sure they must've soiled their Wranglers at the thought of bringing people here directly from the main battlefront of the war on terror.

|8.30.07 @ 11:36AM|#

If the neocranks are worried about Al Qaeda sneaking in through Mexico, I'm sure they must've soiled their Wranglers at the thought of bringing people here directly from the main battlefront of the war on terror.

I wonder how many people actually think the border situation significantly increases the threat of terrorism, and how many people are just using that as another argument for tighter border controls regardless of its plausibility. It is my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) that none of the 9-11 terrorists came to the US from Mexico on the back of a truck with migrant workers.

M|8.30.07 @ 11:40AM|#

Headline to be filed under T, for Things Senator Craig Wishes He Had Said.

|8.30.07 @ 11:49AM|#

This is disgraceful. We should allow the Iraqis in. After all, if we're having trouble bringing American style democracy to Iraqis, we can at least allow Iraqis into America.

VM|8.30.07 @ 12:12PM|#

@ M | August 30, 2007, 11:40am.

LOL!

fan-freakin-tastic!

|8.30.07 @ 12:18PM|#

we can at least allow Iraqis into America.

Hussain Hashem Al-Hussaini

|8.30.07 @ 12:43PM|#

I think Lamar is right.

I saw something on TV about this issue. The State Department was asked why is it taking so long when we accepted over 100,000 Vietnam refugee in about 9 months from that war. The answer, as if you didn't know, the world is different after 9/11.

|8.30.07 @ 12:45PM|#

"""I wonder how many people actually think the border situation significantly increases the threat of terrorism, and how many people are just using that as another argument for tighter border controls"""

That's a good question. The pundits hawking that belief probably don't believe as much as their listeners/viewers to whom they have convinced.

NeonCat|8.30.07 @ 1:06PM|#

It is my understanding that there is a great deal of tension between the State Department and Customs and Border Protection. State generally wants to allow people into the United States, for tourism, to work, etc. CBP would like very much to not let anyone in, if they could help it.

|8.30.07 @ 2:59PM|#

"It is my understanding that there is a great deal of tension between the State Department and Customs and Border Protection. State generally wants to allow people into the United States, for tourism, to work, etc. CBP would like very much to not let anyone in, if they could help it."

In Iraq this issue of Iraqis having to go to Jordan or Kuwait before to apply to emmigrate to the US is purely a state department problem.