The Iraqi refugee problem

Did you see the recent PBS show on the crisis in Syria, Jordan (and even U.S.) for Iraqi refugees? We did a lousy job covering the borders in Iraq after the 2003 initial victory. We don't do borders, not even our own. Now the place is overrun. Iraqis interviewed for the show had been run out by various groups. Some had been Saddam supporters. Some had worked for American companies and became targets for terrorists. Some companies will relocate a former worker, but not his family. That makes no sense--makes more terrorists! Seems it has a long history, as this 1998 story reports.

Just as I think we have an obligation NOT to run out on the people we went in to save, so we have an obligation to the refugees the war has created. It will be up to McCain or Obama to lead the way, and it won't be cheap--which is why McCain's "as long as it takes," makes more sense than Obama's moving target pull-out date. Democrats and Republicans alikeshould have a stake in seeing that the elected Iraq government succeeds, but that will be extremely difficult for Democrats who don't want anything started by Bush to turn out well. The MoveOnOrgies who have gained so much power in the party, are not going to go away. The moderates in the party may just have to swallow their anger and pride and try to be the "liberals" they claim to be instead of marxists and anarchists, the direction they are being pushed.

The PBS show wasn't balanced, but that would be difficult. It's a painful issue. Bush, of course, will get more blame for the pitiful woman refugee whose husband desserted her and the children after she was raped by terrorists than will the misogynist, Muslim male-centered culture. Like assigning blame to Bush instead of Nagin for the Katrina blacks who can't get their public housing back. It's old news that Nagin was and is unprepared to be the mayor of a major city. People need to be resettled. Period.