Iraq-professional+viewpoints

== =Professional Veiwpoints:=

"So no matter how frustrating the fight in Iraq can be, no matter how much we wish the war was over, the security of our country depends directly on the outcome of Iraq. The price of giving up there would be paid in American lives for years to come. ... Success in Iraq would bring something powerful and new -- a democracy at the heart of the Middle East, a nation that fights terrorists instead of harboring them, and a powerful example for others of the power of liberty to overcome an ideology of hate."

-President George W. Bush (April 20, 2007) [|Updated news on the US Government and Iraq]

Interveiw with Patrick Poulin, the Director of Refugee Services for the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City, Utah:

1. Q: How many refugees do you work with a week? Per year?

A: We have 40-50 "active" refugees right now. When we say a refugee is active, we mean that they meet with the IRC on a daily basis. Not there is a decrease in refugees that are coming. Homeland security has redefined the term "material support." Homeland security changed the title to mean that is refugees have been in situations where they had to give ransom money, protect themselves with dangerous weapons, or participated in any illegal activity with terrorists, they are not going to be able to come to the US.

2. Q: How do you help support the refugees that are coming here?

A: There are several steps of support. First, reception/replacement. This step is when we send a car to greet them at the airport and settle them in fully furnished apartments with food and supplies. The next step is placing the children in school and getting the family a social security number so they can get jobs. This is really important because with out a social security number, the refugees cannot get a job. The housing and supplies we give them only last for a month and after that they are on their own. We try to set them up with classes to learn english, understand financial literature, and showing the refugees where to find cheap materials.

3. Q: Where does the IRC get the money to get to operate and provide supplies?

A: We get money from the state government, private funds, the health department, and the department of work/service.

4. Q: How has the war effected the refugee flow into America?

A: Right now there are 2 million refugees in camps around the Iraqi border that have been displaced by the war. The US has signed documents to take 2,000 refugees by December. We will have around 7,000 refugees in around 12 months. Utah has no refugees from Iraq as of now, but of the group that is coming in December, Utah will most definately be receiving many refugees. The UN has a team of volunteers and lawyers to interview the potential refugees. The first priority of refugees that come to the USA are the people who have a serious life threat if they return home or if they worked for some type of US agency.

5. Q: Is it hard for the refugees to resettle in the place that is the cause of their misfortune?

A: No. Most of the time the families are happy to be leaving with their lives and families. Most refugees want to stay where they live. Many of masses that have come here want to go back to their lands but it is mainly too dangerous for them to leave.

6. Q: How difficult is it for the refugees to overcome the cultural barriers? (Specifically clothing)

A: The barrier is less strong depending on where the individual is coming from. For instance, Russian refugees are more westernized and have virtually the same clothing styles where they live. The African culture on the other hand is very different, but like most things connected with moving, the refugees eventually get used to it. The hardest group of refugees we have had to deal with are the Shiites. They are the most conservative group we deal with.

7. Q: Have any of the refugees ever been moved with out their families?

A: Sadly, this happens a lot. Families who are separated can file reports with the countries they would like to move to requesting their families to be moved. This process is called "family reunification." The higher the priority, the more people the process can affect.

8. Q: What happens when people find other people who lived in the same countries with them?

A: When cultural are different there is always tension. When families are separated there is always tension but the IRC tries to do the best it can. Refugees with out different views always get along and usually try to live close to each other. However, most situations require careful consideration to avoid confrontations.

9. Q: What made you consider becoming an IRC worker?

A: I was a social worker coming out of college. But i joined the peace core and was relocated to Mali. I lived on the Ivory coast working with refugees from Siberia. While i was there i worked with at the hospital for 8 years. Working with the refugees in Africa inspired me to work with them here in the US.

10. Q: How has this job affected you and your lifestyle?

A: I have found i have greater interest in the rest of the world. I feel a direct connection with AIDS, health, nutrition, and poverty. This job has raised awareness and appriciation for what i have.

11. Q: Have there ever been any violent attacks towards you or anyone/anything at the IRC?

A: There has never been any sort of violent action towards anyone here at the IRC. The only sort of rage we ever have to deal with is strictly with helping the refugee's families move to America.

A special thank you to Patrick Poulin and the IRC stationed in Salt Lake City for taking the time to have an awe inspiring interveiw with us.

Names to know when learning about Iraq now:
 * George W. Bush - President of the USA
 * Ambassador David Satterfield - Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State for the USA and Coordinator for Iraq
 * Brett McGurk - Director for Iraq, National Security Council for the USA
 * Peter Rodman - Asst. Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs for the USA
 * Robert Ford - Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq
 * Kevin Bergner - Special Assistant to the President of the USA and Senior Director for Iraq
 * Amb. James Jeffrey - Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State for the USA and Coordinator for Iraq
 * Frank Ramaizel - Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Justice, U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
 * Meghan O'Sullivan - Special Assistant to the President of the USA and Senior Director for Iraq
 * Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad - U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
 * Dr. J.D. Crouch - Deputy National Security Advisor for the USA
 * Allison Barber - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the USA
 * Jalal Talabani - President of Iraq
 * Tariq Al-Hashimi and Adil Abd Al-Mahdi - Dep. President of Iraq
 * Nuri al-Maliki - Prime Minister of Iraq
 * Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji - Minister of Defense for Iraq
 * Hoshyar Mahmud ZEBARI - Minister of Foreign Affairs for Iraq
 * Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI - Ambassodor to US for Iraq
 * Hamid al-BAYATI - Permanent Representative to the UN in New York for Iraq

~For all of these people's veiws, you can search their names virtually on any websearch program.~

April 22, 2007 - The Senate is to make clear the final version of a war spending measure, setting the stage for a veto and the next chapter in Congress’ clash with President Bush over the Iraq War. Gen. David H. Petraeus, urged lawmakers in classified briefings to be patient with Bush’s strategy of building up American troops there. But the bill, which would require that U.S. troops begin pulling out of Iraq by October and would set a goal of completing the withdrawal of most troopsby late March 2008, reflects growing congressional impatience with the war and Bush’s plan.


 * “The president calls on the Senate to quickly pass this legislation so the president can veto it and then work with the congressional leadership on a clean bill that funds our troops while respecting the judgment of our military commanders and helping ensure the safety of the American people,” said spokeswoman Dana Perino.**

April 25, 2007 - The House on Wednesday narrowly approved a $124 billion war spending bill that would require American troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq by Oct. 1, setting the stage for the first veto fight between President Bush and majority Democrats.

April 25, 2007 - Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander in Iraq, told lawmakers he needed more time to gauge the effectiveness of a troop buildup there, the House voted 218 to 208 to pass a measure that sought the removal of most combat forces by next spring. Mr. Bush has said unequivocally and repeatedly that he will veto it.

United Nations- "The U.K. has done nothing to allow Iraqi refugees displaced by the conflict the chance to resettle in the U.K. -- including people who have shown great loyalty and service to the U.K. in Iraq,

Amnesty International- "The Middle East is on the verge of a new humanitarian crisis unless the European Union, U.S. and other states take urgent and concrete measures to assist the more than 3 million people forcibly displaced by the conflict in Iraq," Amnesty said.

They called on Western countries to set up a resettlement program for Iraqis that goes "far beyond token numbers and should constitute a significant part of the solution to the current crisis

Condoleezza Rice- She has given the U.S. embassy in Syria authorization to discuss Iraqi refugees with Damascus.

U.S. diplomats were given authorization to discuss the flow of refugees with the Syrian government, but the talks are not to be part of a larger discussion with the country about Iraq

"I am concerned that given the circumstances of Syrian behavior in Lebanon ... talking with Syria now about Iraq would have downsides for us in terms of Lebanon, in terms of what Syria would be looking for, in terms of how it would be perceived."

Edward M. Kennedy- (The writer is a Democratic senator from Massachusetts and incoming chairman of the Senate immigration, border security and refugee subcommittee.) This year especially it is essential that we also reflect on another human cost of the war -- the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children who have fled their homes and often their country to escape the violence of a nation increasingly at war with itself.

An essential first step could be to hold an international conference on the issue -- ideally sponsored by the countries in the region and the United Nations -- to begin to deal with the growing number and needs of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. The United States should participate in the conference and provide substantial support for the refugees. Doing so would encourage other nations to address the crisis, help the refugees and displaced persons, and assist the countries shouldering the greatest burden

There will soon be an interveiw with an IRC worker who will talk about helping refugees get to america and the transition process. Coming to our page on Wednesday

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Bibliography:

Hurse, Carl. "War Bill Passes House, Requiring an Iraq Pullout." Tuscaloosa News 26 Apr. 2007. 26 Apr. 2007 <[|http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20070426/ZNYT03/704260368/1001/TL23>.]

Poulin, Patrick. Personal interview. 2 May 2007.