60 Minutes:The Plight Of Iraqis Who Helped The U.S.

[Rose Siding]

.....No one knows the work of the Iraqi allies better than retired Major General Paul Eaton. He was in charge of training the Iraqi army in 2003 and 2004. "I have no doubt that the translators have saved a great number of American lives," he tells Pelley.

And Eaton believes America owes them the same.

"Do you think it is politically impossible to open the doors to immigration to Iraqis because it's an admission that the war has not gone well?" Pelley asks.

"The war is not going well. Everybody knows it. The president of the United States and our Congress need to admit that a population is at risk. At risk because they have thrown their lot in with us," Eaton says.
...
How many Iraqis, like this translator, worked for America? No one is certain, but by our tally it’s at least 100,000. Add their families and you’re well over a half a million people at risk. How many of them have been allowed to immigrate to the United States? About ten.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/09/60minutes/main2554125.shtml

[Taverner]

1. Shades of Vietnam yet again...

The RVN supporters and anyone who had helped the Americans during Vietnam were at best blacklisted from ever finding work, and at worst summarily executed alongside their families.

[TomInTib]

5. ARVN aside, we were able to bring over 130,000 Vietnamese into our country

between May and December of 1975.

[Taverner]

7. Yes - and I sincerely hope we do the same for Iraq

[illinoisprogressive]

2. I saw that and was heartbroken. that one guy said the one who was

his friend could even stay with him. If we are willing to let them come here to save their lives after what they have done for us, I can't see why not. why is this administration so damn evil.

[BayCityProgressive]

4. I agree

is this how we repay people for saving our soldiers lives? Hang them out to die a hideous death?

[mitchtv]

3. That's a lot of people

at first I said to myself "let'm in, but that many?But then , I say: "While we are rounding up Latinos in places liike Marin county? "We need to end all immigration but political asylum in such an event.

[BayCityProgressive]

6. Also

on this note..if the US gave asylum or paid reparations to people in every country that we have fucked over in the last 50 yrs..we would be broke. Just putting things into perspective: Iraq, Afghanistan, Chile, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Panama, Grenada, Guatemala, El Salvador, South Africa, Haiti ect ect

[TomInTib]

8. They are rounding them up in San Rafael...

We are paying our people to stay home until this madness ceases. By the way, we pay our people $17+/hr.

But here in Tiburon? Nada.

Appears as if they want to deprive the contractors and the middle-class of their day laborers and allow the wealthy among us to benefit from our immigrants.

I am effing pissed.

[mitchtv]

10. I"ll bet they don't venture to Sonoma (Little Michoacan) to roundup

The Sebastianis, Gallos, etc won't like that

[TomInTib]

12. Right. They are hitting the homeowners and contractors.

I employ some beautiful people and I am paying them to stay home (I am out delivering groceries and all, taking kids to the doctor, etc.) and I will be damned if I will let the Gv't shut the door on those wonderful folks.

This "raid" business is bullshit.

Even if (for argument's sake) a few dozen big (300+ people) raids happen in a year - and that hasn't happened yet - , what the Hell difference will that make in the overall scheme of things? Do the numbers. And the financial drain (on both the gov and civ side) is outrageous.

We live on a big round ball.

All of us.

Together.

[lligrd]

9. My Problem With Allowing Political Refugees

is that many don't want to be Americans. They simply want the government in the country they were in to change and they usually want the US to help them take the power back in the country they are from. Isn't that what the Iraqi immigrants that helped the Bush administration lie to support an invasion did? Isn't that what a lot of the Cuban immigrants want?

This case is a bit different in that it is our fault. That being said, there is no reason for the Iraqis to love us either.

[fooj]

11. We have lost the world's trust.

This was one hell of a program tonight. First, the anthrax...then the Iraqi translator stories...then the mining widows. Wow. 60 Minutes put it out there this evening...

[mitchtv]

13. only if we give asylum to

Gays from Iran/Iraq/Egypt/S Arabia etc
sorry but that's how I feel. (there are others in more immediate danger).