Exodus from Iraq

An interesting article from Stephen Glain in the June 11 issue of "The Nation" detailed a harrowing on-going problem in Iraq, which the Bush administration has seemingly overlooked: the exodus of Iraqi refugees who have fled in the hundreds of thousands to Jordan, Syria and even Iran.

One of the most disturbing cases that Glain profiled was the plight of Ahlam Al Jaburi, 41, a woman who worked as an English translator for the U.S. government to help American military officers investigate the claims of war victims in Khadimiya, Iraq.

In July 2005, she was kipnapped by insurgents who threaten to kill her for 'spying.' Her only request was that her body not be thrown in the Tigris River. Al Jaburi, a Sunni, was freed on a $50,000 ransom.

She later feld to Syria. But, her request for political asylum in this country was denied by the American embassy in Syria. She returned to her Damascus apartment in tears.

Glain's article also says that Jordan is fearful of becoming flooded with refugees. Jordan saw a similar influx of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and West Bank in the 1970s and '80s. The article said that Amman is now turning down most requests from males between 18-36.

The article in the liberal publication also talked about how Khulood Alzavidi, 27, who was honored by Bush in a White House ceremony, shortly after arriving in the United States was denied permanent residency here even though she would face certain death for her cooperation with American forces if she were to return to Iraq.

Glain's article entitled "The Flight of Millions from Iraq Threatens the Entire Region" should be available in archive editions of "The Nation."

Even if one disagrees with the political vantage point of "The Nation," this should be a cause of certain and we should encourage our government to take more ardent protective measures to protect individuals, such as A Jaburi and Alzavidi.

http://www.thenationmag.com