Bush to allow 7,000 Iraqi refugees to immigrate to US

[Purveyor]

February 14, 2007

By ANNE GEARAN

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration plans to allow about 7,000 Iraqi refugees to settle in the United States over the next year, a huge expansion at a time of mounting international pressure to help those who have fled in the nearly four-year-old war.

The United States has allowed only 463 Iraq refugees into the country since the war began, even though some 3.8 million have left. A senior State Department official described the expanded program on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement later Wednesday.

The administration also plans to pledge $18 million for a worldwide resettlement and relief program. The United Nations has asked for $60 million from nations around the world.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Wednesday with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres to outline the expanded U.S. program. The 7,000 would be resettled from nations outside Iraq where they have fled. The U.S. proposal also includes plans to offer special treatment for Iraqis still in the country whose cooperation with the U.S. government puts them at risk from sectarian reprisal.

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http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/NEWS07/70214022/1009/NEWS07

[wakeme2008]

1. Drop -- Bucket...

:(

[Joanne98]

2. All hand-picked right-wingers of course....

The only thing I hate more than right-wingers are immigrate right-wingers.

[undeterred]

3. I thought we were supposed to fight "them" over "there"

Call me cynical, but everything he does has to do with justifying more war.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. The get to come here if they check the IEDs at the door.

[xultar]

6. But if you fight them here you can still watch American Idol

[anotherdrew]

5. he basically HAS to let them. bet he wasn't counting on that n/t

[progressivebydesign]

7. but let's build a fence and keep the Mexicans out. right?

I guess it all depends on whose country he fucks up.

[goclark]

8. yep ~ please take him to the Betty Ford Center nt

[Doondoo]

9. K&R

[Jersey Ginny]

10. $18 mil divided by 3.8 mil = $4.00 per person

Woo hooo. It might be 4.20 or so.

[superconnected]

And good for the iraqis.

[superconnected]

11. I love it when they piss off their base like this.

[MikeNearMcChord]

12. I know this is warming the hearts of the freepers

I wonder how did they react about the shooter from Salt Lake City who was a Bosnian Muslim? (Don't ask)

[Barrett808]

13. Meanwhile, Syria has 800,000 Iraqi refugees, in a country of 19 million

Thanks, George.