The Final

The whole reason that I've been doing research on this topic is for the sake of the enormous Junior/Senior Research Project. For our final, this past semester, we had to write an abstract, two-page paper on our subject. Here it is:

Just another number, another statistic. Over 1.5 million Iraqis are living as refugees in Syria, about the same number of Afghans are relocated as well. But now, now, their neighbors are mandating the return to their homes. As written by Farangis Najibullah, whether voluntarily or forcibly removed, they are being relocated to displacement in the nations they once called home. When the United States took over control in Afghanistan, they brought hope; when the United States took over control in Iraq, they brought change; now all that is hoped for is change, that change is peace. As more refugees continuously flee from their nations of oppression, persecution and fascism, the strain on their neighboring nations continues to grow; the responsibility of international nations begins to grow.

Violence in the Middle East is sure to not disappear in the near future. When the United States invaded Afghanistan, as stated by Rohde and Sanger, intelligence informed that the Taliban was no longer as strong as it used to be; but the Taliban is still inextricably linked to Afghanistan and still insists on reclaiming their radical Islamic state. Also found in Iraq, the problems that arise, from issues as massive as these ingrained tribal loyalties, are extremely difficult to solve, making peace inconceivable.

Those living within Afghanistan and Iraq agree: United States involvement has benefited their ability to achieve freedom. Although Chomsky’s assertion that the United States’ arrival was criminal; with the establishment of ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force, to deal specifically with the issues of Afghan refugees, the United Nations and the United States have been taking enormous steps to increase the level of safety within the Middle East. On the home front, the United States refugee policy, found in Appendix E: Overview of U.S. Refugee Policy, gives priority to those suffering from religious persecution. Felton has criticized the policy in Iraq as being too rash and Roberts has investigated the humanitarian issues facing warring nations; each has addressed the major flaws in execution of policies and the difficulties in finding peace.

Change in Iraq and Afghanistan is imminent; peace is plausible. The presence of the United States will remain, despite debates put forth in New Strategy in Iraq. As addressed by Johnes-Pauly and Nojumi, the judicial system within Afghanistan will remain to be difficult to set up; religion is too closely affiliated with state. But we will persevere. The Iraqis, now being forcibly removed from Syria because they tried to create a home, or the Afghans who are being pushed away from Iran deliberately to destroy the economy, as stated by Hogan, have no true place they belong. Braving through harsh conditions and cold winters on the streets because their surrounding countries no longer want them becomes a reality, a way of life.

Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan after the United States took over, because they saw hope. Afghans are willing to live through terrible conditions, endure starvation and live homeless, because they want to see the day when their country is beautiful again. Iraqis flee to Syria because they see the beauty that their country once held. As refugees flee they find that there is no difference between them anymore, those who are Shi’ites or Sunnis or Jews or Christians all flee, together. Those who are old, young, intellectual or dumb are all being forced back to their countries, together. Burning Baghdad puts it best, “No matter how wealthy or educated or comfortable, a refugee is a refugee. A refugee is someone who isn’t really welcome in any country-including their own… especially their own.”