IRAQ NEWS UPDATE

"Iraqis who are unable to flee the country are now in a queue, waiting their turn to die."
(As described by an Iraqi journalist)

People in Iraq are still being targeted as a result of religious affiliation, economic status and profession(especially doctors, teachers and hairdressers for being "anti-Islamic"). One in every five Iraqis has been displaced, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Not only have they faced troubles relocating themselves within the surrounding countries, but once there, the problems only seem to enumerate. The United States, unfortunately, fell short of its 7,000 Iraqi refugee quota in the 2007 fiscal year. From Iraq, the total number of accepted refugees was 1,608. We have now promised to resettle 12,000 in the 2008 fiscal year, but as of January, February and March, the total adds up to just under 1,500. Hopefully, this number will grow. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees no longer has enough resources to assist the refugees in the Middle East, which also applies to Afghanistan. It requires far more funding to provide adequate protection for the people of Iraq, funding that it does not have. Not only is Iraq facing problems in the highest of all international bodies, but the surrounding nations are looking to no longer tolerate their presence. Overwhelmed by the massive emigration, the economies, and nations themselves, are facing destabilization. In addition, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria see the problems of the refugees as temporary, closing doors and gates, allowing them to stay for only a short while. The problems only continue to escalate.

Although I will remain to take the stance that the United States presence is doing more harm than good in Iraq, we do need to accept that our tactic isn't working. Thousands are still fleeing, and worse thousands more are dieing. The United States must realize the extent to which we have influence in this great world. As the greatest super power we have an extreme amount of influence, and what we need to do is use that power beneficially, to help those who can not escape. We need to encourage the surrounding Middle Eastern countries to take in these refugees, to relocate them to a place where they can be safe from persecution. We need to work with the government, that we created, within Iraq to set up boundaries and laws so that this persecution is no longer tolerated; so that the government better responds to the needs of its people.

It is time for the United States to justify its location in Iraq.