We are pleased that the 60 minutes feature has brought a little more attention to the plight of Iraqi refugees including so many that risked their lives to help Americans. Below are some of the comments that Scott Pelley’s report elicited throughout the blogosphere. Only a few examples are included, but they demonstrate the wide spectrum of Americans that are concerned about our country’s inability to assist our allies so far.
From The American Conservative blog:
When we asked for help, these people answered. They’re among Iraq’s brightest—bilingual professionals who were willing to make common cause with the West. But now America has no use for them.
There should be a national debate about immigration reform, but dealing with the millions living here illegally is an issue for another day. These aren’t border crossers looking for bigger paychecks but refugees fleeing for their lives. They would probably prefer to return to their own homes and culture, but those don’t exist anymore. We liberated them.
From the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) blog:
[The report] was a moving and overdue piece about Kirk Johnson and his The List Project (thelistproject.org) on Sixty Minutes. Johnson is as committed, talented, and hardworking a young man as you will find and the energy he directs into doing the right thing not just for his associates from Iraq but for our Nation’s reputation are heroic.
And from Firedoglake:
Tonight the appalling plight of the approximately 100,000 Iraqis who assisted the US government in Iraq is highlighted on 60 Minutes. We have given only 5,000 refuge here, while a country like Sweden has taken in 40,000. What is wrong with us? Have we no decency?
This is truly an issue that diverse groups can unite behind to demand what is right and just. Political affiliations, demographics, views of the Iraq War — all are irrelevant when considering the universality of the moral imperative facing our country. We cannot turn our backs on allies– both for their sake and our own. Please consider what you can do, however small, to make sure this issue does not fade from the national consciousness.