In Iraq for 365

About my experiences in Iraq... the frustrations, the missions and this country... and the journey home

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Asylum

Last week, I received an e-card from one of our old interpreters. He worked with Samir and the rest of us.

We tried to get him into the United States, claiming he needed asylum from the terrorists. He got as far as Jordan before being forced to re-enter Iraq. Meanwhile, I knew of dozens of less-worthy human beings who were granted asylum on a school visa or they knew a high-ranking general.

We all made promises to our Iraqi friends to get them back to the United States, but it’s the out of sight, out of mind concept. Today, my friend is a manager for a major Iraq facility that I won’t name because he receives death threats weekly.

I’ll write more on this later, but wanted to warn you that this subject frustrates me beyond Texas.