McClatchy: Millions of desperate Iraqis stream into Syria (1,000 daily)

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/world/17380478.htm

Millions of desperate Iraqis stream into Syria
By Hannah Allam
McClatchy Newspapers


DAMASCUS, Syria - Nobody used the word "crisis" when the first wave of Iraqis fled the war and settled here. Most came with deep savings accounts and connections to well-placed Damascus businessmen.

The word didn't crop up when a second wave ushered in the Christians, whose clergy organized them into a vocal, cohesive bloc. Nor did it come into play with the villagers who were simply absorbed into remote desert communities because their tribes straddle the Syrian-Iraqi border.

But the word definitely applies now, as shell-shocked Iraqis of all backgrounds pour into Syria at the rate of nearly 1,000 a day. In fact, "crisis" may not be strong enough, as the flow of Iraqis becomes a torrent. At least 1.4 million are already here, according to the United Nations, each with a story of terror and trauma and a need for services that is stretching Syrians' patience. Many believe the number may be higher.

"What's their future, the 2 million Iraqis here? They can't work, they have to renew their residency cards, they live in poverty. It's an explosive situation," said Lourance Kamle, 32, a Syrian relief worker whose agency focuses on Iraqi refugees. "Make a war? Fine. And what comes after? The Americans should come here and see all these poor people because that's the result of their war."

Bush administration officials have long accused Syria of not doing enough to stop al-Qaida sympathizers from slipping into Iraq, but they barely mention the far larger number of Iraqis who cross the border in the other direction. The United States remains at the bottom of the list of countries that have accepted Iraqi refugees, though the State Department has promised to admit as many as 7,000 this year.

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If you have Google Earth, look at the border points between Iraq and Syria and Jordan...the "legal" ones, and you'll see a traffic back-up for miles. These aren't people out joy riding. And most the traffic is headed out of Iraq.

Again, a major miscalculation by this regime about the affects of war on a civilian population. The longer this invasion and occupation continued it was obvious that any of the ex-patriots who returned would soon be out-numbered by those displaced...just like it had in other wars...and the longer the war goes on the more displaced, the more who will be fleeing the country. Since there's only sand...we're not seeing flotillas of people, but it's been that steady trickle across the border...which is creating problems in "host" countries that have never been to hospitible to its guests (ask the Palestinians).

As part of the pottery barn scenario of Colinblow Powell, since we broke it, part of owning it will be finding places for the displaced to settle. Be prepared Detroit...Washington D.C....Chicago...L.A....the next wave of immigrants may not be coming from south of the border, but from Sadr City.

heads exploding from the foes of immigration if - gasp! - we allow more brown Muslims in the country? As it is, we've 'allowed' 7,000 so far, a woefully inadequate number to even begin addressing this massive problem of our own making.:-(

I don't know exact figures, but you figure with our prolonged occupation its created a poisonous environment for many of the exiles to return. No matter what the ultimate outcome, many Iraqis who have fled would not be able to return and the ensuing chaos will displace even more. With this country disgraced by our involvement and instigation of this crisis, the International community will come down on the U.S. like a ton of bricks.

Syria and Jordan are ill-equipped to handle the refugees long-term and none of the other countries in the region will take thsee people. Most European nations face right wing opposition to allowing more Arabs into their countries...they're the Mexicans of the Continent. So what's that leave? Africa? South America? More like places like Detroit (which has a large Arab population) and the other cities I mentioned that also have Arabic communities.

Just think of the Mariel boatlift...if you can remember...Carter initially didn't want to allow these refugees in. After Vietnam, there was a lot of resistance to allowing many of those refugees to settle in this country, but the subsequent boat people crisis opened those doors.

Also, hopefully, we'll have a Democratic administration...one with real compassion...that will be more responsible in this matter. Yep, Freeper heads will explode...but then it'll also give 'em yet another thing to hate us about. :rofl:

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Thanks for all you do...

Cheers...