letter to USA Today regarding 'Iraq's refugee crisis offers problem, opportunity for U.S.'

Iraq's refugee crisis offers problem, opportunity for U.S.

Architects of the Iraq war planned for many things that didn't happen and didn't plan for many things that did. One of the things that didn't happen, at least not right away, was a refugee crisis. In fact, from the fall of Saddam Hussein in early 2003 through 2005, about 300,000 Iraqis returned to their homeland from other countries.

Dear Editor,

Interesting that you mention the Palestinians to illustrate the tragedy and danger of Iraq's growing refugee crisis. But what a shame you did not advocate that we kick start peace by demanding that Israel respect international and moral law by fully respecting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Resolution 194, both from 1948 and both clearly spelling out the Palestinian refugees inalienable right to return to original homes and lands.... Not more forced transfer or terror tactics to push targeted ethnic and religious groups into exile, detention camps and despair but true return with true respect for the rule of fair and just laws.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relief agencies, several hundred Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes in Iraq are now stranded in desolate areas on the Syrian and Jordanian borders. And every day in the illegally occupied territories Israel continues to attack Palestinian homes and communities- and refugee camps. This situation is absolutely insane and wrong!

Rather than shuffling these victims of multiple wars and bigotry from one bleak camp to another our highest priority should be to make sure that the children of Palestine are safe and respected in their country of origin no matter what it is named. Personally I think it should be called Palestine for ALL the people as the past 60 years of sovereign "Israel" have been nothing but an investment in institutionalized bigotry, injustice, escalating violence and punitive apartheid all along.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab