[Pelham]

A John Derbyshire golden oldie to ponder on Memorial Day.

[Irish Rose]

The United States will accelerate the resettlement of about 7,000 Iraqis referred by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and will contribute $18 million to the agency's appeal for Iraq, about one-third of the total, Undersecretary of State Paula J. Dobriansky said Wednesday. — Washington Post, 2/15/07 I hope it won't be thought impertinent, over-inquisitive, or — Heaven forfend! — mean-spirited of me to ask, but: Just what, exactly, are these refugees seeking refuge from? Us?

Note the date: February 2007. Now here's your answer: The Iraqis were seeking refuge from the jihadists, al-Qaeda terrorists, and Iranian lackeys who decided that they could beat America by slaughtering Iraqi civilians.

[BfloGuy]

It’s funny. About the only Derbyshire article I ever liked was the one that got him fired. This one’s nutty — but then so much of his writing was.

[USMCPOP]

Circa 1979/1980 I worked in some of the camps in Thailand to help resettle the refugees. Initially, you had to prove some military or civil connection as a reason to leave under duress. Later it was open to most anyone. I worked primarily with the Hmong hill tribes, but occasionally with the Lao or Cambodians or other hill tribes like the Mien. I mostly worked at the Ban Vinai camp in Loei province.

I’ve seen a few try to sneak through, mostly Thais posing as Lao. The real indigenous people really didn’t want to go, and I don’t blame them.

I have a problem with those who readily jump ship to go to a foreign land for their personal gain. I still want to go to that village in Iraq where my son was killed and have a few words with the elders.