We are in very large measure responsible for creating the refugee problem and because of this I think we should do a great deal more to help the refugees than just admitting 10,000 to the U.S.
It has been estimated on EuroNews that there could ultimately be as many as 4 million refugees. The debate in the U.S. should not be around whether and when to admit the 10,000. It should be around what to do about the 4 million.
Why do I think we are in large measure responsible for the refugee problem ? My reasons are given in the next three paragraphs.
In our efforts to make the Middle East a safer place, we invaded Iraq in 2003, thinking we could place a mighty American force between Iran and Syria, that would scare these countries into complying with our requirements. Also, it would remove Saddam Hussein, who was threatening Israel with weapons of mass destruction. However, the invasion did not turn out well and has cost us several trillion dollars and devastated Iraq and has created large numbers of Iraqi refugees. Our invasion also spawned ISIS, that was born in Iraq circa 2006 (see Wikipedia).
Then in 2011, after Syria had several years of bad harvests and high food prices, there was already considerable unrest. On top of that came the unrest caused by the Arab Spring. Based on this, we decided the time was ripe to topple the Assad regime, again with the purpose of making the Middle East a safer place. This time we were more cautious and did not put boots on the ground and have spent a great deal less money, and made use of proxies like Saudi Arabia to fund the rebels, but the Assad regime has turned out to be much more durable than we expected, and still continues to fight on. The consequence has been a civil war that has created huge numbers of refugees.
In addition, our Global War on Terror has helped to create large numbers of refugees from other countries, including Yemen, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, etcetera.
So, this is why it is accurate to state that we have played a very major role in creating massive numbers of refugees.
What can we do about the refugees at this point ? Most of the American public depends on information from a mainstream media that — for the most part — is a disgrace to the name of journalism, and has kept the public ignorant of the true dimensions of the refugee problem, and kept us ignorant of our role in creating the problem. In consequence, we have reactionary Republican politicians loudly obstructing the admission of 10,000 refugees, while in fact there are millions in need of refuge, as a consequence of our actions.
If you step beyond our mainstream media’s cursory coverage of events outside the U.S., and watch the much richer coverage of international news from reputable sources such as the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Euro News channel, and yes, Al Jazeera, you will have seen a horrible account of refugees suffering immense deprivations and brutal treatment in countries that lack the money or facilities to cope with hordes of destitute people.
In the short run, the United States lacks the capacity to absorb millions of refugees while properly screening out potential terrorists. In the longer run our government will face immense opposition from the reactionary politicians who dominate the Republican party if we try to admit large numbers of refugees, unless a major public relations campaign is mounted to silence the reactionaries and persuade the American public that admitting large numbers of refugees is the right thing to do.
In the very short run, the proper thing for us to do is to provide massive financial and logistical help to establish and fund adequate temporary refugee camps in countries willing to host them. This effort should be very rapidly deployed, and not be undermined by endless wrangling, and should in my view be led by a top U.S. army general with the logistic genius and diplomatic charm of a Dwight Eisenhower, who cannot easily be removed, with a broad mandate to commandeer resources. These camps should not be places that generate hopelessness and despair. They should provide decent housing, medical facilities, food, recreation, and policing that prevents ISIS and ISIS sympathizers from committing atrocities.
Above all the camps should be temporary and not be long term holding pens. In my most recent previous diary I described two alternative ways to empty the camps quickly and minimize the length of stay.
AFTERWORD:
The estimate of 4 million refugees is most likely a very flaky number. But even if the number is “only” 400,000, our offer to admit 10,000 is just a drop in the bucket, and we should hold ourselves responsible for doing much more.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is apparently spending a great deal of political capital and making a noble effort to absorb more refugees in Germany, in the face of very substantial opposition.
About two nights ago (somewhere like 11/17/2015) I saw King Abdullah of Jordan in a lengthy interview on Euronews stating that Jordan is currently bursting with refugees and is grossly underfunded and needs very substantial help from the international community to sustain the current numbers.
On EuroNews I have seen footage of ugly scenes in Hungary and Italy and France and other places where refugees are not being treated well. I have seen that poor Greece, financially already a mess, is flooded with refugees, and having great difficulties coping. I have seen that in most European countries there is no welcome mat.
Perhaps behind the scenes we are doing a great deal more to help the refugees than is apparent on the surface, through the State Department and other U.S. government agencies, and through the U.N., and through diplomacy with other countries. I certainly hope so.