feeling the heat
feeling the heat Tensions boil over at Iraq meeting By Weam Namou Things became so heated at a June 1 town hall meeting on Iraq that the speakers, members of the U.S. State Department, had to be escorted out by police officers. This was the second time Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michael Corbin and his colleagues addressed the community. Their first visit in December 2009 was met with noncooperation and some hostility, but the tempers of many audience members really boiled over this time. Corbin was accompanied by Lawrence Bartlett, Deputy Director of the Office of Refugee Admissions. Hundreds of Chaldeans jammed the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy for the event. “This is an opportunity to have an exchange about Iraq,” said Corbin, “a subject I know you care much about, as I do.” He emphasized that the Obama Administration is very committed to a partnership with Iraq as they bring the troops home; by late August only 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in the country. “Although security is still a vital issue and we continue to work on making conditions better in Iraq, we also want to focus on building the economy in order to move from a security-dominated relationship to a relationship dominated by health, education and culture,” Corbin said. Corbin said the U.S. administration wants Iraq to return to where it was in the 1950s and ‘60s, when it had the best universities, hospitals and cultural centers in the Middle East. “We want to focus on the future of Iraq and its success so people can return to Iraq and contribute to rebuild it,” he said. Bartlett said that while last year the United States admitted 75,000 Iraqi refugees — more than all other countries in the world combined, he said — the ultimate goal is to help these people return to Iraq. At first, it appeared that the crowd of about 1,000 Iraqi-Americans was listening patiently while Corbin discussed such issues building up a U.S. embassy presence in Iraq, placing more U.S. civilians to work there, and the importance of optimism. But it quickly became apparent during the question and answer session that many in the audience were furious about the recent wave of deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (see related story, page 18). Photos By David Reed “My son was just sent to Iraq to get killed!” one man shouted. “Do you understand?” People cheered and clapped. What followed was an ongoing angry verbal rampage through the tears and screams of relatives whose fathers, husbands, sons or brothers have recently been deported to Iraq. Some of the comments: • “You’re here talking about Iraq when Iraq is over and done with. My son was sent back to a country without a government. He doesn’t even know how to speak Arabic! What will happen to him there?” • “Shame on you for this decision!” • “Saddam slaughtered us in Iraq and the U.S. is slaughtering us here!” • “Saddam only executed those who assaulted him, not just anyone!” • “America stole our oil and did nothing good!” Above and left: Audience members vent their frustration. Bottom left: People stayed to talk to the media after police escorted the speakers out. Below: A beleaguered Michael Corbin talks to the crowd. To calm the atmosphere, interpreter Dunya Mikhael suggested that Corbin speak into the microphone, “Dialogue! Dialogue!” He took her advice, but was silenced by people hollering, “Sit down! Sit down!” It was obvious that the fire wasn’t going to be put out as more and more stood up and, clustering together, accused the panel of lies, not caring and not helping. “They’re feeding us this wonderful hot-air stuff,” said immigration attorney Eman Jajonie-Daman. “Meanwhile, they’re shipping people to a volatile country. The men who have committed crimes have long ago paid their dues to society and have been clean ever since. We can’t condemn them for life.” “I went to a priest for help and all he said to me is ‘son, I’ll pray for you,’” said one man. “I have a wife and children. Sending me back will destroy our whole family. What good is there in that?” 20 CHALDEAN NEWS JULY 2010
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