Iraqis Held in U.S. May Be Freed
By Jeff Wong
Associated Press Writer
Saturday, June 12, 1999; 6:07 a.m. EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Five former Iraqi military officers who claimed they fought Saddam Hussein and then spent 2 1/2 years in custody fighting deportation from the United States are happy to finally be getting out of jail.
``The system here is good, but the people who represent (the government) have brought shame to this country,'' said Mohammed Jwer Abboud Al-Ammary, a former military cargo plane pilot.
The Iraqis may stay in Nebraska until a friendly country agrees to accept them, a judge ruled Friday. A sixth Iraqi refused the agreement, the end to a saga that began in 1996 when the U.S. airlifted 6,500 Iraqis from Turkey following a failed coup in Iraq.
The men's families were granted asylum, but immigration authorities sought deportation and claimed they were spies for Hussein.
The men said they were grateful for the efforts to free them, especially those of former CIA Director James Woolsey, now a private lawyer. But they also feel betrayed by the U.S. government, which they say promised asylum.
Immigration Judge D.D. Sitgraves denied the men asylum in March 1998 and ordered them deported, saying they could be double agents. The men claimed they would be executed if sent home.
Lemme see if I got this right: In 1993 Resident Bentwick spent between $4000-$7000 each
to accommodate [Iraqi]
combatants who participated in the "rape of Kuwait," while 8.9 million jobless Americans cannot afford the basic necessities of life, and then in 1998 his INS deported 6,500 Iraqis who (in 1996) had been airlifted from Turkey following a failed coup in Iraq.
The men's families were granted asylum, but immigration authorities sought deportation and claimed they were spies for Hussein. The men said they were grateful for the efforts to free them, especially those of former CIA Director James Woolsey, now a private lawyer. But they also feel betrayed by the U.S. government, which they say promised asylum.
Immigration Judge D.D. Sitgraves denied the men asylum in March 1998 and ordered them deported, saying they could be double agents. The men claimed they would be executed if sent home.
OK, it's possible that ALL of both groups are either innocent asylum seekers or evil double agents or that there's a mix of both in one or both groups.
I just find it interesting that Slick brought over--and paid for--a bunch of guys who participated in the "rape of Kuwait" and then had his INS deport a bunch of guys who at least appear to have participated in a coup against Saddam.
I agree with you that Saddam may already have his delivery system prepositioned in the U.S., at U.S. taxpayer expense. I guess it's just another of Slick's bureaucratic SNAFUs, mistakes were made. Again. And this time we're facing smallpox or nukes as a result.