U.S Allies in Iraq Waiting to Be Saved...Still Waiting

Iraqis who helped the U.S. during and after our government's invasion of Iraq are learning just what Vietnamese helped the U.S government during the Vietnam war learned. Those who stuck their necks out while the U.S. military ran the show in their country simply can't pull their necks back fast enough after the U.S. military leaves. And as they petition the U.S government for help - a natural response amidst the growing danger of their present situation - it seems those Iraqis got a similar response that many Vietnamese "allies" got after the U.S. government decided it was through with their country. At best, we can call this an unintended consequence of war. At the least, we should recognize that - even with the best intentions - war isn't something to enter into lightly. Not saying the U.S. government decided to make war on Iraq without some forethought. But was there really enough thought given to all that a war over there would entail? Do the results of that war seem worth the blood and treasure expended?

In any case, in the case of those Iraqis who assisted that war effort, it's really sad to see this, but all so predictable:

After a half-decade of service to America, Omar applied for a refugee visa in June 2011, six months before President Obama announced the end of the war. For 12 months, he sent increasingly anxious appeals to our government, relaying death threats that he had received, and begging to be evacuated to Jordan. But all he received were auto-replies from the State Department, asking him for information that he had already submitted.

In July 2012, shortly after finishing a meal with his wife and 5-year-old son, Omar stepped outside to take a phone call. His decapitated body was found a couple of hours later. At the funeral, his brother received a death threat. When his widow and child returned to their home, they, too, found a death threat.

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