Interpreters who helped U.S. in Afghanistan denied needed Visas; U.S. says they face no threat when - Polidicks

[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-afghanistan-interpreters-who-helped-us-in-war-denied-visas-us-says-they-face-no-threat/2013/11/10/af7acfc8-4180-11e3-b028-de922d7a3f47_story.html?hpid=z1[/url] [QUOTE]KABUL — A growing number of Afghan interpreters who worked alongside American troops are being denied U.S. visas allotted by Congress because the State Department says there is no serious threat against their lives. But the interpreters, many of whom served in Taliban havens for years, say U.S. officials are drastically underestimating the danger they face. Immigration attorneys and Afghan interpreters say the denials are occurring just as concerns about Taliban retribution are mounting due to the withdrawal of U.S. forces. “There are tons of Talibs in my village, and they all know that I worked with the Americans,” said one interpreter, Mohammad, who asked that his last name not be published for security reasons. “If I can’t go to the States, my life is over. I swear to God, one day the Taliban will catch me.” Mohammad received a U.S. form letter saying he had failed to establish that there was a “serious threat” against his life. He had explained in his application that the Taliban had spotted him on the job and spread word in his village that he was a wanted man. In one particularly dangerous assignment, he was asked to mediate between U.S. soldiers and locals after an American convoy ran over and killed an Afghan child, he said.[/QUOTE] Win hearts and minds by throwing allies under the bus, villagers, nations whatever.

Same with the Doctor who helped the CIA in confirming the location of Bin Laden. We have a terrible track record of leaving people out to dry.

[URL="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/takingnames/"]This has happened before.[/URL] What his surviving relatives must feel....that must be the truest sense of betrayal.

Christ I would love to be an ally of America's government. America's government is so trustworthy and loyal all the time.

[QUOTE=snookypookums;42827686][URL="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/takingnames/"]This has happened before.[/URL] What his surviving relatives must feel....that must be the truest sense of betrayal.[/QUOTE] Wow... the emails from the US shows just they're incompetent.. Then the death certificates, holy shit

I mean the criticism really writes itself with the U.S., doesn't it

Gotta love the good ol' Us of dicks A. Really come on give these guys visas they went alongside the troops so they should have the same considerations as well for their safety and the help they provided for out troops, after this about no other person in any other country probably will not help us.

I read about this a while back and it's one of the most disgraceful things I've ever heard of, but know that it's pretty unique to this administration. There has never been this problem before based on what I've read.

[QUOTE=sgman91;42829359]I read about this a while back and it's one of the most disgraceful things I've ever heard of, but know that it's pretty unique to this administration. There has never been this problem before based on what I've read.[/QUOTE] Should I assume the implication here is that, whoever it was that made the decision within the state department, this is somehow the fault of the President or the Cabinet? That seems an oddly specific criticism otherwise. I mean if it's anyone's fault in the 'administration' proper then it's John Kerry, but I somehow doubt he ordered this.

There's a difference between a normal US policy, such as not negotiating with terrorists, and an administration specific policy. This happens to be the latter. I'm simply clarifying the issue at hand, not blaming any specific person.

It's really hard for me to grasp how a first world country such as America is so atrociously shitty regarding these things.

[QUOTE=sgman91;42830373]There's a difference between a normal US policy, such as not negotiating with terrorists, and an administration specific policy. This happens to be the latter. I'm simply clarifying the issue at hand, not blaming any specific person.[/QUOTE] I suppose so, but what is the policy? That the situation in Afghanistan is no longer dangerous?

The fact that this has been in the public eye for over a year, at least, and nothing has been done to remedy the situation leads me believe that even the highest people in the administration agree with the policy. All it would take is a quick executive order and all these people would be safe in the US within the week.

[QUOTE=sgman91;42830402]The fact that this has been in the public eye for over a year, at least, and nothing has been done to remedy the situation leads me believe that even the highest people in the administration agree with the policy. All it would take is a quick executive order and all these people would be safe in the US within the week.[/QUOTE] That or they just don't care.

[QUOTE=sgman91;42830402]The fact that this has been in the public eye for over a year, at least, and nothing has been done to remedy the situation leads me believe that even the highest people in the administration agree with the policy. All it would take is a quick executive order and all these people would be safe in the US within the week.[/QUOTE] Logical.

[QUOTE=rsa1988;42829107] ol' Us of dicks As.[/QUOTE] I mean I agree with your post but what is this

It's this kind of shit that lead to the creation of Al Queda when we fucked over a certain Bin Laden.

It's almost as if they're trying to create terrorists.

[QUOTE=breakyourfac;42832451]It's almost as if they're trying to create terrorists.[/QUOTE] To be fair, they are. That's america's ultimate goal, creating enemies that are impossible to eradicate so they can enforce "security" measures on their own people, while funding their bloated military.

[QUOTE=Miskav;42833097]To be fair, they are. That's america's ultimate goal, creating enemies that are impossible to eradicate so they can enforce "security" measures on their own people, while funding their bloated military.[/QUOTE] I was going to post about how war creates jobs and shit but I didn't want people to think I was a conspiracy theorist. I agree partly.

[QUOTE=Miskav;42833097]To be fair, they are. That's america's ultimate goal, creating enemies that are impossible to eradicate so they can enforce "security" measures on their own people, while funding their bloated military.[/QUOTE] pretty sure that the reality of the situation lies within the fact that questionable past US foreign policy decisions drove people with radical ideologies to retaliate against said decisions in the present. it isn't like the government is deliberately trying to turn the nation into a police state, but some dumb moves in the middle east have ultimately forced us into a corner where we have to decide between security and liberty. it's easy to say that you'd rather keep your personal freedoms over your own safety now, but you probably wouldn't be saying the same thing if there was a bomb threat on your friends'/family's place of work. just trying to put things into perspective.

[QUOTE=snookypookums;42827686][URL="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/takingnames/"]This has happened before.[/URL] What his surviving relatives must feel....that must be the truest sense of betrayal.[/QUOTE] That segment is exactly the first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title. This is basically just American officials not wanting to allow Muslims from countries the US is fighting wars in to immigrate to the US. These people end up being murdered as collaborators because the State Department is lazy, incompetent, and to at least some degree, xenophobic. I guess it goes to show what kind of treatment you can expect if you work for the US when they come to invade your country next.

[QUOTE=Miskav;42833097]To be fair, they are. That's america's ultimate goal, creating enemies that are impossible to eradicate so they can enforce "security" measures on their own people, while funding their bloated military.[/QUOTE] Hanlon's Razor. somebody is no doubt benefiting from it but it's still far more likely to be the result of incompetence than a conspiracy

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;42835729]That segment is exactly the first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title. This is basically just American officials not wanting to allow Muslims from countries the US is fighting wars in to immigrate to the US. These people end up being murdered as collaborators because the State Department is lazy, incompetent, and to at least some degree, xenophobic. I guess it goes to show what kind of treatment you can expect if you work for the US when they come to invade your country next.[/QUOTE] What was really sad in Omar's case was that they were unable to shift him, even to Jordan, where he could complete the rest of his immigration processing. He could've been allowed to safely proceed with his application from there as long as he was out of Iraq and they couldn't even give him that. After I read that and heard the episode, my blood was boiling. He was beheaded just waiting for a fucking response from them. People wonder how terrorists are born - here's a cause, the relatives and children of men and women betrayed like this by believing that they have a saviour.

[QUOTE=snookypookums;42835899]What was really sad in Omar's case was that they were unable to shift him, even to Jordan, where he could complete the rest of his immigration processing. He could've been allowed to safely proceed with his application from there as long as he was out of Iraq and they couldn't even give him that. After I read that and heard the episode, my blood was boiling. He was beheaded just waiting for a fucking response from them. People wonder how terrorists are born - here's a cause, the relatives and children of men and women betrayed like this by believing that they have a saviour.[/QUOTE] Also, why the fuck should anyone in the middle east help the US army with interpreting/translation ever again if they're going to be left behind to die? It sets a disgusting standard

[QUOTE=snookypookums;42835899] He was beheaded just waiting for a fucking response from them. People wonder how terrorists are born - here's a cause, the relatives and children of men and women betrayed like this by believing that they have a saviour.[/QUOTE] To alot of people the Republican saying "They hate us cus they hate us" is more comforting than the idea of the US being at fault.

[QUOTE=sgman91;42829359]There has never been this problem before based on what I've read.[/QUOTE] Sorry, but then I don't think you've been reading much. Very few interpreters have ever been brought back, be it during WW2, the Korean War, Vietnam, or the Gulf. The problem isn't Obama cackling evilly at the thought of the Taliban executing interpreters for helping us while they are denied passports, it's the miles and miles of red tape involved in bringing a completely foreign person into the US and providing government assistance to actually give them a life once they get here. Not to mention needing to provide for their family as well, and then THAT opens up a can of worms with all the security. Maybe the interpreter is one of our most valuable assets, but his wife's brother is working for the Taliban and might be using her to get access to US personnel. Maybe the interpreter himself has suspicious ties, and may have been working with us just to seek intel. Someone has to work these things out and it takes time and money, two things we don't have. Look into previous conflicts and you'll see the same themes repeated over and over again. It's a shame to look at Vietnam alone and how many close allies in South Vietnam were executed or imprisoned after the North took over, simply because we didn't have the resources or coordination to get them out in time. It's a totally fucked situation but it's not a new one and it's not an easy one to resolve, especially with the inevitable bureaucratic incompetence that goes into any organized system.

Does anyone else find it ironic that when Snowden and Manning blew all those whistles, the US started screaming about how it put hundreds of US informants in danger. Aaand... then there's this.

[QUOTE=catbarf;42836104]Sorry, but then I don't think you've been reading much. Very few interpreters have ever been brought back, be it during WW2, the Korean War, Vietnam, or the Gulf. The problem isn't Obama cackling evilly at the thought of the Taliban executing interpreters for helping us while they are denied passports, it's the miles and miles of red tape involved in bringing a completely foreign person into the US and providing government assistance to actually give them a life once they get here. Not to mention needing to provide for their family as well, and then THAT opens up a can of worms with all the security. Maybe the interpreter is one of our most valuable assets, but his wife's brother is working for the Taliban and might be using her to get access to US personnel. Maybe the interpreter himself has suspicious ties, and may have been working with us just to seek intel. Someone has to work these things out and it takes time and money, two things we don't have. Look into previous conflicts and you'll see the same themes repeated over and over again. It's a shame to look at Vietnam alone and how many close allies in South Vietnam were executed or imprisoned after the North took over, simply because we didn't have the resources or coordination to get them out in time. It's a totally fucked situation but it's not a new one and it's not an easy one to resolve, especially with the inevitable bureaucratic incompetence that goes into any organized system.[/QUOTE] You're right - but this can also be argued on the point of "Why did the Americans promise them this if they knew they could not deliver once the job was done?" Either way you look at it, they [I]used[/I] these people and left them to die, so despite their valid reason which impedes their ability to help, they are still responsible for their deaths.

[QUOTE=Keys;42836184]Does anyone else find it ironic that when Snowden and Manning blew all those whistles, the US started screaming about how it put hundreds of US informants in danger. Aaand... then there's this.[/QUOTE] All the government wants to do is point fingers to try and make their image look less bad. It's the terrorists, it's the media, it's Obama, it's Snowden, ect. Unfortunately all it does is make the government look worse anyway.