Iraqi translators campaign update
I recently wrote of a blog-campaign to petition the government to help save Iraqis who helped the British military. As with other bloggers, I believe it is our moral obligation to help those who are most likely to face reprisals from the Al-Qaeda insurgents. Yesterday the campaign became bigger, with The Times making it a front-page story.
The BBC is now reporting that Gordon Brown has said he will look into it. Good, but not good enough.
Dan Hardie wants people to post responses from their MPs, so we can list supporters of this campaign and those who don’t care. Chickyog has a list so far. If any of you received a reply, please post it below and I’ll update this post.
Do sign the Petition if you haven’t already.
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Filed in: Middle East
here’s my moan about it
http://desicritics.org/2007/08/08/000700.php
I replied on ChickYog that I’d received a reply, will post anything further here and there if and when I get it.
Even though Brown statement doesn’t go far enough it’s a good sign that he’s having to even comment.
I think it shows that this issue is being taken seriously as a news item and that the letter writing from our MPs to relevant ministers is having an affect.
i’m happy to sign the petition
: my question is to those who put it in the ‘moral obligation’ light – is it Also not our MOral Obligation to put up a petition to bring back the troops? or to help save other iraqis who have also suffered? just because they might not have worked for the Allies is then not our moral obligation to help them? where are we drawing the lines in understanding ‘moral obligation’ – are we doing that with a human- understanding, or because we are british and we owe it to them, or what?
so i should suggest using the media campaign style ( which obviously does seem to get attention) to ask Gordon to show some sense and get the troops out of Iraq.
is it not our “moral obligation”?
{ perhaps we can have a ‘which is more moral competition’ – which i am not at all interested in }- so lets go ahead and press for all of these ‘moral’ things.
Sonia
Say it loud and say it proud because as yet, you’re the only one to be talking any sense on this tread. I really do question our whole sense of how we as members of the coalition of the willing, judge our “moral obligations” to the people of Iraq. Hell, we have people in Surrey who won’t even extend the hand of kindness to their own. I for one won’t be fooled by Brown’s change of tone for the simple reason that it is lacking in substance.
Sunny
Not all of the Iraqi insurgents are members of Al-Qaeda. In fact, many of the insurgents are the sworn enemy of Al-Qaeda. Alas all insurgents in Iraq do share a single goal. They would all like to see the backs of American and British occupying forces from Iraq.
I’m a bit confused about where the clearing house is for these MPs’ replies – I seem to have pasted mine in about six places – but here’s the link:- http://rosiebell.typepad.com/rosiebell/2007/08/blog-appeal-2.html
I got a response this morning from my MP (Wayne David, Caerphilly).
An Iraqi Interpreter’s Story
By Michael J. Totten
http://www.michaeltotten.com/
This is all so much chest beating, over 90 Iraqi people and their immediate families. What about those many millions who are left behind to die or rot at home or as refugees in Iran, Syria etc?
And don’t talk to me about David Lammy and Patrica Hewitt…..