Comments on: Left Behind

Scott Pelley On The Plight Of Iraqis Who Helped The U.S.

[johnsodc1]

This is in reference to the quote below.

Finally, our noble president has stated: "We will fight them there, so we don''t have to fight them here." Please don''t bring them here. Don''t even go there - until after there is a signed peace treaty."

Um, who declared war on who in this war? The Iraqis didn''t invite us to come over there and wreak havoc.

The Iraqis who were "left behind" were helping the U.S. military, not waging war on the U.S.

I''m not sure what the direct connection is between 9/11 and our war in Iraq. Actually, the havoc that the war has caused has probably made it easier for Al-Qaida to infiltrate Iraq.

[johnsodc1]

This is in reference to the quote below.

Finally, our noble president has stated: "We will fight them there, so we don''t have to fight them here." Please don''t bring them here. Don''t even go there - until after there is a signed peace treaty."

Um, who declared war on who in this war? The Iraqis didn''t invite us to come over there and wreak havoc.

The Iraqis who were "left behind" were helping the U.S. military, not waging war on the U.S.

I''m not sure what the direct connection is between 9/11 and our war in Iraq. Actually, the havoc that the war has caused has probably made it easier for Al-Qaida to infiltrate Iraq.

[csbhike]

I agree that we should help the Iraqis who helped America in Iraq. However, I want to point out an error in your thinking for this piece: America is there for the innocent Iraqis, not only for American interests, although our own interests are at stake in that region and we are protecting them. The way you phrased things is that these people are did the Americans a great service. No.

The Iraqis did their own people a great service by serving the Americans, and they are being victimized by the bad people in their society, which is who American soldiers are fighting. They helped the Americans who are helping their people. Our country has taken great losses in fighting for them. They are having to make sacrifices, too. That''s war.

You left out that very important aspect of the story. Was that to make your point? Well, in my book, that''s editorializing, not reporting. How about giving us all sides of a story?

[lrincover]

Those left behind; a disgrace to this administration. The vetting process is broken. I have the answer; they should come in through Mexico. Anyone can cross that border. And when they get here...... they stay with me.

[vuenbelvue]

Major General Eaton, retired, is one of the ongoing pension jumpers that has been created in this war. Go to Iraq, get your first star or second and retire to the good life and pretend to be an expert because of the star. It sickens me that these people have not learned from history. Here how it works with the modern defense department. Get bogged down with the weight of a army of beauracrats, less than 1 in 8 actually are combat dear citizens, then allow a few in the country as refugees. Than the exaulted Congress lets its State Department allow all the relatives in for the next twenty years. These people are not christian and resent us and our culture. I have already petitioned my VFW Post to write to the National and let them know we are against this. The idea of a billion dollar US Embasy is reason to know that the USA is not going anywhere, regardless of party affialition of the next President. Let these people stay in Saudi Arabia, Jordon, Iran, and the other Muslin countries. Totally wrong and an idiotic position to take by a ex General. I am ashamed of him.

[cch1957]

Ok..so these people have helped us and we can trust them. Why not bring them here or another country and have them continue to work against terrorism? Why can't several of them sit in a room with computers and take on the terrorist websites that do the recruiting? They already speak the right language. We could easily have one of our armed forces intelligence personel overseeing several computer operators. Why are they useless just because they are not serving the US in the same way??
cch

[lars008-2009]

***???? iraqi's don't want to and are not expected to fight and die for their country and liberty but the usa is???? send him to the front......... Patrick Henry
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! March 23, 1775

[loganfield]

Despite the merit of Scott Pelley's stories, he is becoming more the message than the messenger.

[bbrack3]

I agree with every word Kenmitchellz wrote. It amazes me how mean some of these comments are. Don't these people have any compassion in their hearts at all? These are the same types who would not allow the Jews to come in from Europe when Hitler was killing them. Shame! Shame! on you people. I asked Scott Pelley to let me know what I could do to sponsor these guys here in the States.

[kenmitchellz]

I opposed the war in Vietnam but I agree that those who helped the US should have been allowed to come to America. I also oppose the war in Iraq, but not Afghanistan. The Iraqis helped the US and are now maked for death. Of course the fact that Bush won't let them in doesn't surprise me, considering how he treats the wounded troops that were duped into doing his dirty work.

[marshamlow]

My problem is, why are they not in Iraq fighting for their country? The story is told in such a way as to imply that they (the Iraqis) helped us (the Americans), and now we owe them. The story says that they (Iraqis) believed in our(Americans) cause. This is a major problem in the war, the Iraqi people who agree with us, think this is our fight. Shouldn't they be thinking this is their country, their fight and we are there in Iraq to help them?

We have over a million men and women from America who have gone into Iraq and risked their lives. These are volunteers, people who want to make a difference for their country (America) and are willing to risk their lives because the yahoo's in Washington swear that fighting in Iraq will make America more safe. But, the young and healthy Iraqi's are unwilling to make that same commitment to their own country. These people are former translators, former truck drivers, former as in they are no longer helping us, they are now living in another country asking us to let they come live in America because we owe them for the help they gave to us. What about what they owe us? What about what every man, woman and child in Iraq owes us? There is no way we can ever stabilize this country until it becomes the Iraqi people versus the insurgents instead of the American military versus the insurgents.

[kerthialfad]

Regarding "Left Behind", I want to remind CBS that the refugees left Vietnam only after that war had ended, and the US Military was withdrawing. If we had brought in Vietnamese nationals while the conflict was in progress, there would have been a national uproar.
Besides, these Iraqis employed by the US military were paid for their service. It's not like they vounteered out of of love for America, nor was there a clause in their employment contracts which granted them an immigration visa.
Finally, our noble president has stated: "We will fight them there, so we don't have to fight them here." Please don't bring them here. Don't even go there - until after there is a signed peace treaty. Thank you.

[kerthialfad]

Regarding "Left Behind", I want to remind CBS that the refugees left Vietnam only after that war had ended, and the US Military was withdrawing. If we had brought in Vietnamese nationals while the conflict was in progress, there would have been a national uproar.
Besides, these Iraqis employed by the US military were paid for their service. It's not like they vounteered out of of love for America, nor was there a clause in their employment contracts which granted them an immigration visa.
Finally, our noble president has stated: "We will fight them there, so we don't have to fight them here." Please don't bring them here. Don't even go there - until after there is a signed peace treaty. Thank you.

[joshwalth]

To bring Iraq translators here is a ABSOLUTE joke! I am so sick and tired of everyone running to this country asking for pity. I did not want this war even from the start, and now there is a growing feeling that thousands of people should be brought into THIS country? Why should I be forced to deal with something that I did not believe in from the start? We already have an immigration problem, growing population numbers, and a country that is in need of some home repair, i.e. New Orleans! NOWAY should they be allowed to take up residence in the US. I rarely watch 60min and this one will be my last, since they report on only one side of the story.

[jebby_one]

"We must not abandon the translators who helped the American effort in Iraq. It more than unethical it is stupid!! This policy undermines our whole diplomatic effort in Iraq!!!

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During the Vietnam war the US did NOT encourage Vietnamese citizens to flee Vietnam. Yhe US assisted those fleeing for their lives AFTER the fall of the Saigon government ... not before.

America owes these peope. We owe them out best effort at preventing Iraq from becomming another Crazed Jihadist state. We should not be encouraging anyone to flee BEFORE the US abandons the hope for a free Iraq.

I realize that CBS and their Copperhead friends are encouraging a US surrender or withdrawal. But why would they want the Iraq people to abandon Iraq before the US does?

[sixminviewer]

What are other countries involved in the war doing to help the Iraqi translators?

[jebby_one]

" I'm a researcher who worked on this story. I want to thank everyone who wrote in expressing support for the Iraqis who have aided our troops...

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is CBS so anxious for a US surrender that they are encouraging the Iraq people to flee Iraq?

Our Vietnames friends did not flee Vietnam until AFTER the South Vietnamese government had fallen. To compare Vietnam to Iraq was not appropriate, except for someone wishing to undermine for a US defeat or surrender.

[dcmgbusacbs]

We must not abandon the translators who helped the American effort in Iraq. It more than unethical it is stupid!! This policy undermines our whole diplomatic effort in Iraq!!! It sends entirely the wrong message to the Islamic world. If we hope to engage is successful diplomacy, we must be trusted by the Islamic countries. Our word must be good, it is the currency of diplomacy, and must be backed up!!! The people must be allowed to emigate to the United State if they so desire!!! A superior policy, in this reagrd would be to advocate for these people for integration of these people into the new Iraqi society without fear of reprisals!!! To abandon these people now to their own devices is create potenitiatal enemies of former friends!!!!The policy that is both sensible and humame and ethical is to advocate for the former translors for integration into the new Iraqi society through dipolatic efforts on part of the United State and let hem imigrate to the United States if they so desire. This policy will demonstate that we do not abandon our friends when we think it is convienient to do so and will stand us in good stead to be trusted to keep our commitments made through dipolmatic efforts. LETTING THE FORMER TRANLATORS EMIGRATE HERE, WITHOUT A LOT OF RED TAPE, WILL FURTHUR THE CAUSE OF PEACE IN IRAQ!!!!

[jebby_one]

We owe these people respect, but weren't they also working in hope of a free Iraq?

Why does CBS portray the US abandonment of Iraq as a done deal? Has CBS been holding secret meetings with Democrat copperheads?

The hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people who came to the US did so AFTER the fall of the South Vietnames government. Before that it was ILLEGAL for many Vietnamese to abandon Vietnam during their war against the Communist.
To compare the Vietnam refugees to our Iraqui friends is not an even match.

[amelia-t]

Hello,

I'm a researcher who worked on this story. I want to thank everyone who wrote in expressing support for the Iraqis who have aided our troops.

I met many Iraqi translators, drivers, and houskeepers. Their families are often the targets of retaliation, and because of their work, they have lost brothers, sisters, and parents. Many have lost arms and legs in the IED attacks against the US troops.


For anyone who is interested in making a difference in the lives of these Iraqis and other refugees, write to your senators and representatives immediately.

In the next two weeks, congress will decide how much money to spend on Iraqi refugees. It will be part of the supplemental budget request.

Tell your senators and representatives that 3.7 million Iraqis have been displaced inside and outside of their country. This is the largest refugee crisis in the middle east since 1948. Tell your congressmen you support Refugees International and other aid organizations in their request for 390 million dollars to help Iraqi refugees.

It's just a first step, but it will help.