The List: A Mission To Save Iraqi Lives

Branded As Collaborators By Insurgents, Many Iraqis Who Helped The U.S. Face Grave Danger

(CBS)  The refugee crisis in Iraq is among the biggest humanitarian emergencies in the world. Millions of Iraqis have fled the war, many marked for death because they worked for the United States. They were translators, office workers, many other things, but now the enemy has branded them as collaborators.

When that happened in Vietnam, the U.S. brought more than 100,000 refugees to the states. But today, the U.S. government, which was so desperate for Iraqi workers, is not so eager to help them now.

As correspondent Scott Pelley reports, one young American named Kirk Johnson has jumped into this breach. All he wanted to do was rescue one of his Iraqi co-workers. When he did, a thousand more pleaded for help and Johnson began "the list."

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"The people on my list have been tortured, they've been raped, they've lost body limbs. There's one guy on my list who's been thrown out of a moving vehicle. And all of this because they helped us. They came every single day to try to pitch in, in our efforts there," Johnson tells Pelley.

Johnson says we owe these Iraqis "speedy resettlement" in the United States.

The U.S. failed to grant that speedy resettlement. So Johnson has taken it upon himself to plead the cases of some of an estimated 100,000 Iraqis who worked for America.

"These are the names, the supporting documents, the recommendation letters, the cell phones, every bit of information that we could compile to help the government live up to their obligation to these people and help resettle them," he says.

A binder holds the list of nearly 1,000 Iraqis Johnson is trying to get into the U.S. He gets Iraqis free lawyers, helps them navigate the system, and pleads their cases to the State Department, with praise from their former American employers.

And the binder is filled with the threats written by the enemy that make life in Iraq impossible.

"In the name of Allah, who kills the tyrants. This is your last warning," Pelley reads from one warning.

"Yeah, 'And to all those who work or cooperate with the pagan occupation forces we are running out of patience and our hearts are full of hatred,'" Johnson adds.

Threats like that have pushed four million Iraqis from their homes. About a million of them are hiding in neighboring Jordan, where 60 Minutes traveled to meet some of the people sending Johnson desperate e-mails by the thousands.

"The most common subject line that I get is simply 'Help,'" Johnson says.

"You know, I wonder how you feel when someone sends you an e-mail that says 'My life is in your hands,'" Pelley asks.

"What can you do? All I can do is…," he replies as his phone rings.

His cell phone number was new. But, within hours, word spread that the keeper of the list was in town and the phone kept ringing. Johnson is something like what Oskar Schindler was to Jews in Nazi Germany.

"All these people who are calling you, they seem so desperate, almost as if just seeing you would better their chance somehow," Pelley remarks.

"Yeah and I wish that were the case. I'm already doing everything I can," Johnson says.

"But you're all they've got," Pelley says.

"It's pretty sad," Johnson says. "I still hope that that's not the case. I have to believe that they have the power of the U.S. government living up to its word."

[vuenbelvue]

Millions of Muslins are eager to immigrate to the US for one reason. That reason is to make the US similiar to the country they are immigrating from. They have been taught from birth that the US is the big "Satan".
Don''t let these "Super Liberals" fail their country by following the line of One worlders to to push immigration for these people.
As a war veteran I have seen other soldiers get weak and feel that they have to help these people who "helped" the US leave their country of origin and come to the US. They were doing what they had to do to feed themselves or their family and don''t care about your rights as a American citizen. They want to legal invade this country. Let the US pay them a pension where they can live in another Muslin country or the same one in a different city. The US is in the throes of a recession and we don''t need to lose touch and fall for this petty high school emotion. Say no to them. NO

[apsara101]

The U.S./CIA did the same thing to the Hmong during the Secret War in Laos. They betrayed them and left them behind to die.


General Vang Pao%u2019s Last War
By TIM WEINER

The wars of the 20th century destroyed many millions of people who once lived in the hillsides and valleys of remote rural worlds. Few were hit as hard as the Hmong, an ancient tribe whose members hewed out rough lives upcountry in Laos, west of Vietnam. Half a century ago, Laos became a cockpit of the cold war. The Hmong, led by a charismatic soldier named Vang Pao, sided with the United States in the fight against Communism in Southeast Asia. They lost everything %u2014 their land, their way of life, their country.

Now the war on terror has engulfed Vang Pao in his land of exile, California. It has given him cause to question his faith in America. Last year, the United States indicted the 78-year-old general as a terrorist, accusing him of plotting to overthrow the Communist government of Laos. His prosecutors painted him as a Laotian bin Laden; they said he conspired %u201Cto murder thousands and thousands of people.%u201D In open court, they called the case a conspiracy as immense as the attacks of Sept. 11. Few former friends of American foreign interests have fallen further from favor in Washington%u2019s eyes."

[zikoelton]

Dear 60 Minutes,

I am an American citizen who worked as an Arabic translator with the FBI for two years in Washington DC (WFO) then sudenly I was unjustly eliminated for no reason at all in spite of my outstanding anual reports. Then as a loyal and honest American I went to Iraq risking my life to translate for our troops there, I earned over a dozen letters of recommendation for my outstanding performance in translating secret documents and interpreting meetings with Iraqi sources who got killed later on for working with us and because we did not care about them. I served three years and a half all over Iraq saved lives as a result of my translation and endangered my life, that is all for America my beloved country, but as a result and a reward for my services I am being chased by the IRS to collect taxes from me during my service in a war zone like Iraq. Since I was unjustly eliminated from the FBI, I moved from the US and lived overseas because I was very disappointed, I have no house I do not live in any State and yet they keep contacting my sister and harassing her just because I gave her address as my mailing address, she kept explaining to them that I served in Iraq for three years and a half and do not live in the US any more, but they still insist on harassing her.
"Shame on you America"

[cespy1]

We are working on speaking with Members of Congress about passage of the technical fix for Special Immigrant Visas for Iraqis. The U.S. government allows approximately 12,000 per year to enter the U.S. and we are not reaching this goal. They were the people who helped us the most during the war such as the translators and drivers. We should not turn our backs on them at the very moment they need our help. Sadly, your story was true and timely. Thank you for shedding light on this travesty.

Charisse Espy Glassman
Director Government and Public Affairs
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

[rberg0011]

Like many of your viewers I was very disturbed by the story about the Iraqi citizens who have collaborated with the United States in Iraq. One question I have though, and I hope I''m asking this in an objective way, if they had a choice of going back to Iraq and there was no threat of reprisal or emigrate to the USA which would they choose? - Thanks, Bob in Florida

[icele2]

This was a terrible story!

1. We allowed in from 100k from Vietnam AFTER WE SURRENDERED TO THE NORTH!!!
2. How can the people of Iraq win if those who help us leave?
3. Talk to a soldier and get a free ticket to the US??? I''m sure there''s no fraud here!!!

It''s sad that Iraq is in the state it is, but we should be helping them take back their own homes, not helping them give them to terrorists.

But I guess that''s what 60 Minutes does.

[zuhairtreps]

I hope every body in US to hear my voice because I facing abig problem..
you know I''m working with the American forces since 2003 untill Des.2007 but I not get refugee to US and my life its so dangerous in my home ..
so, PLEASE if there is any body can to help my please contact with my on my e-mail and I have every thing to proof my speech

[zuhairtreps]

I hope every body in US to hear my voice because I facing abig problem..
you know I''m working with the American forces since 2003 untill Des.2007 but I not get refugee to US and my life its so dangerous in my home ..
so, PLEASE if there is any body can to help my please contact with my on my e-mail and I have every thing to proof my speech

[henry1044]

they deserve all the help we can give them.they are risking their lives for GOD SAKE do-not let them die.

[bahjat1]

FIrst of all I am Iraqi. Second I''m really thankful for what this great guy is doing to the people like me. I worked in Iraq with the U.S contractors and I was lucky because I ended here with help from the U.S embassy. anyway, I contacted this person while I was in Iraq and he tried to help me but He could not. So please I want everybody to understand people like us are not able to live in Iraq anymore.. I wish if we get more support from the americans

[sallison7]

I do feel sorry for these Iraqi people B U T we can''t take care of our very own V E T S !!! So how do you reasonably feel we should take care of these when we cannot take car of our very own people SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT !

[tads777]

I''m sorry if my show of compassion for the Iraqi people who have helped our brave men and women fight this awful war, came across as diminishing their sacrifice or their families sacrifice. That of course, was not my intention. My point was that this should not be a political issue, but a humanitarian issue. I too believe we have many issues facing our own people here at home that should be addressed and yes, I do contribute in my own small way to try and help, as we all should. In no way am I comparing it to the sacrifice that our soldiers and their families have made. I just choose to believe that not all Iraqis are terrorists and there are those that live there that did not ask for nor deserve what is happening to them. Just as we didn''t deserve what happened to us. If we can also help those who have helped us in this war, why is that wrong? I don''t pretend to know all the answers, but I do know that love and compassion is a much better alternative to hatred.

[shelleydaly]

Are you kidding me??? We went to Iraq to "free the people and show them how great Democracy is." Now, the Iraqis who helped us are living in cramped quarters in countries where they can''t work, using up their life savings and having horrible lives.

[jhbrn]

"After 25 years work in healthcare and a partial lobectomy in 2002,ive seen enuf of the poorest and neediest born in the usa,scam the taxpayer"

Another point made...
We have enough deadbeats here and we don''t need any more of them. For every one of them your big heart allows in, you increase the chances of terrorism right here. They are traitors to their country and who is to say they won''t be traitors to ours?

"Thanks to your story these good people will live as Americans and I would be proud to have them as neighbors"

But, you can be their neighbors. Last I heard they still needed help over there. Why aren''t you there being their neighbor? Isn''t that nice of you and others here to *** our country that has stayed strong and kept us safe in our little homes while other people go out and risk their lives to keep you safe. What have you done for your freedom? What have you given? It''s time you step up to the plate too.....go over there and show us what you got. Hiding here in this forum is NOT doing them any justice. Step up. Go forward. Get on that plane and go help them.

[jhbrn]

"I hate to burst a bubble here, but as Iraqis these people belong in Iraq, especially if they are pro west or pro democracy.
I sugest that 100 percent of their oil revenue is allocated to support and resituate these people, until this crisis is solved.
If they are so threatened by their neighbours, the Iraqi government should build them a brand new city. They should turn this situation into an opportunity. Build a planned city, like Brasilia in Brasil, a futuristic one, that has electricity, sanitation, water and modern infrastructure.
Unrealistic? Why? This country is potentially filthy rich. The fourth biggest oil reserves in the world says it4s possible. Think big. "

Another EXACTLY

[tads777]

I''d like to make a correction to my previous post. It was Kirk Johnson that I meant to commend for his actions, not the reporter Mr. Pelly. However, I also commend Mr. Pelly for such a revealing story.
Sorry for the mix up.

[jhbrn]

"Instead, I was again reminded of how some Americans are so blinded by their political parties views or their prejudices that they can''''t appreciate the amazing sacrifice these people have made"

TADS77,
I am not blinded by political parties. I *** Bush and never voted for him to be in office. Who did you vote for? Who are you voting for? I guarantee you that the winner is going to be another SNAKE. Be careful. In my opinion you are the one that is blinded. It is because of the love and blindness of people like you that the terrorists were allowed in this country to learn to fly our planes and attack us.

Keep the love coming! Why don''t YOU go over there to help them. The answer is not to bring the cowards here, it is to help them make their country the way they want. Last I heard, they needed more help there. Have you contributed? My children have! I know what is going on over there. You are the one that is blinded. We have been trying to teach these people since before this present war and THEY DON''T GET IT! It''s their problem! They need to fix their own country and maybe take a second look at their religion and the reason it is so screwed up there!

I vote that you go there to help them.

[tzikratch]

I was bothered by "The List" on your show when able bodied Iraquis would run and hide when their lives were threatened. Think what this country would be like if our Military men and women ran and hid when their lives were threatened. Protect their famalies yes, but they need to stay and fight for their cause.

[jhbrn]

"Maybe we should pull our troops out and let them fight their own fight rather than bring them and their issues over to America. There was a statement made to the effect of questioning why it took so long to let them into America because they were being questioned about if they were terrorists. To which one woman replied "I''''m not a terrorist" - I''''m sure if you asked any of the terrorists on the flights of 9-11 they would say they weren''''t terrorists either. If they really want to help their country out, then they need to stay and fight. The US is over there every day fighting for them and all they%u2019re wanting to do is run - do they not think that our troops are scared but you sure as heck don%u2019t see them running anywhere - no, they are fighting every single day and many are losing their lives for people who are cowards and trying to leave their own country. If it were my decision, I would stamp a big fat DECLINED on every one of their applications because our troops are fighting for a bunch of cowards. They talk about the Iraqi people taking risks with working for the government - what do you think our troops are doing over there, displaying what they represent when they put on their uniforms every single day. If this Kirk Johnson person wants to help the Iraqi%u2019s come to America, then by all means let%u2019s let them in and they can live with him and he can support them because I know I sure as heck don%u2019t want my taxes going to help them one bit."

Exactly

[jhbrn]

but there is another group of which I am more concerned. There are thousands of American service men and women who cannot receive good medical care after serving their Country. Their families are being evicted and falling into debt because of this War. I hate to say this, but we need to take care of our own before we help others.
Posted by sill85 at 07:46 PM : May 18, 2008

"CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME"

Unfortunately that is NOT true. Our country stands by and watches our own people lose their jobs and homes while they waste money trying to turn around a corrupted warped country that has been a frickin mess since the beginning of time due to their GOD!

I still say flatten it and remove it from the news once and for all.

I am sick and tired of hearing about that side of the world. I''m ready to see it lit up in a grand finale. Quit wasting our money and our american lives and FLATTEN the place.