Native translators for US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve visas to live in the USA

[Roma_Victrix]

After watching this video from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, I was absolutely disgusted by how our US State Dept. has treated visa applicants from Iraq and Afghanistan who risked their lives and the lives of their family members to serve as translators for active-duty combat troops in the field. John is right, even Franz Kafka would be ashamed to have his name anywhere near this bureaucratic nightmare! These people deserve better than this and I think enough have died at the hands of the partisan extremists. Whatever happened to the spirit embodied in this line from the "New Colossus" sonnet that was supposed to sum up the benevolent and shining example of the United States:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

We have failed that mission on this account. Shame on us. Call your local congressman and give him an earful.

[Napoleonic Bonapartism]

The UK has this same issue with Afghan interpreters - still ongoing last I checked. It is of course madness that they have not been allowed to leave - they are to all intents and purposes asylum seekers. But to be honest the fact that their lives are in danger if they remain in the country speaks volumes of the present war's short-comings.

[Himster]

Well that was depressing.
I understand the need for screening for security reasons, but that is just ridiculous.

[empr guy]

Vice news had a segment on this a while ago, interpreters would fill out all the paper work and then just get wait listed indefinitely, I think a senator (john mccain?) had to personally vouch for his interpreter so that they could get into the US, and tons get detained for travelling abroad illegally since they can't leave legally, it's ridiculous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7k1XJcDpV4

[tarvu]

It seems pretty obvious that they are being held because the spineless State Department is afraid of the blame and political firestorm that would ensue if any of these people ever committed an act of violence that could be deemed terrorism.

They just want these interpretors to hurry up and die so they are no longer a liability. It is merely reflective of the level of racism and Islamophobia Western societies increasingly tolerate and cater to, could you imagine if the Canadian shooter had been given a special visa by their state department!

Do people like Bill Maher or 90% of this forum really want Muslims from Afghanistan in their country no matter how much they risked their lives, the danger is too great to trust some Muslim with brown skin (both of which are clearly, objectively, and indisputably signs that they are more prone to terrorism being the main tenant of their religion, and in their very DNA!!!!). In such an environment why would politically elected and appointed officials work on these brave men's behalf.

[Heathen Hammer]

Life is tough for the traitors of their own people. Boo-friggin-hoo.

[O'Hea]

I agree, it's a damned shame we're not doing more to get these people over here. We shouldn't be leaving our friends hanging like this.

Life is tough for the traitors of their own people. Boo-friggin-hoo.

Yes, because the Taliban are the true friends of the Afghan people and the legitimate authority in the land. Why do you even bother saying things like this?

[hellheaven1987]

Yes, because the Taliban are the true friends of the Afghan people and the legitimate authority in the land. Why do you even bother saying things like this?

So you mean the "legitimate" authority in Afghanistan is so powerless that they cannot protect a few people?

[Knight of Heaven]

So you rather them join the taliban instead? nevermind they arent Taliban or even Pashtun Tribesmen...
These Posts reek of ignorance... Taliban or Afghan they are all the same right? nevermind there are different factions in the Taliban... and not all Pashtun are Taliban.... i wonder what this even mean exactly in the context?

Life is tough for the traitors of their own people.

To wich people?
And what are these people again?

[O'Hea]

So you mean the "legitimate" authority in Afghanistan is so powerless that they cannot protect a few people?

The Taliban is basically a very large and aggressive mafia. The Afghan government will probably be able to keep a hold on things at least in and around Kabul, but they're not going to be hanging out in the villages making sure former translators don't get whacked.

[Gaidin]

Life is tough for the traitors of their own people. Boo-friggin-hoo.

Tell me more.

[hellheaven1987]

The Taliban is basically a very large and aggressive mafia. The Afghan government will probably be able to keep a hold on things at least in and around Kabul, but they're not going to be hanging out in the villages making sure former translators don't get whacked.

Lets be honest there is nothing preventing ANA put every former translator and their family into a single spot and use some resource to defend them; the thing is really ANA does not feel to do it at all.

[Heathen Hammer]

Yes, because the Taliban are the true friends of the Afghan people and the legitimate authority in the land. Why do you even bother saying things like this?

Neither are Americans.

[Hobbes]

What does the legitimacy of either side have to do with the fact that the US is not helping people who were vital to the entire operation?

[Stavroforos]

If any US officials are reading this and considering an invasion in Greece, I can read, write, and speak fluently in both Greek and English. I will gladly betray my country and my people for a Green Card. Please let me know if you're interested!

[Heathen Hammer]

What does the legitimacy of either side have to do with the fact that the US is not helping people who were vital to the entire operation?

Why helping them? They are of no use for US now.

[Vanoi]

Why helping them? They are of no use for US now.

So? They were de-facto part of US Armed Forces. That alone should grant them visas to enter the US.

[O'Hea]

Neither are Americans.

So your options are (A) a foreign force that pumps money into your country and is making efforts towards democracy and improved human rights (successfully or otherwise), and (B) a still largely-foreign clan of violent religious zealots who rule through extortion, intimidation and hard drugs. How is option A less patriotic than option B?

[Caligula's_Horse]

Why helping them? They are of no use for US now.

Right, because what use does a superpower have for a reputation of helping its friends?
Surely its easier to leave them out in the cold; in this modern day and age of freely and easily available information, I'm sure future potential translators will never find out. Its not like everyone and their grandmother has access to the internet nowadays.

[Roma_Victrix]

Right, because what use does a superpower have for a reputation of helping its friends?
Surely its easier to leave them out in the cold; in this modern day and age of freely and easily available information, I'm sure future potential translators will never find out. Its not like everyone and their grandmother has access to the internet nowadays.

Precisely. If we won't do it for the simple reason that it is the right and moral thing to do for someone who put their lives on the line for our troops, then at the very least they should be given visas for the PR purpose of showing potential translators in the future that the US sticks by its word to protect them.