If a Kurdish translator who risked his life to protect the lives of U.S. troops is denied a U.S. Green Card, who will protect his life and the lives of other
translators who are similarly denied?
A month ago on March 23, Washington Post writer Karen DeYoung wrote an article entitled "Stalwart service for U.S. in Iraq is not enough to gain green card."
On March 27, DeYoung wrote another article expressing similar views. In the same issue, the Post printed an editorial entitled "Bad Judgment: Labeling a close U.S. ally a terrorist organization, Immigration leaves a dedicated Iraqi translator in limbo."
This translator is Saman Karim Ahmed, an Iraqi Kurd, who served as an interpreter with American forces in Iraq and received countless death threats. He and other Afghan and Iraqi interpreters were taken to the U.S., where Ahmed requested a Green Card from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to remain permanently. After a series of investigations, the USCIS rejected Ahmed's application, stating that it wouldn't give a Green Card to anyone who once worked as a member of an organization or party that fought against the U.S. government.
Ahmad had once served in the forces of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which USCIS officials deemed an "undesignated terrorist organization" because it had fought against the Iraqi government-the government, that is, of Saddam Hussein.
The USCIS decision was criticized by the Post, and prompted the Post to publish the aforementioned March 23-27 articles that mostly focused on the following points:
1) Ahmed was a brave and compassionate man who helped American troops, and because of this he received death threats. For this reason alone, the U.S. should give him a Green Card.
2) Ahmed, who is now in America, was brought here by U.S. forces with General Petraeus' recommendation, so he should receive a Green Card.
3) Ahmed served in the KDP, one of the main political parties that fought alongside with multinational forces in Iraq Freedom to overthrow Saddam's dictatorial regime; therefore, the U.S. should respect him.
4) USCIS showed poor judgment in listing one of the U.S.'s most trustful ally as a "terrorist organization," and it should be criticized.
The KDP, headed by President Massoud Barzani, a president that has played a great role in attempting to bring security to Iraq, has never been listed as a terrorist organization and has always been considered a close ally of the U.S.
President Barzani was officially received by U.S. President George W. Bush in White House in 2006 and characterized as an activist who fought against dictatorship. Additionally, Barzani was officially invited by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney to visit America after Cheney's recent official visit with Barzani in Kurdistan. In fact, many foreign ministers have met with Barzani, and he was received by the EU, yet a U.S. office, through its 'Bad Judgment', negatively addressed the name of his party.
In conclusion, I want to add that Hawlati newspaper's translations on April 20 of an article by DeYoung and other Washington Post Web site articles were wholly inaccurate. They retitled DeYoung's article to read "America is against the KDP, recognizes it as terrorist and it is true their friendship has been destroyed."
This not only betrays responsible journalism in conveying the truth, but it is another ill-willed attempt by Hawlati, which "feels defeat in front of others' triumphs."
