If we're going to start that conversation.

There is a flurry of comment right now concerning Australia's decision to offer all Iraqis who have worked with their military forces in positions like that of interpreter resettlement. It seems to me like this is the absolute least we can do for people who risk their lives alongside our troops to assist them. Of course, even starting to bring up this issue brings me dangerously close to a long speech about the inadequacy of our treatment of those troops as well, but I will try to stick to the topic.

The estimated number of Iraqis to receive visas, including family members, is 600. Australia had only about 500 troops on average, so that gives an idea of the scale of commitment that might be expected from the UK and US if they met their obligations in a comparable fashion.

For those of you that haven't been following this story, the quote comes from John Quiggin, and this blog is devoted to trying to draw attention to the plight of Iraqis who have assisted the US and are now interested in resettling and this is a story about an Iraqi interpreter that gives a good idea of the situation they are in. Refugees International also has a new report out about displaced persons within Iraq and how militias seem to be gaining influence by helping these people.