Act Now!

For the past several months, The List Project has been working with the Center for American Progress (CAP) in the development of an action plan for the new administration.  While we have succeeded in resettling nearly 300 Iraqi allies from the List to safety in the U.S., there are nearly 2,000 more who have struggled amidst threats of assassination to navigate a complicated bureaucracy that in many cases takes years to process an application.  This is untenable and President-elect Obama seems to recognize this, saying:

We must also keep faith with Iraqis who kept faith with us... One tragic outcome of this war is that the Iraqis who stood with America - the interpreters, embassy workers, and subcontractors - are being targeted for assassination...And yet our doors are shut.  In April, we admitted exactly on Iraqi refugee - just one!  That is not how we treat our friends.  That is not how we take responsibility for our own actions.  That is not who we are as Americans... Keeping this moral obligation is a key part of how we turn the page in Iraq.  Because what's at stake is bigger than this war - it's our global leadership.  Now is a time to be bold.  We must not stay the course of take the conventional path because the other course is unknown.  To quote Dr. Brzezinski - we must not allow ourselves to become "prisoners of uncertainty." (President-elect Obama, September 2008)  

The CAP-TLP plan makes the urgent recommendation the the President-elect to order an airlift of eligible U.S. affiliated Iraqis to a third location such as our military base in Guam, for expedited processing.  We are not recommending a hap-hazard process: the Departments of State and Homeland Security will still be performing the same interviews and security checks, but in an environment that eliminates most of the bureaucratic obstacles (such as operating in a war zone) that have resulted in such a lengthy and insufficient program.  Congress has already signaled its bipartisan intent through the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act to help a minimum of 25,000 Iraqi allies through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program.  While that legislation passed, only 600 Iraqis were processed in the first year in that program.  This is unacceptable and our Iraqi allies will not survive such a glacial pace.  As the CAP-TLP plan recalls, we have used Guam as recently as 1996 to resettle nearly 7,000 U.S.-affiliated Iraqis in a matter of weeks to America.  Doing so keeps the refugees safe while making sure that the America public is also protected at the same time.

This January, The List Project will be working hard to make sure that the CAP-TLP plan reaches the right people in the incoming administration.  On January 12, timed with the one night run of George Packer's award winning play 'Betrayed' at the Kennedy Center in D.C. (after which The List Project's Executive Director will be joining a Q and A--click here to buy tickets) CAP will formally launch the plan.  We will also be gather signatures of VIPs on a letter to the President-elect that recommends the CAP-TLP plan.

So what can you do?

You can tell the President-elect and his transition team to pay attention to the CAP-TLP plan and help save our Iraqi allies.  We are asking all Netrooters and TLP supporters to take a couple minutes in the next week to register their support at the official transition website, change.gov.  There are only three steps:

1.  Click here for our sample letter

2.  Read, Sign, and Paste the letter into this form

3.  Let us know that you took part in this important step!  Email Ann at: ann[at]thelistproject.org

We will keep you all informed on our progress throughout the next several weeks as we work together to bring this issue to the full attention of the new administration! 

President-elect Obama is calling on YOU to volunteer!

President-elect Obama is calling on Americans to volunteer!  The National Day of Service, as it is being called, falls on January 19th, Martin Luther King Day.  The List Project HQ is gauging interest levels over the next few days to determine involvement.  Would you and your Chapter be interested in participating by organizing a community service project in your neighborhood?

As each community's needs are unique, we are asking each chapter to generate a short list of 2 to 3 ideas about community service activities.  As time is limited, we also recommend talking with local NGOs and refugee resettlement agencies (IRC, Lutheran Social Services, etc.) to see if they can work together to plan a community service project for the day of January 19th.  You might be able to team up by providing volunteers.

If you need a jump-start for some potential ideas, click here for our top 15 ideas.  Also, learn more about what other organizations are doing at the MLK Day of service website:

MLK Day

Voices for Service

Deadline: Let us know if you want to participate before December 25, 2008!

Please email Zeba Khan at zeba[at]thelistproject.org and Ann McKittrick at ann[at]thelistproject.org to let us know if you and your chapter are interested.

The Importance of Giving

With the recent economic downturn, people, companies and non-profits are struggling to survive. During this difficult time we need to remember how hard it is not only for Americans but also for our Iraqi friends who have just moved to our country.  Let's use this time to think about how we can come together to help those Iraqis in need.  As an individual or as a community, you can make a difference in the life of a recently resettled Iraqi family.  Whether it is in the form of time, goods or money, we ask you to remember the importance of giving.  Please reach out on Netroots and let us know how you will give this holiday season.

What We’ve Been Up To…

The weeks heading into the holiday season have been busy for TLP!

TLP kicked off November by participating in 'The Continuing Needs of Iraq's Displaced: Ideas for the Next US Administration', an event at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).  Bringing an Iraqi voice to the panel, TLP colleague Ehab shared his personal experiences and insights on the complexity of the issues surrounding the Iraqi refugee crisis.  Held the day after the election, the event focused on what the future of the 4.7 million displaced Iraqis might be when President-Elect Obama takes office in 2009.  Ehab also participated in an Intersections event focusing on 'Iraqi Voices'.  Please click here to listen to audio from the Intersections event.

National news on Iraqi translators heated up in the month of November.  A Washington Post article announced that the U.S. military banned Iraqi interpreters working with American troops from wearing the masks that have concealed and protected them.  The U.S. military argues, in the Post's article, that professional Armies don't conceal their identities and that those Iraqis who don't agree with the new policy can find another job.  The outrage following this ban has increased attention surrounding the plight of Iraqi translators.  For the first time, The Daily Show did a clip on the issue by focusing on the Defense Department's ban.  Further, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) wrote a letter, along with twelve members of the House, to the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.  Wyden's letter, the result of a rapidly executed collaborative effort, calls for a prompt reversal of the Army policy.

News on the home front...as the number of communities assisting recently resettled Iraqis increases, questions surrounding the issues facing Iraqi refugees in the U.S. have been raised.  The List Project focused on these questions during 'Sponsorship Week' in October (audio from the call available here) and the IRC organized a conference call (transcript and audio available here) surround the issues in November.  The intensified interest coming from American citizens is inspiring as the U.S. looks to resettle at least 17,000 Iraqis in FY 2009.  Please start or join a group on Netroots today.

While we are on the topic of inspiring Americans...it is time for our Netroots Star.  The November Star is...the List Project Kids!  The List Project Kids began by sending about a dozen packages a month, now Sky and his helpers are sending packages to over 100 children a month. The List Project Kids has also been the only group to have over 100 members!  In a recent blog post, Sky reminds TLP how important it is to have an 'attitude of gratitude'; we urge you to read his post and get involved as the holidays are upon us.  Sky reminds us, don't only "Think Big...Do Big!"