Iraqi interpreter: 'Now I have no future'

[ck4829]

The young Iraqi known as Ronnie fears for his life. Nearly four years ago, as a recent high school graduate, he signed up to be an interpreter for the U.S. military. It seemed like a good job at the time. Today, he is a marked man.

"I swear, my god, every other night, I have a nightmare that some militia is trying to kill me," he says. "I've lost hope. I can't see any future to this country. That's why most of the interpreters want to get out of Iraq."

But for Ronnie and thousands of other interpreters working with the U.S. military, getting out is unspeakably difficult. And with insurgents and death squads viewing them as collaborators with the enemy, going back home isn't a realistic option, either.

"We drove by my house, and you know how painful it is that when you see your house and you can't stop to see your dad or your brother or your mom to say 'Hi,' " Ronnie says.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/09/iraqi.interpreters/index.html?eref=yahoo

[enid602]

1. welcome

Welcome to Bushworld, Ronnie.

[Taverner]

2. Thank you George!

I remember being in Vietnam when it first opened up in the early 90's. There were lots of ex-SVA military who were blackballed from Government jobs. Some spoke perfect English, but because of any involvement with the US, they had no options.

We owe it to these Iraqis to have some kind of amnesty here. Not Maliki, but the folks on the ground.