US admits efforts to take in at-risk Iraqi refugees fall short

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States conceded Tuesday that it was so far falling short of its goal for taking in Iraqi translators and interpreters who are under threat for working with the US authorities in Iraq.

A total of 821 Iraqis -- translators, interpreters and family members -- were admitted to the United States from September 2006 to September last year, said State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos.

An extra 39 Iraqis were admitted under the special immigration visa program in October 2007, the start of the new fiscal year, he told AFP. He had no figures for November or December or the first half of January.

Gallegos conceded the number falls far short of the rate needed to meet the goal of 12,000 for fiscal year 2008, which ends in September.

"We believe that the second and third quarter of this year are going to provide us with more substantial numbers of applicants, and, therefore, that we will eventually be able to meet the minimum of 12,000 that we discussed earlier in the year for fiscal year '08. So we're continuing the process. We are working apace. We are ensuring the security of the United States, yet proceeding with this as quickly as we can," Gallegos told reporters.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080122/pl_afp/usiraqrefugees

[Tempest]

1. Falls short? It's freaking embarrassing.

And shameful.

It doesn't pay to take the side of the U.S., they'll just leave you hanging out to dry.