Well, I am a hyphenated-American, a Pakistani-America; although by birth I am an Indian. I did find myself in an emotional state while reading the article, and I do fervently hope that Ted, and others in the same situation, soon legally join the community to which they are mentally, psychologically, committed.
Nonetheless, I still have a moral compunction with regard to some fundamental issues: mercenaries and foreign invasions.
Iraqis who ‘fought’ for America are mercenaries. They participated in the destruction, humiliation, of their own nation. I do not think that there is any UN law, for the nation, which employs mercenaries to grant them citizenship! Nor for that matter, did the American government sign any agreements with them guaranteeing immigration. What is being advocated/pleaded is: citizens of other nations involved in treachery to their country at the behest of America, deserve to be granted immigration.
America should not be encouraging sedition and treachery
5
I have Assyrian ancestry, and Assyrian cousins still in Iraq. But I'm in my 60's, and was born in this country.
When Dubya began his disastrous occupation, my Assyrian relatives in Iraq were thrilled. They honestly believed he would bring a democracy to their nation, that they (an ethnic and religious minority, Christians) would have rights equal to the rest of their countrymen, and so forth. So dozens of Assyrians in Iraq signed up to be interpreters, or otherwise help the U.S. troops. Most of them had no intention of coming to the U.S. They just wanted to see their nation transformed, and actually thought Dubya and the Republicans cared about them.
Back in 2003 I implored them not to believe any of this. I said their lives would be worse as a result of this occupation. I told them that by helping our troops, they were signing their own death warrants. And our troops would not be there to support them, as they had supported us.
Fast forward 15 years. I have no joy in the knowledge that I was absolutely right. But I knew that Dubya, Cheney and their toadies were just using the people in the Middle East who actually supported them. Dubya's disastrous foray left the Assyrians as an extremely vulnerable group of Christians in a largely Muslim country. There were nearly two million Assyrians in Iraq in 2003. Now there are fewer than 250,000. Anyone who can flee, has done so. But I just wished they would have believed me, when I tried to warn them.
7
We leave the soldiers behind when we deploy them into the war zones, to fight the wars on behalf of the foreign interests and the foreigners.
We cannot have the national interests abroad. If we had, it would be a part of America too.
If we need something from abroad, that's what the trade is created for.
We can exchange the goods without exchange of the bullets and bombs.
Even the most expensive trade deal is much better than the cheapest war...
2
To the many veterans and other supporters of US wars, I can only wish that you awaken some day to the white supremacist imperial nature of those wars. I see them and my country trapped in a massive conspiracy of denial, loving our presumed right to wage war whenever it suits us, and, thereby, unable to submit to an unbiased judgement. Yes, it's true that the US isn't the only country caught between denial and honesty, but so what? We are who we are, and our actions condemn us.
7
The underlying premise of this article is that the war in Iraq was a pointless American adventure where soldiers displayed courage and abnegation just for the sake of it - service is completely decontextualized. The fact that those who assisted Americans in Iraq find themselves alien and endangered in their country, their only wish being to escape speaks to the futility of this war. Had the war had some point, people who worked with Americans would be the best placed to occupy positions of leadership in politics, administration and education, help steer their country closer to liberal democracy - they would find pride and meaning in working for their own liberated country rather than for the US. The fact that their compatriots dislike them and they only dream of leaving is an admission of failure and futility.
4
Visiting my eldest brother, a Vietnam vet, in Hawaii. He's taking my husband and I to Punchbowl, the vets' cemetery of the Pacific, for today's ceremonies.
He'll take us to see two uncle's graves, in the WWII Japanese American 100th and 442nd section, and he'll point out where Daniel Inouye's gold-lettered marker, the indicator of a recipient of a Medal of Honor, lies amongst those of his comrades. My brother's eldest son, a retired it. col, will Skype in, and we'll talk about our grandparents' reactions as the Japanese bombed their adopted home.
Immigrants, their children and grandchildren, can best tell the rest of us how best to serve and defend our country and its ideals.
3
This is a masterful piece of writing, illustrating by tales from 1919 and 2019 that we have not come all that far in the last century to finding a way to live together as a "nation of immigrants." It is interesting how quickly Woodrow Wilson's views changed about the immigrant soldiers he sent overseas to defend freedom, later viewing them as enemies in our midst ready to plunge a hyphen into the chest of a "real" American. Was that an indication of his deteriorating mental health, or proof that all that talk about freedom-seeking immigrants was just salesmanship in recruiting people to go die for us?
And my heart goes out to these interpreters who risked their lives in Iraq (and Afghanistan) for us, only to be left behind. This paper recently reported on yet another group, non-citizen immigrants who joined the military here as regular Army and Marines, and whom our current version of Woodrow Wilson's smug racism, Mr. Trump, is considering deporting. I am reminded of the sad coda at the end of this piece by the soldier who said if this is the way handle our allies, maybe we aren't who we think we are.
3
How easily we forget that the bold American experiment is never just being, but always becoming. However flawed, it's the clear-eyed recognition of those flaws and a determination to right them that charts our course -- our choice -- of what our country will become. We send American volunteers into war to risk their lives in our name, Their allies often save American lives and protect America's security. The physical courage of Ali and Ted exemplifies the values of the America we strive to be. The political cowardice of our time undermines them. We desperately need immigration reform, and we pretty much know the necessary elements. We only lack political courage.
1
We lost my dad last year, he was a vet. He wanted to be interred in the wall at Miramar National Cemetery here in San Diego. We make arrangements for a group of Motorcycle Vets, part of Rolling Thunder, to escort us to the cemetery. That meant going on the freeway. Due to our low speed, even with flags flying, people were trying to cut into the procession to make their exit. A group of truckers, formed up behind us, 5 lanes wide, and followed us to our exit. Whoever you are, thank you, that was special. I will never forget that.
7
I was glad to see the often unmentioned fact that Whittlesey, a Medal of Honor winner, was a socialist.
I guess this disproves the lies put forth by Trump and others, most of whom never spent a day in military service much less served in battle, that the goal of socialists is to destroy the country.
10
Pretend, for a moment, that this is a victorious post WWII, Germany. Tens of thousands sincere men and women sent off to fight equally ‘conjured up’ threats.
Blind patriotism and death and destruction.
These wonderful men and women should have given their actions as much thought before they agreed to the death and destruction as they have after the death and destruction.
I appreciate light thrown onto the tragedy of war but I cannot finish articles like this without thinking that those who plan it , start it and stoke the fires for too long will never read it. And if they do they will only conclude it had to be done. In my day it was Johnson/McNamara. Then Bush/Cheny. And now it is Trump/Pompeo. These cold blooded creeps only do what we allow then to do. Please. Think before you vote.
11
@richard a gilpatrick
Obama/Biden did Libya and Syria.
Centrist Democrats are Republican-like warmongers.
2
How did we become a nation of incomplete people?
Have we no Humanity?
Have we no national conscience?
Have we no moral backbone at all?
Politics has reduced us to dirt.
2
I don't see how including the Charles White Whittlesey narrative fits in this opinion piece.
Whittlesey is a distant relative.
I think it was a sense of duty that led him to enlist, not becoming disillusioned with socialism's pacifism.
His fighting experience probably strengthened his perception of the futility/stupidity of war.
He committed suicide in1921.
What is it about some of our fellow travelers that they have that burning need to not only be "better" than Them, but to actively hate Them?
What is it that allows folks to so easily transfer their hatred to the newest Them-du-jour - Native Americans, blacks, Chinese, Italians, Irish, Germans, Viet Namese, Iraqis, ad nauseum…? And then to abruptly change directions and welcome yesterday's Enemies as today's Allies and trading partners?
What is the genesis of their need to view The Other - who are 99.9% genetically identical to them - as somehow being sub-human?
It is beyond comprehension.
5
It is a shame and disgrace for the entire nation on how we treat our partners who took a huge risk to join us to combat terrorism. No surprise that America is not trusted as an ally by many. The foreign born soldiers fought with us shoulder to shoulder and then we dumped them as our needs were over. It is an irony that a person can buy immigration status (EB5) by investing $500,000 in any commercial venture while the soldiers who risked everything to support us are just dumped like used furniture. Where are our values - is this we stand for?
8
War is hell and in hell the Americans are the salesman.
2
Anyone that volunteers, or continues to serve, for this tRump led Military is, sadly, a patriotic sucker for punishment. The Beatings will continue until Morale improves.
It is America's Christians who are to blame for eternal war.
All my life the Christian's have endorsed American wars that have killed millions for no good reason.
They force us to pay the highest war taxes in the world - more, in fact, than the whole rest of the world.
For this and everything the GOP does they are culpable, because they have kept the fascist GOP alive - to serve only the super wealthy.
1
Conferring a path to American citizenship on foreigners who collaborate with the United States in the invasion of their countries will encourage such collaboration in the future, thereby enabling the United States to continue its cycle of endless and pointless foreign wars.
2
Don’t miss the essential point here. While the abandonment of courageous allies is fundamentally evil, the greater malice is reflected in what happened to returning veterans like the members of the 369th, or the supreme and tragic irony of the valor shown by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most highly decorated unit of the Second World War, while their families were held hostage (interned) illegally. Maybe the argument could consider the abuse of veterans in 1970, or consider why the suicide rate of returning soldiers is soaring.
Maybe we need to rethink Veterans Day. So many have been served by so few. Let’s make that the central question. Why have so many truly abandoned the few?
8
The numbers showing support for immigration sadly also show us that the policies governing immigration are being set and run by the least American among us. So much to reverse after November 2020.
Phil Klay is a stellar addition to the pages of the NYT for this in depth look at the plight of those we are leaving behind.
On a side note, no ads in this moving story. Thank you for showing it the respect it deserves.
5
I've known a couple foreign national interpreters.
A foreign national has a path to US citizenship by joining and serving in the US military.
The same path should be available for civilian foreign national interpreters who put their lives and familes at incredible risk by working with US forces.
4
In this article there seems to be a level of disconnect. Always when we enter a theater of conflict, the argument is that we are "assisting" the local "loosely organized" foreign population in acquiring security and functioning democratic governance. But the mission seems to continually morph to the local inhabitants of the assisted region. Their assumption, if they assist, is that they have joined the American cause. And in the above decoupling, is most likely the reason for varying degrees of failure in recent American military misadventures. If the elements, outlined in "assistance" (above), are not there, it would probably be wise to forego entry.
6
This story amply illustrates the Moral Bankruptcy of the Republican Party. The are the "Party of Hate." There should be no issue about admitting "Ted" to the United States as a citizen. If Bone Spur Trump can keep his citizenship then "Ted," who has done more the defend American Values that Trump has ever done, should be welcomed to America. But since he is not white, he is nothing to the Republicans. I am totally disgusted with the way American has broken its promises.
18
Pres. Donald Trump since he been President in 2016 wage the war against all immigrants .American not stand for diversity of its people is the backbone of American people. As a New Yorker miss the words of the Statue of Liberty and maybe he can't read. Pres. Donald Trump sad to admit she's missed this blind by his own greed and lust for money. One thing I can say Pres. Donald Trump this weekend is Veterans Day. He did not serve he escaped the draft to me he's not a President but a coward.
The wall on the border will come down silly spending needless money for his own gains possible the contractors he hired are working for Jerry Kushner Pres. Donald Trump son-in-law.
Already this last weekend they took a chainsaw and cut some of the gates down what a mess or waste of money. Like his fell businesses.
I believe anybody that puts on the uniform for the American people should not face deportation but they have under this president that is not serve in the military what highest honors Americans put on into civilian. This set home back to his country courtesy of Pres. Donald Trump.
Next week is the impeachment televise all Americans should be watching. How this president use the office for political gains and to riches himself.
All the time I've been on this earth I cannot believe the people that are following Pres. Donald Trump to his doom and their dooms may God bless America.
2
Best would be if the US did not rage across the world like a bull in a china shop, carelessly wrecking countries, turning them to rubble and being responsible for millions of deaths, directly or indirectly.
The US insists on dominating the world, protecting its "national interests"which mean protecting its corporate interests, forcing countries to unrestrained capitalism, not democracy.
Any country not submitting to US "national interests" will have the government of that country demonized, with destabilzation and regime change following.
Those who worked with the US against there own country are not necessarily to be admired.
Those who worry about the well-being of Syria's Kurds should read the unusually objective NYT article,
"The US Turned Syria's North Into a Tinderbox"
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/world/middleeast/syria-trump-kurds-interpreter.html
"James F. Jeffrey, the Trump administration’s special envoy for Syria, has described America’s presence as a bargaining chip to secure not just the Islamic State’s defeat but also political change in Syria and a rollback of Iranian influence."
" We’re going to use a permanent occupation in the northeast to force Bashar al-Assad to cut his own head off,"
Above quotes tell that the US purpose in Syria has nothing to do with the Kurds, except they were useful tools.
What the US is doing in Syria is, of course, against international law...
Courage would be, allowing countries to be diverse,
without US domination.
3
I have deployed to Afghanistan and the Middle East 6 times and have depended on interpreters every time. They are uniformly brave and essential. Our immigration situation is complex and cries for a comprehensive solution, but these cases should be easy. These men and women are the essence of what it means to be an American and should be admitted. Congress needs to get its act together and push the CIC to fix this glaring injustice.
237
@Nelson Democrats in Congress have repeatedly tried but either McConnell or Trump’s threat of a veto have stopped them. Time to put the blame squarely where it belongs: Republicans.
72
@Sdtrueman
Sorry, I disagree. There is plenty of hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle. The R's use anti-hispanic and nativist themes to energize their militant base while the D's promote sanctuary cities and preferential policies for those south of the border who enter illegally, jumping the line on legal immigrants from other countries as they will be reliable Democratic voters some day. Let's agree on legal immigration while enforcing our laws against those who live here illegally. Rule of law should not be controversial.
8
@Nelson don’t hold your breath brother
4
Beautiful. Heartbreaking. I feel an almost overwhelming sadness, and near hopelessness for the identity our country is choosing.
8
At the end of the Vietnam War, my intelligence unit had 12 South Vietnamese Army soldiers working with my unit in Thailand. There was no way for them to return home to their families. They came to America one at a time, as my unit shut down. They were necessary for what we did, and so they came with us as we returned back to the US. We could not get their families, and they deeply felt this loss, but, when I last contacted one of the, in the mid eighties, he had integrated well in the US, even becoming a citizen, and was still hoping that his family could come to the US as our relationship with Vietnam improved.
Listening to what has happened to like people from Iraq and Syria makes me feel that my pride for my time in service to the ideal of America is diminished. We can’t evacuate everyone who worked with our forces but we sure should not be leaving the ones who were on the front lines with us to face violence, torture and execution.
218
@AS Pruyn A moving and relevant statement! Thank you for that.
The U.S. should never have been in Korea, Viet Nam, Grenada, Iraq the first time or the 2nd time or in Afghanistan. The U.S. hasn't "won" a war since it's involvement in WWII, which was an allied victory (didn't do it alone). All we have to show for Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan are trillions in senseless spending and 2 generations of broken, ex-soldiers. Sad.
It's absurd that we would need foreign mercenaries to fight for us in the first place when our ill conceived adventures into other lands result in few if any real "victories."
If identifying ourselves as Americans is based on the wars we fight, then I think the Civil War is the best model. We're still fighting that one, and it's still unwon.
9
@mrfreeze6
Most unfortunately your comment is horribly true.
Except that you are wrong when you say, the United States hasn't won a war, not since it's involvement in WWII. Stalin won WWII. Soviet Russia. The United States didn't win until the Berlin Wall fell.
The last war the United States won, was WWI. Sadly the country then squandered that victory, by handing control to the British Empire and the French Empire. They didn't believe in any of the promises the United States had made. And they didn't have the resources to control Germany. They would have destroyed Germany, but the United States didn't let them (of course). And so the Germans went and elected Hitler. Actually, it was only 45% of those Germans who bothered to go and vote. But given the way the Weimar Republic worked, and the way the German people were ideologically divided at the time, that was enough. And so we got WWII and the Holocaust. Fortunately the American people then realized that they needed to step up again. And yes, you are perfectly right: it took allies (including Germany) to finally win that one.
And yes, this victory, the United States has been squandering, even before it was ever won (Korea, Nam, et al...).
3
@mrfreeze6
For our own sanity, we must never forget that, in addition to our own losses, which number in the thousands, we leave behind millions of dead and shaken everywhere we go.
Well said Mr. Klay.
I find the short memory of my fellow Americans to be one of their most embarrassing traits. We are doomed to repeat our errors if we refuse to acknowledge and atone for our history.
4
A compassionate and decent American president could clear the way for Ted and others like him. Some day, maybe we'll have one. I also have to ask where Obama was during his terms?
1
I was reading and waiting a bit longer than normal for the gratuitous stab at the Trump administration's reprehensible immigration policy because more poignant the vile treatment of immigrants has and continues to be an affront to the inscription on the Statue of Liberty.
1
Thank you Mr. Klay for this poignant reflection on and question of who are we?
“If people’s emotions about immigration are such that they are willing to tolerate literally leaving our wartime allies behind on the battlefield because they’re foreigners and they look different, even though they’ve done more for this country than most Americans — if that’s the case, then we really need to do a gut check about whether we really are the people we say we are.” Travis Weiner, two-tour Army infantry veteran.
I too have been agonizing about who we are ever since November 2016. I am utterly disturbed that so many Americans could be deceived or willfully choose to bargain away America's values and ideals for a hateful vision of America. The story of Charles White Whittlesey, reminds us this is nothing new. "Perhaps the story we tell ourselves is a lie."
My questions about who we really are also touch on a military theme, not regarding our allies left behind but on how our own military heroes have been savaged. I did not share John McCain's politics but I honored him for his incredible service, so it was painful to watch as our nation allowed a draft dodger to denigrate McCain's service. I also found it difficult to believe that prominent Republicans would tolerate McCain's ill treatment and the belittling of the Gold Star Kahn family. Now Lt. Col. Vindman is defamed and Republicans join in the insufferable attacks on his honor.
"Perhaps the story we tell ourselves is a lie."
13
Thank you, Mr. Klay, for your words. All Americans need to read them, consider them, and incorporate them into our political and societal actions. And if there is one thing true Americans must do in November 2020, it is remove Trump. In so doing, those of us who believe in what truly makes American great can effect a clear statement that racist and xenophobic ideology is the antithesis of American idealism. Let us commit to taking back our "city on a hill."
1
The groundwork was laid by the founding fathers that brought immigrants from all over the world. With their strong wills America became a economic powerhouse. Now, it is not the constitutional ideals that are being protected but the exclusive hive of elites who feed off this soldier and fellow Iraqi to protect multinational interests. This, coupled with racism and division fostered by the GOP and stooge Trump to keep the multitudes off-balance. Just look to D.C. A wobbling bowl spilling our once cherished ideals into the gutters. You are welcome in my home too Ali. With a slice of Apple Pie to boot.
5
Men and Women who have served America and the call for freedom deserve better than what this article tells us. It is disheartening to learn of the mistreatment and neglect of those who deserve a nation’s gratitude.
2
Every group of immigrants which assimilates becomes hesitant about the next group of immigrants who follows. This has been true since Ben Franklin worried that German might become the national language. This is simply human nature and you cannot do much about it.
As the soul song goes: "War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Listen to me."
5
The fact that Ted is still not allowed into the U.S., yet Melanie Trump's parents, who contributed zero to the U.S., are now citizens, says plenty about what kind of country we are.
13
If you find this interesting or disturbing, look up Smedley Butler, a senior Marine Corps officer known for saying (after he retired) that he was an errand boy for Wall Street.
3
From "summer soldiers and sunshine patriots" to lynching returning soldiers and Hmong/ARVN soldiers, we have arrived to this point. The nativist of the 20th Century is present in the personage of the 45th President of our nation. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
3
Americans are born all over the world every day it's just that they never get here. America is not a place, or papers, or any of that. It's an idea, a dream to be free, to be your own man and fulfill your destiny. These interpreters, or soldiers, should have a straight path to these shores after fighting alongside our soldiers. Straight path. If we can't do that then we've lost sight of what America is.
115
@North Carolina
Amen a true statement Americans are everywhere, people who want to be free and care about their fellow human being. Who have character and integrity
America was detoured at a weight station but we are roaring back now. There is to much at stark for us to take an intermission with the world
For anyone not born in the USA, distinguished service as a member of our armed forces should be an automatic and immediate path to citizenship. That we have deported people even today who served in our armed forces is a national disgrace. How can we allow this to happen? Bring home all those brave men and women, AND their families, who believed in America and were prepared to make the final sacrifice for her. Anything short of this is betrayal.
133
Why does it seem the best Americans are the ones wanting to move here? Why do so many native-born Americans work so hard to prove themselves unworthy?
3
@newsmaned We are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Even the "American Indians" immigrated from Asia.
1
Face it, the USA is a sick country in which everything is transactional and every transaction hides a scam.
In addition to the betrayal of Iraqi and Afghan interpreters, consider the US combat veterans thrown away with bad discharges and no benefits after they showed symptoms of PTSD.
3
You know the thing I dislike the most about being a veteran? It is being stereotyped. It is constant and it is so very wrong, there are many things people in the services do, wearing sun glasses while holding a weapon is very rare and getting to be just too much! Being a vet did not make me crazy or a hero anymore than becoming a dad did, it was my privilege and honor to be allowed to serve, but STOP the stereotyping, PLEASE! (Also such populous behavior just reminds me of when it was popular to spit on us if we wore our uniform in public.) Just chill!
1
There is no end to the line-up of people the U.S. has used and discarded. We betray good people every single day. This is what it now means to be American. Disgraceful.
1
So what do we say to a disabled American veteran who finds himself competing for jobs with H1B visa foreigners, with the H1B getting the spot because he's not disabled and will work longer for less?
What do you say to 95% of Americans who have no service, no immediate family members who serve or have served, who think they are patriotic when they patronizingly thank us while reminding us of a distant dead uncle or cousin who served, while openly discriminating against us disabled vets with a smile?
Sane, outgoing, friendly, dependable, smart, we are supposed to be all of those things, but civilians regularly see us as crazy because we did abnormal things, (strike 1), withdrawn because we know when a civilian hates us so we filter what we say (strike 2), and when we confront such people about their communication problems with us we're unfriendly, (STRIKE THREEEEE).
We've all seen the strike 1, 2, 3 civilian coward line put down so many times by so many civilians and institutions it's disgusting, watching that lame discrimination pitch wind up, that friendly failure with a smile.
We all know the object of the civlian discrimination failure pitch is to avoid talk of veteran dependability and intelligence, because civilians can't match it.
So tell me why I feel disgusted when I see someone who hasn't served and never will acting like a patriot, while our allies act more American than you?
Regrets?
My regret is you have but one lapel flag pin to waste for your country. Hoo hah.
4
@angry veteran: You say to the party of the bosses, "you are fired."
1
We get the thank you for your service, however, when it comes to civilians protecting us in matters like medical or housing we got more support in having non-citizen protection.
America been alerted to the horror story of veterans not getting timely treatment or correct treatment. I was in critical condition standing in a long line at the VA Hospital minutes from death with a foot size tumor in my abdomen, with tears running down my face. I was met by an unsympathetic receptionist that was relieved off her duties. That was Aug 2017 with emergency surgery!
Prior to taking a Uber to the emergency room, I took the doctor that I believed I had cancer because of the research I found on the internet.
The VA Hospital is run by the same people at the top that runs the VA Housing division that for the last decade have failed the Veterans in not understanding Jan 8, 2010, VA Circular 26-10-02 (VA HAMP) that made it mandatory that the loss mitigate procedure of underwriting the Dept of VA loans in default for the 2% interest rate 40yr term modification.
20,000 military families denied their rights of having an FDR type HOLC bailout that refinanced 800,000 white families, yet Obama did not follow through on the VA HAMP requirements!
The VA like some courts after DNA test has been performed and points to the banks as the rapist the VA wants to stand by the wrong ruling made in 2010! Attn VA the 2013 Independent Foreclosure Review Board was the DNA results!
@Charles Reed : It is the lie of the right wing Republicans that illegals get more and better care than veterans. It is also the Republican lies that we Democrats prefer illegals to veterans. If you look at Congressional history it is the Democrats that have always pushed for more and better treatment of our military and veterans wheile the only support you get from the Republicans is a waving flag on Veterans Day. It has been the Democrats that stopped the Republicans from closing all veteran hospitals and retirement homes. It was Republicans who ended the medical care programs for retired veterans and their families. I know this because my father was carrier Air Force that enter the military in 1939 and retired in 1964. I remember the REpublican efforts to end medical care of dependants in military hospitals and created CHAMPUS which was far inferior to Medicare.
1
How ironic that we have a coward as POTUS, while genuine heroes that have fought for our country are kept out and/or derided.
It is time for true patriots to step up and vote the disgraceful Republican Enablers out of office.
7
My father, an immigrant to the US, joined the Army just 3 years after arriving, and fought in World War II because...”America was a country worth fighting for!” You can read his story in “Private Good Luck”
3
If 75% of Americans say that "immigration is a good thing" how did we end up with a president like Trump?
How did we end up with a Nazi like figure in the WH called Steven Miller orchestrating a policy of hate and exclusion?
Vote!
9
Beautiful article. It makes me sick to read about our treatment of these folks who sacrificed so much for our country. Horrible.
5
"Ted" certainly understands America, and is much more of an American patriot, than the divisive, hate-mongering, self-indulgent grifter Donald Bone Spurs Trump
5
My father was born in Berlin, Germany in 1926.
He arrived at Ellis Island in NYC in 1940, unable to speak the language and a member of an unpopular religion.
He stone reads merely:
SSgt US Army
WWII
“Proudly served”
157
@Nick Knobil: I am tearing up. God bless your father. He was a true American.
18
One can support Trump’s quite reasonable immigration immigration limits and support taking care of personnel that support our stupid foreign wars. I say this as a veteran of these wars. On the actual ground. Not on some base or FOB.
17
@John, I agree one can support reasonable immigration limits while at the same time allowing personnel who serve our military to be allowed to enter the US.
That said, it is not up to Trump to dictate our immigration policies. This responsibility belongs to the Congress and Trump could and should be working with them to enact a comprehensive plan. Likewise, Trump uses immigrants as scapegoats to divide the US and constantly tells lies to further his political agenda. Americans can agree in general and still disagree about the means employed by our political leaders. I, too, am a veteran with 30 years total service.
35
@John Reasonable immigration limits? The US is detaining people seeking asylum for months and even years. We need comprehensive immigration reform, but in the meantime we need to treat people humanely, not separate children from parents, and not lock them up in inadequate prisons or put ever increasing and dangerous obstacles in their way.
36
@John: Trump's immigration limits are phony. Do you know that 90% of the illegals fly in from Europe or Asia on visitor visas and then stay. But Trump is focusing only on the 10% that come over the southern border to take the low paid jobs that Americans will not take. If Trump really wanted to end illegal immigration he would do 2 things, 1) make E Verify mandatory, and 2) prosecute those employers who hire illegals. But neither will ever happen under a Republican Administration because the employers need those illegals.
53
Deep & important reporting, though with the usual, historically myopic NY Times twist of blaming all ills on the current President.
Some who have served without the benefit of US citizenship are, like my partner, Canadian. Surname Le Blanc. An Acadian (look it up) who spoke a French dialect later helpful in his interaction with Montagnards in the highlands of South Vietnam.
He enlisted at age 20 & served as a Green Beret for 18 years, lost 10 men under his command, was near-mortally wounded 3 times, & took out enemies of freedom all around the world.
He finally became a US citizen long after retirement from the US military - though citizenship had been offered to him more than once - after he was invited to witness his arch-enemy Pol Pot's demise. That sealed the deal.
Martin is a very proud American, Canadian, Acadian & as a former POW, has been treated with great care by the VA.
I am a second generation immigrant, like millions of others. This country is based on beautiful and powerful promises, the rule of law, a constitution, the chance to succeed with hard work. My parents should have immigrated to the land down under.
2
@Harry B Still not too late!
@Harry B Before pining for Australia, you might check out what's taking place on Nauru. This is not to justify what we are doing - it's inexcusable - but hatred of the Other is a Western thing these days - Europe, Australia, here - and I am so glad your parents chose the USA, so you can be here to be part of the solution. Peace!
The individuals that Klay writes of didn't ally themselves with our soldiers because they love the POTUS, or American TV, or red states or blue states, they support an idea, the ideals of American democracy. Equal justice before the law, free and fair elections, an absence of corruption in daily life and politics, and all the other American ideals that, despite the reality, motivate millions of not only American citizens but also those hoping to become American citizens. They are our strongest allies in the battle to make the American ideals an American reality.
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The concept of camaraderie among American soldiers and those civilians and soldiers of the countries America has chosen to do battle in is not a "thing" to Donald Trump or to many who have not lived the experience. It is not even a concept.
I experienced a small, involuntary gasp as I scrolled down this article, bringing into view the first picture and recognizing instantly the half-lit unit insignia on shoulder of Ali's uniform: the Blackhorse patch of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the same unit I served in in Vietnam 50 years ago. I immediately thought of Sgt. Singh, the interpreter for the Cav's forward aid station, a gentleman and a gentle man whose smile was a permanent feature.
And I teared up, not knowing. Yes, Singh would be welcome in my home to this day.
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Donald Trump thinks that one demonstrates bravery by hurting other people. He can't understand the courage demonstrated by Ted or Ali, and he sees helping them as weakness rather than strength.
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Politicians have turned immigration into the Gordian knot of issues with no intention to ever even partially solve the issue, because they wouldn't have the ability to paint other sides as extremists any more. Outside of the game show portions of Presidential debates, there really has not been sufficient public discourse over what people who have studied the issue extensively say is the right quota and course of actions to take in the area of general numbers and priorities, which leaves the average citizen who just wants the right thing done left with a spinning head. People like Ted (the Iraqi Interpretor) should be a no brainer, his willingness to put his life on the line for us shows that he belongs here a lot more than someone who was native born and would never serve, but talk a good game. Ted's case and people like him should be easy, they should immediately be prioritized, go to very front of the line and step in front of even the people buying their way in by making US. If the paperwork and clearance is going to take a while, evacuate him to some warm sunny island for safety and pay his expenses, consider it back pay!
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@Kevin left out a word
Politicians have turned immigration into the Gordian knot of issues with no intention to ever even partially solve the issue, because they wouldn't have the ability to paint other sides as extremists any more. Outside of the game show portions of Presidential debates, there really has not been sufficient public discourse over what people who have studied the issue extensively say is the right quota and course of actions to take in the area of general numbers and priorities, which leaves the average citizen who just wants the right thing done left with a spinning head. People like Ted (the Iraqi Interpretor) should be a no brainer, his willingness to put his life on the line for us shows that he belongs here a lot more than someone who was native born and would never serve, but talk a good game. Ted's case and people like him should be easy, they should immediately be prioritized, go to very front of the line and step in front of even the people buying their way in by making US INVESTMENTS. If the paperwork and clearance is going to take a while, evacuate him to some warm sunny island for safety and pay his expenses, consider it back pay!
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@Kevin
You left out the key word, "Republican" politicians, who have created this problem
Has Tom Cotton (Senator, R, Arkansas) been any help?
And he is so ""Proud" of his service.
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America at war and defining America by its wars?
Historically, original America at war (1776 through 1850) was for all America being a nation of immigrants more similar to a particular nation in old world sense (French, British, Germans) than not, and pitted against English, French, Spanish especially and particular Native American tribes, and only after a long period of time has America, and America at war, come to be defined as a collection of various people, cultures, races, ethnic groups, religions united in loose harmony and against especially any manifestation within and without of a particular people or race or culture or religion which would seek to dominate the rest, meaning America has become over its history an alliance building project within and without, and this is admirable, but the problem is this unity has been much too loose, never really holding unless at war and trying to fold some other group or groups somewhere into the fold, so if America expects to continue in its vision it has to tighten up somewhat, play down even further differences between people, encourage interbreeding between races, ethnic groups, and pursue avenues of knowledge, science, creativity in arts which transcend differences and weld people together even further,--in short America has to have a much clearer and universal vision than today, a vision which causes people to fuse and transcend regardless of whether a war exists to be fought or not. We seek automatic fusion of peoples.
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Lately, I have been thinking that the promise of America is broken and I am not sure that it can be repaired. This piece does offer some reason for hope.
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This excellent article best describes the turmoil facing far too many of our fighting forces. The nationality of anyone wearing the uniform of the American Armed Forces should never be questioned or set aside as a reason to question them.
Trump's frequently thoughtless "steps" are an insult to our soldiers.
To one and all I say "Thank You."
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How appropriate to read on the eve of Veteran’s Day. Thank you to all our veterans - the Phils, the Bens, the Alis and the Teds. Call me crazy - but if you serve America at great risk to yourself and family, those doors in the wall should swing open and a grateful America welcome you with open arms, not suspicion and hostility. Immigration policy should start there as we hopefully turn to a better, positive direction in 2020.
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I lived overseas for about 16 years and during that time I had many conversations with the locals about America. Some of these people had complaints about us (the 2nd Iraq war, Vietnam, etc.) while others had a rather naive idea about our wealth (while watching "The Sound of Music" with our maid in Cairo she pointed to the Trapp family mansion and said "like your home in U.S.?").
But the one thing that always seemed to come through in all of these conversations was their belief in the freedoms that America represented. It was clear they yearned for that and believed it could be found in our country.
I've been home now for about five years and I'm finding myself increasingly saddened by the hatred that has infected our country. It's certainly difficult to feel free if one has to be careful of what they say for fear of offending someone. The thought now occurs to me that having any of the people I met overseas as a guest here would turn into a great disappointment, for both them and myself.
I would never have thought that our own government, primarily at the behest of our president, would have become the divisive voice it now is. It's ugly and it demeans the very thing we stand for and the thing that foreigners seem to universally admire us for.
Maybe we were never quite the country we thought we were but now we don't even seem to share that dream. I seem to have awakened into a nightmare.
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@Jack Hartman -- I do think it's true that America in reality was not the country that we idealized it was. We always had racial hatred and discrimination and an inequality that favored the rich over the poor. But, the difference is that now those animosities are out in the open, exposed. Americans seem now revel in being able to express their long-held hostility, and Trump has brought that about. He has made no pretense of being interested in unifying the country. He prefers that Americans be divided. Many Americans prefer things as they are today and feel free to express their resentment and dislike of others. Maybe it is better to have these things out in the open so we can decide which side to be on. As long as Trump is president, we will be divided because that's the America he envisions and the America he promotes, and it's the America that many citizens want to live in.
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The ideals inscribed in the Declaration of Independence reflect what Lincoln called the "better angels of our nature." But he knew all too well that other kinds of angels also inhabited the human psyche. Much of the conflict in American history stems from a struggle for dominance between these two sides of our character.
The optimism which enabled the founding generation to subscribe to the principle of human equality clashed with a paranoia fueled by racism which throughout our history has driven many Americans to describe their nation as a white-man's country. Fearful that people from different cultures would undermine democracy, the nativists, themselves, accomplished that task by denying the vote to blacks and attempting to make it harder for immigrants to achieve citizenship.
Flawed human beings, with our tendency to fear those who differ from us, can never fully achieve the ideals which we claim define us as a people. But we have never repudiated them, and we can demonstrate our continued adherence to them by how we vote next year.
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"...if that's the case, then we really need to do a gut check on whether we really are the people we say we are" say a guy whose Iraqi person that was risked everything to help American and was then killed waiting for us to live up to our commitment.
If?!!
Is there really any doubt? We are not who we say we are and Phil Klay's article perfectly illustrates this.
We fight for power and natural resources (three cheer for our most recent military acquisition and standing guard of the oil in northeast Syrian). Hip, hip, hooray!
Fighting for freedom, democracy and human rights got sent to showers a long time ago.
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@Mary Fischer
If we are not living according to our values, then we have to do something about it.
"We" fight for power and natural resources...is a very damning statement and it is true. Fighting for freedom, democracy, or human rights...is just the tale that was told by Reagan, Cheney, Bush, et al, as they pursued power and resources.
We were warned by Eisenhower about the military-industrial complex, and here we are.
If we the people are to not just give up and go silently into the night while celebrities attend fashion shows, we must understand that it will not come from marching in protest. This was clear when Scott Walker broke the unions in Wisconsin saying of the 200,000 protesters..."they are having fun."
It will take huge effort, creativity, culture change and educating ourselves to see clearly. We the people have to take back power from the ruling party that led us down this terrible degrading path.
We need analytical skills, each of us, individually. We have to educate ourselves about what U.S. elites have been doing all this time to oppose our supposed national ideals. Part conspiracy, part win-lose mentality...played out with the "best of intentions."
We need to take the log out of our eyes collectively, and stop relying on the military industrial complex for safety. Safety lies in good values and behavior.
Start with friendship with neighbors and taking care of our allies, like the Kurds and our Iraqi/Afghan interpreters.
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Thank you. Americans who love Donald Trump forget that the world became significantly safer and more peaceful during the 20th Century, because of the work we did to promote peace in the world. They got out of actually fighting in wars and they brag about their bravery. They think the terrible things we do in other countries now, like abandoning the Kurds, will have no consequences at home, as if there is no internet, no international flights, we are isolated like in the days of Columbus. Our greatest strength has always been our diversity, our acceptance of differences, the great melting pot exemplified by New York City. As a nation, we are being tyrannized by a small number of small-minded Americans who happen to make up the majority in big states in the middle of the country, and it will be to our collective peril.
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@Cathy
Our greatest strength has been our unity. It's "e pluribus unum". Not e pluribus diversity. That is a lefty talking point that flies in the face of all the evidence. People came here to be Americans not to just live in a mini wherever they were from that happened to be located on this continent. Iraq and much of the Middle East, for example, is in chaos because they are so "diverse". Each tribe or sect is in near constant conflict with all the others. It's like that everywhere "diversity" is prevalent. Dictators thrive in diverse nations as one group is pitted against another and a strong man is needed to keep a lid on things. What happened in Iraq when we took the lid off is the proof. In ww2 people from all backgrounds and socioeconic and political sides went to war because they were Americans first and foremost. The identity politics of the democrats and the left has given trump. If their not careful it will happen again.
3
@Al someone did not read the part in the article where over 100 years ago, people from other countries fought for America and were treated horrifyingly upon the return because of some right-wing fantasy that they weren’t American enough. The right has played identity politics since the founding of the country, pitting us against each other because of the color of our skin or our religion. Like it or not, we are the most diverse nation on earth and their are millions here who still retain their language and customs of their old country while proudly calling themselves Americans. By the way, almost all of the terrorist attacks since 9/11 in this country have been done by right wing, white men who were born here and called themselves Americans.
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@Al Hi Al. A white Virginia slaveholder, a black fisherman from Pennsylvania, an immigrant from the West Indies islands, a Boston lawyer, a native born, an Englishman, an Irish man, a German man, and a Pole sat together, starved and shivered. They were planning a Christmas raid to cross an icy Delaware River. On the other side they fought against the most powerful country on this blue planet. Many they fought were mercenaries hired by a King. After, some of the German mercenaries stayed here to become Americans. With this Christmas season let us remember who fought for freedom. Would you have been a Loyalist and elected to live in lily-white England instead of staying in a country where reality never really reached as high as our aspirations led us? Would you have rubbed shoulders with the shivering soldiers at Valley Forge because none of them had a birth certificate certifying they were born in Idaho?
Bless the pluribus that becomes unity when it is important.
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History is always repeating itself. I hope a lot of people read this article. Most of us know very little about the realities on the ground. Those who sacrificed so much on America’s behalf, deserve a chance to live freely.
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@Umar Sadly, Umar, Trump and his supporters don't read anything like this article. They revel in their ignorance, and from ignorance comes what is described here.
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@Umar Exactly correct! Don't forget what we did to the Filipinos who bravely fought the Japanese with the promise they could become US citizens. After the war, we reneged on our promises. History repeats itself and we don't learn from our mistakes.
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The British empire also employed colonials to help out with enforcement of their military occupations.
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@Adalberto Their colonies, too, hoped participation would bring freedom. It did not.
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"In postwar America only certain versions of self-sacrifice began to count. They were those that could be interpreted as sacrifice on behalf of a very particular, racially, ethnically and culturally defined version of Americanness."
Mr. Klay is speaking of WWI here. It could be used today regarding the Kurds and sadly, Ted.
Americans - reach for the better angles of your nature. I beg you. This is what makes us special. This is our "exceptionalism". Welcoming everyone is our strength. We often fail but we must keep trying .Without it we are just a third rate nation.
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We should no longer conduct these wars to begin with. Our children's lives and the enormous cost are not worth the so-called global influence.
That said, those who have helped us should be allowed to immigrate, if they chose, after rigorous vetting. So too any family they sponsor once here.
We have the right as a sovereign nation to control immigration. Helping our soldiers abroad can be one criteria but ending this debate should mean ending these seemingly endless wars in the first place.
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Not sure what the point of this article is. That we need immigrants to fight our wars? Does this mean the thousands of Guatemalans at the border should go straight to recruitment stations? The US population in 1917 was ~ 100 million. It's now over 330 million. The fact that in a population that size only a tiny fraction serves should be the issue. Why does one persons kid get deployed 5 times while trumps, bushs, Cheneys and congressional kids never go once? A draft would maybe even things out. I'm very sympathetic to the Iraqi (and other allies) that fight with us, and we owe them, but maybe not starting endless wars and expecting a tiny few to carry the burden is a bigger problem.
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@Al while I agree wholeheartedly with the idea that we should have a draft it’s never going to happen. For the exact reason why you and I believe there should be one. Because bush trump cheney and almost all of the republicans won’t even think about having their kids serve anything other than their own
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@JD Trump and his ilk have always managed to get out of serving in wars (or serving at all) if they so desire. Money and power can get you anything in this country. A draft would not change that.
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@Judy you are right. Rump dodged the draft with phony bone spurs.
4
Absolutely, those who at one time serving with our people overseas in a combat environment deserve to come to the US and fulfill their dreams of freedom. They made an heroic sacrifice unlike 99% of most Americans who simply say.."thank you for your service.."
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@RH ...or the scores of Americans who don't recognize what such sacrifice means for them or their families...another argument for required military or civilian service...
5
Congratulation to Phil Klay in his fundamental understanding as to what Americanism is. America has been, and I hope will be again, more than just a country but rather an incredibly important ideal for so many millions who don’t live in it.
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@Fulvio Dobrich Though I recommend your comment, It tends to make believe there is only USA which has democracy at its base. Please wake up and travel a bit to see that the "American way" is far away from countries such as Canada and The EU countries where people are first, not money.
7
My dad was a WWII veteran. The hardest part he said, was being one on one with one single enemy, and the enemy also spoke English, if only a few words. I always thought that was very interesting.
What is one thing I love about New York? You can walk down the streets and hear a multitude of dialects, literally from all over the world. A person can be so at home in the midst of knowing you all come to share this little haven, New York. And when you say and hear and share the words “hello” and/or “thank you” in English, no matter the accent, it takes me back to what my dad found in his army days - we’re all just people trying to do our everyday part.
Let us rejoice in that, not nullify it.
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Americans only saw a few months of WW1 and only a few years of WW2 not like Europeans and the Commonwealth. But they certainly know how to play up positively their military efforts in all wars including those that failed like Korea and Vietnam and most lately those in the Middle East. American life needs rethinking at home with so many homeless, so many depressed, so many badly educated. The country is still a beautiful place, nature has spoilt the USA, and it is worth valuing this more than anything involving the military.
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@Jo Ann those few months and few years turned the tide of the wars. We left our people’s blood on the battlefield so you don’t have to speak German. Many of us Americans are aware of our shortcomings but certainly should not be lectured by European nations we fought for and then helped to rebuild.
32
@Jo Ann I have to agree with you about WW I and II although we were in WW II for 4+ years. We played a very big role in it and basically won it on two fronts. More important we rebuilt the cities and economy of our enemies. As for Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East, I don't know any people proud and bragging about our involvement in these places, especially Vietnam and the Middle east. I am ashamed to say I am a Vietnam vet.
19
@Jo Ann
I resent this criticism. Over 500,000 Americans gave their lives in WWI and WWII. If not for our involvement in WWII the outcome for Europeans may have been very different. We lost another more than 50,000 in the Korean war that many would argue it was not in any way a failure. The immigration issue today is being felt not just in America. All across Europe there debate about how much immigration is too much and whether nations have gone too far. For good reason we should be careful about who we welcome into this great country while doing our level best to bring in those who want to be Americans. We are far from perfect but we aspire.
11
Better vote Democratic!
Restore respect and decent treatment of our allies, so they will trust and work with us in the future.
Restore honor to the military.
Build the State Department back up so the US can help the world become a better place.
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@As-I-Seeit
The State Department, most often working with the CIA has no mission to make the world a better place, and is purposely staffed with people who believe in the US's god given right to dominance with destabilization and regime change for any country that refuses to submit to US demands...
4
Not just 'welcome.' Brilliant.
Would thats its brilliance could shine a light on the xenophobic misery that so many of the MAGA brigade exhibit.
Thank you, Phil Klay, for your first book that I so enjoyed. And for this. I don't pray, but I fervently hope that voices like yours can rise above the no nothing-flag waving rabble that pervades Facebook, Fox, ad infinitum.
106
Our current military model, with its repeated deployments and its "we can always vacuum you back into the system" clause is extraordinarily exploitative of U.S. citizens in the military. "Exploitative" isn't nearly a harsh enough word for how we treat others who work with and fight alongside our military, as the case of the Kurds in Syria has shown yet again. While Donald Trump has made this system even worse than it was, he didn't invent it, and the system has been unjust since long before his presidency. This article is very welcome.
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