OlderAngelina Jolie: We Have a Moral Obligation to Help Iraqi Refugees
We have finally reached a point where humanitarian assistance, from us and others, can have an impact.
UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie visited Iraq earlier this month and penned her experience for The Washington Post.
Here are some excerpts from Angie’s excellent opinion piece: “During my trip I also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has announced the creation of a new committee to oversee issues related to internally displaced people, and a pledge of $40 million to support the effort.
“My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis.
“Today’s humanitarian crisis in Iraq — and the potential consequences for our national security — are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won’t explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?”
Read the full article at WashingtonPost.com.
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588 Comments
#317: Crystal, don’t discount the importance of oil in your life or in the lives of those you care about. When you and your family are able get rid of your cars and the petroleum products that abound in your household or forgo the value of electricity, etc. then you can talk.
Where is the oil that you are talking about if we are taking it away from the Iraqis? Where is the revenue from its sale? Why didn’t we just appropriate Kuwait when we won the war against Saddam? It’s easier. You are simply a parrot. You’re just repeating what you hear and read like so many people.
Credit JJB.
That’s not a newsboy, that’s Brad Pitt! The 44-year-old actor looked not a day over 16 in his cap and slouchy ensemble on the Texas set of his latest film, Tree of Life.
According to a local news station, Texans spotted Brad and Angie yesterday in Smithville, a town known as “Texas’ best kept secret.” Something tells us they’re going to need a new motto soon enough!
Sean Penn also stars in Tree of Life. Perhaps he’ll bring Petra Nemcova down for some double dates?
http://www.pagesix.com/files/gallery/brad-on-set01.jpg
CMAR
love your posts - very well said
305 shut up @ 02/28/2008 at 6:08 pm
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Anybody can suggest anything!
She’s doing an excellent job as goodwill ambassador, and has expressed her opinion as to what could/should be done to help the people who became refugees as a result of the occupation. Read properly before you speak.
#328, damn he looks good.
#316: crystal clear, I apologize. Did not read the rest of your comment until I came back to it. I thought you were one of those who keeps saying we are there only for the oil.
My mistake…mea culpa. I agree with you on your opinion.
look liike Brad have a new hair cut. I want to see him without the cap, i miss his hair short.
Lady G @ 02/28/2008 at 6:49 pm
Thanks for posting. Papa Pitt is cute and looks young and happy. I am looking forward to reading more information about the Movie and the plot.
Brad got a haircut. He looks great.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Smithville!!
listen you all gorgeous people!when MF char ask me when is my birthday,i said to her, feb.30.sorry ate char!!!!! i was just joking.then i ask JEN ANISTON bout my b-day ,when she’s about to say it,she lost her breath!!!!! i mean she’s not breathin anymore since then.so der ,i dont have a b-day!!heheehehe.
# 294 hmm @ 02/28/2008 at 5:58 pm I like and respect AJ a lot, but I don’t think that our presidential candidates need to go through her to decide what our Iraq policy should be. We are in a financial freefall and we cannot afford to be in Iraq indefinitely. We are spending billions of dollars a month and our economy is tanking, and Americans are losing their jobs and their homes. We need to find a way to withdraw from Iraq over the next two years and invite the rest of the world to get involved in the rebuilding of the region. The US is not the only country that benefits from peace in the middle east and its time to get everyone else involved. Hopefully, our new President (go Obama) will take a different route to foreign policy than Bush and we can get some things accomplished.
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Do you realize what you are saying? It’s the same thing as: We took a sh’t in Iraq, and now other countries need to come in to clean up the mess. We are out a here.
Re: 290 cook @ 02/28/2008 at 5:53 pm
Hi cook,
ITA on both your points. Many people are armchair critics of the military.
Military personnel often are the only ones in a position of advantage to organize and follow through especially when dealing with such a large number of refugees. Private contractors are too expensive and don’t have the influence nor the employee “power” to accomplish such a major task.
Brad in Texas @ 02/28/2008 at 6:45 pm
http://www.pagesix.com/story/brad+lights+lone+star+state
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Brad cut his hair. He looks so young. He is hotter than ever.
the real tita @ 02/28/2008 at 6:48 pm
Where is the oil that you are talking about if we are taking it away from the Iraqis?
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That is the $64 million dollar question that needs to be answered. Why is it that despite the US presence in Iraq, which has the 4th largest proven oil reserves, the price of oil is sky rocketing?
With all its oil riches, Iraq is still devastated and unrecognizable. Who takes care of the oil money?
With regards to Kuwait, the Kuwait government paid for the war expenses by selling cheap oil to the US for a certain number of years.
THE PRESENCE OF US IN IRAK IS OCCUPATION, THAT’S THE TRUE !!
THEY SAY THEY WON’T LIVE IRAQ BEFORE 200???, BUT SHAME ON USA, THE KILLED THOUSANDS OF CIVILIAN IRAQIS, SPOILED THEIR OIL, CAUSE YES, THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE THIS WAR IF IRAK HADN’T OIL .
anustin–you even tricked MF, shame on you
OK, the a JJB fan sent an email to the idiot ‘psychologist’ who was quoted on that stupid ABC cr@p of an article. She responded back!!! I am not going to cut and paste, since she didn’t post it here, but I’ll give you the link to the jjb page…
http://thejjb.com/topic/238320?page=421
303 T&L @ 02/28/2008 at 6:07 pm
I’m proud to be Angelina’s fan. I think this is a very well written opinion and I concur with her assessment of the refugee situation. I’m not pro war by any means but the fact remains that the U.S. needs to clean up the havoc it’s created in Iraq.
And, by sheer virtue of being penned by Angelina Jolie, this opinion will travel the world over and will be read by millions of people. IMO, it helps by pressuring the U.S. presidential candidates to state their position on the Iraq refugee crisis . . .
ITA
it is already all over the blogs and many tabloid magazines (which cater for the most part to a dumb demographic) reaching people that usually are more prone to pick up and read a gossip magazine than a newspaper. ONLY ANGELINA could accomplish this.
Very true! Celebs, especially a famous and beautiful movie star, have quick access to the media , and the attention of the public, much more compared to, say, a Harvard professor. Who better than Angelina Jolie!!! The UNHCR is lucky to have her!
http://www.splashnewsonline.com/2008/02/28/brad-pitt-lands-in-texas/#comment-518844
New pic of Brad.
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I admire that Angie does not pay any attention to strangers’ opinion off her. I admire that tremendously.
I’m deeply disappointed in Angie. Normally I’m supportive of her. But I wish she would stay out of Global Political Issues. The problems in the Middle East are more complex than dealing with displaced Iraqis and their immediate needs. National Security is at stake, both theirs and most especially ours. Let’s not forget what happened on September 11.
God bless the Troops out there, I served there too. But simply showing up in the Green Zone with a flak vest while being covered down by the US Armed Forces does not give Angelina Jolie the bigger picture, nor the capacity to fully comprehend the dangers that lurk in a region of unrest.
It takes a lot to scare me…especially on the internet but I have to say, this shut up person scares the lving daylights out of me. By my last count, there are 311 comments on this thread and 52 of them is by shut up (yeah, yeah…I have enough time on my hands to count). Seriously though, this is way beyond not liking AJ, this person is clearly unhinged which is really sad to see but you know what’s sadder still… while this person here ranting and raving like a lunatic in the market place, wasting all her energy, she fails to realize AJ will continue live a full life and no angry rant, No insulting words….not even the evil thoughts of bitter hags can take that away.
Instead of getting angry with this silly hens, I’m just gonna shake my head and feel sorry for them. Seriously, can you imagine how miserable their lives are? I don’t even want to go there.
To AJ…I say BRAVO and keep on keeping on.
Indie
I like your style…your posts are few and far between but when do they come, it’s always with pearls of wisdom.
Thanks Jared! You’ll always be the best.
And a big hello to all JP fans.
Thats really a good op-ed, its simply written and yet the message is very clear.
Angie is much better than most newspaper editors who gives their opinions based on what they hear and read only and never been to where the action is. Angie’s piece is credible since she made it a point to visit and talk to the people concerned herslef and see the real situation first hand.
337 Beck @ 02/28/2008 at 6:53 pm
look liike Brad have a new hair cut. I want to see him without the cap, i miss his hair short.
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Maybe he looks like he did in MaMS again.
Indie @ 02/28/2008 at 4:01 pm
to Francesca @ 02/28/2008 at 3:03 pm
She is not talking about perfect picture if you actually read her piece. The UNHCR have not been able to have a presence in Iraq for a few years because the security of the field workers could not be guaranteed. For the first time in many years, they will be able to get in and actually be able to have assist the refugees. The $261m dollars she is talking about was even mentioned as being less than daily budget for the war. My undestanding of her piece is that if there is a scale back of the troops, there will be some that will stay behind mostly for humanitarian work and to maintain peace and not as an occupying force, the same thing that we have been asking for in Darfur.
You might not like her, but you have to admit that she is knowledgeable on the refugee issue and if being in a place for more a long period of time is a prerequisite to advocating an issue, then most people in the state department or even the president cannot make policies since they make short visits and get advice from people on the ground.
Her visit much to the chagrin of her detractors have yielded some concrete positive outcome, and it shows she was was working in tandem with the UNHCR. So at today, there is promise of protection for the agency workers, there is $40m being made available by the Iraqi prime minister and there will be a sense for the refugees that someone is actively working on their behalf and that they have not been forgotten- that is progress any which way you look at it.
It is also foolhardy to disregard what she is saying that if these refugee crisis is not sorted it could be a breeding ground for future terrorists, that is an undeniable fact.
Thanks Jared for this thread, this is the kind of debate that I would rather have, there is no doubt that neither the right nor the left will be happy with what she has to say and that tells me she is more right than they will want to accept. I was against the war, but whether you were for or against the war, it is irrefutable that we need to clean up the mess that we created.
Good evening to the JPs fans thanks for the new thread Jared.
Bravo Angie well said, love her. She will always be blessed.
As carolina says hi regulars, smile
just got on this is going to be a hot thread will continue to catch up on the thread and of course the controversy Hot topic!!!!
345 Crystal clear @ 02/28/2008 at 7:07 pm the real tita @ 02/28/2008 at 6:48 pm
Where is the oil that you are talking about if we are taking it away from the Iraqis?
===========================
That is the $64 million dollar question that needs to be answered. Why is it that despite the US presence in Iraq, which has the 4th largest proven oil reserves, the price of oil is sky rocketing?
Because OPEC sets the price, not the US!
With all its oil riches, Iraq is still devastated and unrecognizable. Who takes care of the oil money?
The Iraqi Ministry that handles oil. Hope they do a good job!
I bet American oil companies are negotiating to acquire lucrative many-decades concessions, and have them signed before the coalition has to leave.
2008 Press Releases
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and Actress and Humanitarian Angelina Jolie Meet with Abd al-Samad Sultan, Iraq’s Minister of Displacement and Migration
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and Angelina Jolie, Actress and Humanitarian Visit Baghdad to Discuss Humanitarian Efforts
February 7, 2008
Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and Angelina Jolie traveled to Iraq February 7, 2008 to discuss U.S. humanitarian relief efforts for Internally Displaced Persons and conflict victims. They met with key Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Ministry of Displacement and Migration Abd al-Samad Sultan. They also met with United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Special Representative Steffan De Mistura, discussing the United Nations response to refugee-related issues in the region. Together, both held meetings with locally employed staff at the U.S. Embassy and internally displaced persons, discussing specific cases and needs.
Ms. Jolie was in the region six months ago on a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mission addressing these issues. On her return to the United States, she met with representatives of the Department of State, the National Security Council, and the Department of Homeland Security to discuss shared concerns about Internally Displaced Persons. This trip is a follow-up mission to support and implement joint solutions to assist Iraqi’s displaced population.
“I am concerned as a humanitarian, of course, but I am also concerned as an American about the desperation and aggression that can come from years of neglect and displacement,” Ms. Jolie said.
While in Baghdad, Under Secretary Dobriansky and Ms. Jolie met with Charge d’Affaires Patricia A. Butenis and General David H. Petraeus. They also shared a meal with members of the Multi-National Forces-Iraq and U.S. Foreign Service Officers.
Ms. Jolie expressed her strong support and gratitude for the dedication of U.S. troops and Foreign Service Officers. “I was glad to have the opportunity to come to Baghdad and thank them face-to-face,” she said.
# 208 Bijoux @ 02/28/2008 at 4:56 pm
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Thank you for pointing that out. I remember this because it was around the holidays when she addressed this speech to a gathering regarding the residual effects of Katrina on NOLA’s children. Of course, the haters don’t remember this because they were fixated on potato chips and trips to KFC.
# 256 luceabb @ 02/28/2008 at 5:22 pm
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ITA!
At this point, the nonmeeting is moot. The issue is about putting on a front and the tabloids/gossip bloggers enabling that behavior.
A person who is truly together doesn’t have to prove to the public that he/she is together. If you have it together, down to the bone, it is irrelevant what happens in the public and private spheres and what the public thinks. Lindsay Lohan, Amy Winehouse, Paris Hilton, etc. are perfect examples of putting on airs that they have it together when they clearly don’t. What’s galling the haters is, clearly, Angelina has it together.
340 !! @ 02/28/2008 at 6:57 pm
Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Smithville!!
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Sounds perfect, doesn’t it!
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