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
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?
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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?
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! :smile:
Hello and thank you to Guli, cook, Indie, African Girl and so many more for all the great comments and opinions shared today. Great reading and lots to think about…
Thanks JJ, Hello JP fans
http://bp3.blogger.com/_zrRaJhHm8p4/R8dSee6×7pI/AAAAAAAABCM/VDHYJx3Iggk/s1600-h/2008+st.+john+campaign.jpg
Beautiful…………………..
Off topic
From an interview with Janet Jackson
Q - I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but there’s an Internet war between Janet and Madonna fans. I know you and Madonna had some beef in the ’90s, but do you think the heat between Madonna and Janet fans has any validity?
Janet - No—I didn’t know this was going on. [Laughs]
Q - They argue, make videos and, of course, it’s mostly the gay fans. So people are curious: What are your thoughts on Madonna now?
Janet - I think she’s done wonderful things. She’s done great things in her career, in her life, and more power to her. I think fans will always be that way—always. They’re just incredibly loyal and they love you so much that if anyone says anything remotely negative, they’re there to just immediately jump on them. It’ll always be that way—very loyal.
Celebs know their fans are loyal.
link
http://64.78.33.181/features/index.cfm
Hi Indie, sorry it took me so long to response, I got lost in this thread once again and it’s only like #360 something posts..
How are you? Happy New Year to you too…( both New years… ;) )
Everything is well in my world..so far… :)
How’s everything at your end of the worlds?
Thanks Jared, Great Article by Angie. I am so proud of her
hi everybody, i´m back. i just saw the new pics of Brad, he looks good!!!
Hiya Alex…you are home already?…you are fast girl!. :)
wedding freak!u wish u will be called U.N ambassador.
Anonymous @ 02/28/2008 at 8:06 pm
http://bp3.blogger.com/_zrRaJhHm8p4/R8dSee6×7pI/AAAAAAAABCM/VDHYJx3Iggk/s1600-h/2008+st.+john+campaign.jpg
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Thank you for the link. She’s beautiful and so elegant.
Having just returned from a trip to Iraq, Angelina Jolie has penned an opinion piece for The Washington Post, in which she assessed her findings on how the war has devastated the people of that region: “More than 2 million people are refugees inside their own country — without homes, jobs and, to a terrible degree, without medicine, food or clean water. Ethnic cleansing and other acts of unspeakable violence have driven them into a vast and very dangerous no-man’s land. Many of the survivors huddle in mosques, in abandoned buildings with no electricity, in tents or in one-room huts made of straw and mud.” By way of fairness, the paper has opened up their op/ed section to Jennifer Aniston too, whose own column, “Whole Foods: Why Can’t They Stay Open Until 11?” should appear early next week.
:lol: :lol:
312 # 312 gena @ 02/28/2008 at 6:14 pm
One more comment; she is right about people being displaced and homeless being right picking for terrorist groups.
Very true! Refugee camps are the perfect place to recruit haters and future suicide bombers.
Especially when there are a large number of children involved. I see that her heart is focused on the children. Now that does not sound like a depressed, mentally unbalanced person. She wants to make a difference in the world. Great article.
Let haters (loosies) say what they want. It IS a great article.
# 369 estelle @ 02/28/2008 at 8:24 pm
Hi Estelle, yes and no gym today :)
I posted this on another blogsite earlier, and I am posting it here also cause it is also in reference to the haters/trolls on this site
Way to go Angie. I am so proud of you and what you are doing. Keep up the good work. The people on here that are calling Angie names, are people that don’t matter. Angelina Jolie is going to places and helping people that some of these people on this site would never set their foot on, or even interact with some of these people that Angie meet on her humanitarian trips, cause some of the people on this site, think they are better than those people, who have no homes to go too, no foods, no clothes, no water etc, but here we have someone that is willing to take the risk and go to these places and bring awareness of the plight of these forgotten refugees and people on here have the audacity to criticize her, let me see you all going to the places she has been to and continue to go too, then maybe I will listen to what you pathetic people have to say, otherwise shut the hell up about this woman and the work she is doing.
Angelina Jolie have met with heads of states; the US top General in Iraq, Presidents, people who are important and people who really matter, and people who listen to her, who respect her, and who are working together with her to help the refugees that are displaced all over the world, those are the people that matter, not a bunch of idiots on a blog site that have no life and only purpose in life is to hate on people they don’t know.
BRAVO TO ANGELINA JOLIE. GREAT & WELL WRITTEN ARTICLE. THANKS FOR BRINGING TO LIGHT THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES IN IRAQ AND AROUND THE WORLD
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