U.S.-Backed Head Of Iraqi Anti-Corruption Agency Now A ‘Destitute’ Undocumented Immigrant In U.S.
U.S.-Backed Head Of Iraqi Anti-Corruption Agency Now A ‘Destitute’ Undocumented Immigrant In U.S.
After the 2003 Iraq invasion, Coalition Provisional Authority chief Paul Bremer created a major anti-corruption ministry in Iraq, the Public Integrity Commission (CPI). Last October, former CPI commissioner Judge Radhi al-Radhi, who was appointed by Bremer and whose work has been praised by top U.S. officials, told Congress about the “rampant” corruption in Iraqi ministries that had cost Iraq as much as $18 billion.
Radhi’s gripping account detailed how Prime Minister Maliki tried to subvert his commission and how nearly four dozen of his staff members were killed. Subsequently, he was forced to seek asylum in the United States.
But today, Radhi is living as an undocumented immigrant in Virginia. In a Democratic Policy Committee hearing yesterday, former State Department official James Mattil told Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) that Radhi has no “official status” in the U.S. Currently, only a group of Quakers and Arthur Brennan, the former head of the department’s Office of Accountability and Transparency, are funding Radhi, he said:
DORGAN: And where is Judge al-Radhi at the moment?
MATTIL: Living in an apartment in Springfield, maybe for the rest of the month if they can get it worked out that somebody is going to pay for it. But he’s not allowed to work. He has no official status, so he’s not — he’s undocumented — I don’t know what he is. I mean, he’s lost. He’s a person without a country.
Watch it:
The State Department turned against Radhi, according to Mattil and Brennan. They “said a senior State Department official had ordered agency employees not to give al Radhi references or contact him” about the asylum. Radhi is “destitute” in his current situation, they noted.
An infuriated Dorgan slammed the administration’s neglect of an ally whose work it didn’t like. “This is about betrayal,” Dorgan declared. “[O]ur government turned against him. Our State Department and our embassy pulled the rug out from under him. … [W]e’re going to ask the State Department what in the hell are they thinking.”
The American asylum program for Iraqis who have aided U.S. forces in Iraq has “fallen far short of demand,” as the Washington Post noted in January. Even Iraq’s top anti-corruption official, who has “praised the U.S. invasion of Iraq,” is subject to complete abandonment.
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31 Responses to “U.S.-Backed Head Of Iraqi Anti-Corruption Agency Now A ‘Destitute’ Undocumented Immigrant In U.S.”
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Surely you jest! The GOP Administration throwing aside someone who doesn’t help their cause anymore? Un-possible!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:22 pmUh guys:
US Invasion built on lies. Blackwater Mercenaries. Occupation forces. Public Integrity Commission.
As they sand on Sesame Street: One of these things is not like the other. One of these things, doesn’t belong….
May 13th, 2008 at 8:27 pmI just can’t wait for another strongly worded letter from the DemoRATS!!!!
Phuck both parties!!!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:30 pmTypical Bushco: Play ball with us or we will shove the bat up your ass!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:33 pm“An infuriated Dorgan slammed the administration’s neglect of an ally whose work it didn’t like. “This is about betrayal,” Dorgan declared…
Betrayal, lying, criminality…all things that this despicable president and administration are good at.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:43 pmPlease follow up on this story, TP, so we can know what happens to Judge al-Rahdi & the others. Let us know what action Dorgan takes on this.
This is a disgrace.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:45 pmBetter luck next time!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:46 pmSupport the troops!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:48 pm“Undocumented immigrant”?
Hmmmmmmmmmm?
Isn’t that an……..ILLEGAL ALIEN?
Where’s Lou DOBBS when you need someone to whine and blame brown people for all the evils in this country? No INS agents in Washington?
Sadly, we screwed a lot of good Vietnamese people that helped us after getting into that clusterf*** and leaving. More proof we’re still a nation led by war profiteers with a “thanks, now go f*** yourself” graciousness.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pmIn the Bush “administration”, if you belong to something called Public Integrity Commission, then your actual job is too hide the corruption.
Silly man!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:55 pmMr. Dugan, you and I are both aware of what the US State Department is thinking - we got ours, now you go get yours. Thanks for the memories, now get lost. The real question is: WHAT IN THE HELL IS CONGRESS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS AND ALL THE OTHER BETRAYALS UNLEASHED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION? Unfortunately for me (and all the remaining sane thinking Americans) I think we both know the answer to that question as well - NOTHING. Thanks for the outrage though, I only hope you actually felt it.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:57 pmBushies don’t like people who actually qualified to do their jobs. It makes them feel inferior.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:05 pmWhy is this not the leading story on the “liberal” media? Why do we have to go into the weeds into one hillbilly primary?
May 13th, 2008 at 9:15 pmSorry. I guess that was a little bit elitist.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:20 pmthey use and abuse and discard for personal gain and control
May 13th, 2008 at 10:13 pmSounds like Mr. ar-Radhi knows a lot of stuff that Bush and Bush Jr. (al-Maliki) want to keep quiet:
May 13th, 2008 at 10:34 pmHave this guy come and talk to congress more, is it any surprise that the bush administration gives the cold shoulder to anyone with “accoutability” in the title of thier job accupation?
May 13th, 2008 at 11:18 pmDamn Left-Wing State Department, this is despicable. It will work out for the Iraqi, he will get justice. :)
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe wants
Left-Wing State Departments
to punish opponents
of dictators we bring down
.
May 14th, 2008 at 12:43 amUSpace
.
HI USpace. I think I am missing the point. At first glimpse that looks like lameannoyingspace. Am I missing something?
May 14th, 2008 at 12:53 am>absurd thought -
Havent seen you here in awhile. Did someone burn down the opium field you’ve been living in?
May 14th, 2008 at 12:53 amNGOs and recipients of the faith based initiative dollars are not allowed to assist Iraqi refugees??
Would this be the same U.S. policy if Israeli Jews were brought to the U.S. as political refugees??
May 14th, 2008 at 2:05 amYes, by all means Senator Dorgan, get good and mad…after 14 of these hearings and you’re still gathering more stories, and how many more stories are you going to hear before you bring some sort of resolution forward to protect the people that put their life and limb on the line for us and have now been betrayed?
May 14th, 2008 at 9:09 amI am so sick of my party, the Democrats, getting good and huffed up enough…to write a letter expressing their disapproval. Save the trees and put these people in JAIL!
May 14th, 2008 at 9:11 am.
Hey there dbadass and Chocolate Jesus,
yeah, no more opium so I was just thinking about the meaning of progress and thought I’d stop by.
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
YOU’RE RIGHT WING
because you hate dictators
and don’t blame America
.
The Great Global Warming Scam Movie
USpace
:)
May 14th, 2008 at 9:16 am.
USpace Says:
The Great Global Warming Scam Movie
Who are you and why are you linking to this crappy anti-science propaganda?
May 14th, 2008 at 9:29 amUSpace Says:
What are you smoking, son?
May 14th, 2008 at 9:49 amPut down the pipe and get out of your house and get some fresh air.
It’ll do you good.
Who are you and why are you linking to this crappy anti-science propaganda?
It’s pure science by some of the same scientists on the UN’s list. Watch it, maybe you’ll learn something. Basically, sun activity causes warming which causes CO2 levels to rise, not human activity.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
keep people all worked up
about global warming
May 14th, 2008 at 10:07 amdespite inconvenient facts
.
Add it to the pile. Impeachment on solid evidence prior to big things like invading Iran would be helpful in avoiding massive human casualty numbers. Impeachment is still possible after the next election as Dems get more votes. Impeachment is the creating of the case in the House and the trial in the Senate. The phony excuse that Congress cannot do both is weak at best and truly a betrayal of elected official’s sworn duty to uphold the Constitution. A few months ago I was driving around near San Francisco, home territory for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I saw a bumper sticker that said “IMPEACH PELOSI”. I initially thought that person was a right wing wacko. However, a minute later I realized that person was an irate Democrat complaining of the lack of action with all of the actionable actions by this Administration. The last Congressional approval numbers I saw were around 11% as opposed to President Bush’s 26% approval rate. The Congressional rate also includes those unhappy with Congress including Democrats wanting the law to play itself out concerning what has happened since 2001. Anyone paying attention is enraged and America does not have enough people enraged yet but there are a lot of people watching American Idol.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:21 amThanks Flavorino! I will!
:)
May 14th, 2008 at 10:32 amI am not sure it will do much good, but enjoy that air
May 14th, 2008 at 11:45 amHay TP lets help the guy out. Start a fund and pass the hat for donations so the guy and live decently and show the world that the american PEOPLE are trying to do the right thing despite our leaders poor behavior.
May 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm