“Congress should immediately pass legislation authorizing ground commanders to make asylum arrangements for interpreters”

Hidden Unities notes a shameful combination of action/inaction by the USGOV:

Earlier this month, Iraq war vet Owen West wrote a blistering piece in the NY Post condemning the State Department for betraying through pure bureaucratic ineptitude the Iraqi interpreters who have sought asylum in the United States.
[…]
Anti-American forces in Iraq and elsewhere would be wise to broadcast far and wide the utter contempt Bush and Condi Rice have for their “Iraqi” friends. They’re certainly sending a crystal clear message to those of us in America who have a sense of decency and honor.

Here is his plan:

Congress should immediately pass legislation* authorizing ground commanders to make asylum arrangements for interpreters. Sens. McCain, Clinton and Obama should be the leading sponsors in the Senate to forestall a likely presidential veto attempt and ensure there is no party-line voting on what is a strictly non-partisan emergency and ensure it passes with a veto-proof tally.

My thoughts (comments left at that blog):

The combination of action/inaction by USGOV on this is shameful and truly counter-productive.

If the USA is going to be doing COIN around the world on-and-off for the next generation, a good working relationship with friendly locals will be needed.

The current USGOV action/inactions should give an future friendly local a big pause before helping the USGOV.

“Congress should immediately pass legislation* authorizing ground commanders to make asylum arrangements for interpreters.”.

Yes!

Hmmm…maybe this can be spun into a $200,000 earmark for each congressional district?