The United States is offering a fast track to American citizenship for Iraqi scientists willing to blow the whistle on Saddam Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Under the Iraqi Scientists Immigration Act of 2002, passed by the Senate on Wednesday, up to 500 scientists could be given green cards if they reveal critical information on weapons programmes.
The bill, which could be passed by the House of Representatives as early as Friday, applies to scientists, engineers and technicians.
The move comes as an advance team of United Nations weapons inspectors are in Iraq laying the groundwork for the resumption of inspections.
they and their immediate families would be able to bypass normal immigration procedures and take up permanent residence in the US.
comment: first they have evidence now they seeking evidence. How can you tell the americans are lying simple they open there mouths!
Yes Saddam will kill anyone who does this, but then again, you dont suppose any scientist would openly announce his defection, would you?
Im having a hard time calling it anything but a bribe.....it also constitutes influencing the current UN mission to Baghdad. The UN team has been sent there for a reason. Let them work independently. If they need anyones help, they will ask for it. If they are refused cooperation, the security council will make its decision.
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
Bribing?
This headline is a lie and should not be allowed. Iraq will kill off the familes of any Iraqi scientist who comes clean on Iraqs weapon program.
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Headline a lie?
Say what thats a bit desperate even for a pro israeli!
I don't see anything wrong with this. It's merely a witness protection program of sorts. The only thing to be careful of is manufactured evidence, the information these scientists provide needs to be verifiable.
I am having a very hard time with why someone would be objecting to this program. As part of the new inspection regime Hans Blix is able to take Iraqi scientists out of the country, along with their families to be interviewed. Most of these scientists have not been allowed out of the country for scientific conferences for years for fear of defection.
So now they can be interviewed, and if they choose to spill the beans on Saddam they will not have to return, or hear of their families being slaughtered. They don't have to ask for a green card, they can go back to Iraq, but if they choose freedom and truth, then they will at least be able to live.
What possible objection could one have to this alternative?? A bribe? Why don't you look at the other side, years of living in fear and wondering if you will be scooped up and thrown into some nameless prison? Wondering if your family will be found by the side of the road, shot in the head? Sort of makes a "bribe" look tame in comparison.
