The Patriot Act has a few quirks in it -- along with several unintended consequences and an egregious number of intentional assaults on the Constitution -- but this one is nasty.
Because of language in the act and its companion, the Real ID Act, Hmong who took up arms to fight alongside Americans in the CIA's secret campaign in Laos during the Vietnam War are classified as "terrorists." That means they can't get green cards, the first step toward citizenship. It also means that many Hmong still stuck in refugee camps in Thailand, or worse, in Laos, can't be admitted to this country. That's particularly frightening, as evidence mounts that Laos is still waging a genocidal effrot to annihilate its remaining Hmong population.
Hmong activists in the Valley and elsewhere, along with a number of local and national elected leaders, are working to change that, as we noted in an editorial today. It can't happen too soon. This is more than a slap in the face to courageous allies, many of whom perished fighting on our side. In some cases, it's putting those same allies and their families in mortal danger.
What message does this send to Iraqis who are helping us?
In every war that the united states gets into we leave behind some people to take the aftermath. The hmong people were left to deal with the consequences of the vietnam war, and so which ever iraqis are helpin us now will be stuck with that burden. Only in Iraq i think it will be a lot worst.
The Hmong who fought on the side of freedom alongside Americans so many years ago are still fighting for freedom. Unfortunately, if the US allows this kind of international vigilantism to proceed, how can we ask other countries to curb their citizens who would attack us?
Nevertheless, I think the point has been made. Nothing can be gained by further prosecuting General Vang Pao and the others. In fact, I can only hope this will bring more attention to the plight of the Hmong. If you ask me, they should let all the Hmong come to this country. We owe them.
The Patriot Act and the Real ID Act are abominations, totally un-American, and need to be repealed immediately. The older Hmong that I have met are more American than the politicians who enact that type of legislation.
It's wake up time!
The message from what happened to the group of Hmongs should be loud and clear -- government supporting government at the expense of the people.
Apparently, we only support "freedom fighters" if they are sanctioned by the US government. I guess the American Revolutionaries were terrorists as well... so sad.
But there is hope! Vote for Ron Paul for president in 2008.
nyob zoo