I am Mohammed, one of the people whom this article talked about, I would like to correct the facts says:

"TAGHREED MAHMOOD AND HER SON They’re part of the second wave of Iraqi refugees who came after the Gulf War".

We are actually escaped our country Iraq after the occupation of the US to Iraq in 2003. We are one of the millions of Iraqi families who sought asylum after Iraq was invaded by the US in 2003. I focus on this war instead of the Gulf war because we the most recent war that forced us to leave Iraq was the war in 2003.The fact is we did not leave Iraq after the Gulf war but we left it after the US occupation in 2003 which is the most recent.

Uh, recognize there are deadlines and all, but fact check maybe? Refugee Women's Alliance is not in the business of building affordable housing. And while some funding to local agencies for resettling refugees is time-limited by the federal government, there are employment services, microloans, youth programs, domestic violence support, and many other services available *for years* to help Seattle's refugees and immigrants. Do they always have an easy time adjusting? No. Are they "left behind" as Eshetu claims? Hardly.

And if it's taking ReWA "a couple of months" to get paperwork processed by DSHS, they're probably doing it wrong. Check with more than one source in the immigrant and refugee resettlement community next time, you'll get a more complete picture of what's really happening.

welcome to seattle. get used to (some) people being rude and prejudiced; they've been brainwashed by the same powers that invaded your country. it would be MUCH worse in other states/cities.

remember, and tell every Iraqi you know: (once you're a citizen) don't ever ever ever vote for republicans.

I think its kind of funny you felt the need to explain where Kent is. :)

This reminds me so much of the waves of Iranian immigrants who came here after the 1977 revolution, many fleeing in fear for their lives. They, in their own way, were also victims of extended U.S. meddling in that part of the world (though Iranians are mostly Persians and Iraqis, by-and-large, are Arabs).

I had numerous wonderful working relationships and friendships with immigrants from Iran. Many felt a deep and enduring sorrow over the loss of connections to Iran, though they became committed, vibrant, successful citizens of the U.S.

I hope these new immigrants feel welcomed on a daily basis, and free to keep their culture alive and open even as they put down roots here.

We have a great deal to learn from each other, and I hope they do not have to endure much ignorance or cruelty from the people who now surround them. They have suffered enough because of us.

I especially hope that peace and stability may somehow come to Iraq, without a lot of further hamfisted meddling by the U.S., so that it may continue to be a wellspring of their long history, a protector of those who had to stay behind for whatever reasons, and a respecter of rights to visit back and forth as well as to communicate freely.

Where are the Iraqi restaurants?