FW: Impressions from Amman and Erbil on Iraq Scholar Rescue

I know you don't care but what else can I do both to irritate you and to thank you for helping us get it off the ground?

From: Goodman, Allan [mailto:agoodman@iie.org]

Sent: Sunday, June 27, 10 13:37

To: Dr. Henry Jarecki; Patrick Leahy (5_l@leahy.senate.gov)

Cc: A Goodman; Miller, Jim; D Kaisth

Subject: Impressions from Amman and Erbil on Iraq Scholar Rescue

While Jim (who knows the individual personalities and cases so very well) will have a more detailed and nuanced report on last week's workshop for 70+ Iraqi scholars and their continued leadership development for post-confilict reconstruction, here are my take-aways:

1. They are doing meaningful academic work. Some are teaching large classes, filling gaps in the Jordanian university system, some are seting up advanced science faciltiies for research institutions, and others are engaged in very advanced research as part (and some as the actual leader) of teams in the science and medical academies and hosptials. At least one patent is In process. Prince Talal and Princess Ghida (and others) note that the scholars we are placing continue to be of high quality and, thus, add to their hosts what the local system is not able yet to produce in certain fields. Both remain very upset that other Arab leaders are doing nothing to help with the rescue or the funding to assist scholars.

2. The scholars do not like living outside Iraq. Homeland allegiance, culture, extended family problems, and worry about their status once off the SRF fellowship in the MENA countries where they are placed, all make them think about going back as soon as conditions permit. The few who have come off fellowship and actually done this report that they face on-going threats and very hard living conditions in the absence of security and eletricity. The failure to form a new govenment worsens these problems evey day. Baghdad, Mosul, Diyala, Basra are citiies where the words "chaos," "run by criminals," "dominated by religious milita who feel free to kill" are frequently used to describe daily life. The more American forces pull back and the less the Iraqi government does not only creates a vacuum inviting violence but appers to fuel resentment at the US for doing something that has resulted in things being worse than under Saddam.

3. Going back is also made difficult by the failure of the Minsitry of Hgiher Education to do much to restore pensions to those who fled and who would like to try to come back. Some have received outright denials and some are told to wait becuase the Ministry of Labor has to decide this for all Iraqis who left in 2006-2007. We also met with the Minister of Higher Education of Kurdistan and tried to open the door for what Jim calls the Iraqi Hertiage Program, whereby those scholars in the disapora (and coming off SRF fellowship or even with a third year of support) could come back to teach in one of the 7 public universities in Kurdistan. He was not very enthusiastic because he thinks they will act and ask for things they had under Saddam, especially local housing and trasportation. As we tried to dig down and sell the idea, I got the clear impression that those in Kurdistan are still quite biased against non-Kurds.

4. The USG-funded Virtual Science Library appears not to be working or known to many, thus leaving Iraqi academics throughout the country with little way to connect to the literature in their fields. This makes the DVDs of the scholars' lectures and short courses even more vital -- and actually appreciated.

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