Denmark Secretly Evacuates Iraqi Aides From Basra

Countries with troops in Iraq rely on Iraqis for many essential tasks, from driving to translating. Insurgents often target such Iraqis with violence, accusing them of collaborating with coalition forces. Denmark, which will withdraw troops from Iraq soon, secretly evacuated 200 interpreters from Basra to Denmark, offering them asylum. Since the invasion began in March 2003, millions of Iraqis have become refugees and some researchers suggest a death toll in the hundreds of thousands. The growing violence in Iraq has prompted many human-rights groups to pressure nations like Denmark, the US and UK to accept more refugees. Sweden, which did not participate in the invasion, has accepted more refugees than any other Western country. – YaleGlobal