Sept 10, 2006
OTTAWA TIMES
U.S.-Middle Eastern Exchange Program Held Up for Lack of Volunteers
When an anonymous billionaire Canadian philanthropist gave $900-million, no one expected things would be held up.
What is called the Strained Middle-Eastern Country - U.S. Civilian Exchange Corps seeks U.S. families to move into highly strained Middle Eastern contries that are within the sights of the U.S. military in its war on terror. In exchange, the Middle Eastern families are moved safely to Canada under a new law passed quietly in Ottawa last March.
"We wanted to somehow prevent the deaths of these innocent civilian as the U.S. continues to move forward with its War on Terror," said program manger Clive Jones. He said the fund has already acquired thousands of Canadian properties on which to house the Middle Eastern families.
But the homes sit almost completely empty.
To try to fill them, the program last June begun ad campaigns in several mid-east countries and the United States. "Already we have over 11,000 applications from families in countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. These families are anxiously awaiting to have U.S. families come take their place but are still held up," said Jones.
"We wanted to give all those families in the U.S. who support the War on Terror a very tangible way to be personally involved in the war by actually exchanging places with families likely to become collateral damage in the war," said Jones. To date, only one U.S. family has volunteered for the exchange service.
"Interested U.S. families may contact us here at the program at 341 Capitol Way, Ottawa, ON T2P 5Z7," said Jones.
Complete article at:
http://www.ottawadailytimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=23654595232343
OTTAWA TIMES
U.S.-Middle Eastern Exchange Program Held Up for Lack of Volunteers
When an anonymous billionaire Canadian philanthropist gave $900-million, no one expected things would be held up.
What is called the Strained Middle-Eastern Country - U.S. Civilian Exchange Corps seeks U.S. families to move into highly strained Middle Eastern contries that are within the sights of the U.S. military in its war on terror. In exchange, the Middle Eastern families are moved safely to Canada under a new law passed quietly in Ottawa last March.
"We wanted to somehow prevent the deaths of these innocent civilian as the U.S. continues to move forward with its War on Terror," said program manger Clive Jones. He said the fund has already acquired thousands of Canadian properties on which to house the Middle Eastern families.
But the homes sit almost completely empty.
To try to fill them, the program last June begun ad campaigns in several mid-east countries and the United States. "Already we have over 11,000 applications from families in countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. These families are anxiously awaiting to have U.S. families come take their place but are still held up," said Jones.
"We wanted to give all those families in the U.S. who support the War on Terror a very tangible way to be personally involved in the war by actually exchanging places with families likely to become collateral damage in the war," said Jones. To date, only one U.S. family has volunteered for the exchange service.
"Interested U.S. families may contact us here at the program at 341 Capitol Way, Ottawa, ON T2P 5Z7," said Jones.
Complete article at:
http://www.ottawadailytimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=23654595232343
