This story was interesting to me–I wondered at what was not said. *What* masked men, specifically, committed this horrible atrocity? Were they somehow connected to the invasion of the U.S? And even more to the point, why could this boy’s injuries be taken care of in Iraq? Is it because the hospitals there have been so bombarded and their supplies so depleted that they simply are unable to help?

And considering that few Iraqi’s are actually allowed into the U.S., why was this boy? Was it because the U.S. knew that his story would make us all feel really darn good and happy that the U.S. is in Iraq, helping those poor, unmodern souls?

(to be clear, I am *extremely* happy that this child is getting the help he needs, and as far as I am concerned, it’s the *least* the U.S. can do for him–but at the same time, I think it’s vitally important to be critical of these feel good immigration stories. Why is it ok and actually a *good* thing for certain people to immigrate to the U.S. but not others? Why are certain parts of people’s immigration stories so radically dismissed or left out of the public sphere?)