Can the USA Abandon the Refugees it Creates?

A few days ago, I saw following news item on CNN. Rather than share my opinion (as someone who does not reside in USA), I thought I would solicit the opinion of Americans on one aspect of the one topic that continues to hog the headlines - the war in Iraq.

First, the news item, without comment. The war in Iraq has caused two million Iraqis to flee their country and become refugees - not surprising since living conditions in most of Iraq have become hellish. A few hundred thousand of these have requested asylum in the USA. America has accepted 466.

The majority of those who commented thought that the US has a moral responsibility to help the refugees find a safe haven to wait out the worst of the war. They opined that these people can't even begin to rebuild their lives, because the insurgents are bombing and destroying any and everything that the Americans and Iraqis try to repair or rebuild. However, most doubted that the Bush Administration will do anything about it. They agreed that The USA could not take that many people in at one time, but they should be doing SOMETHING to help resettle them.

Some thought that one thing, that is lacking in the rhetoric of both political parties, is commitment. They wondered what America was going to do to restore Iraq to a livable country, if and when the military action ever comes to an end? Would there be some sort of Marshall Plan enacted, assuming the war is "won"?

Some conservatives found it interesting that people (read: liberals) think America has a moral obligation to help these refugees, but no moral obligation to remove a blood/power thirsty dictator.