The conditions there as we have noted are deplorable.  They are also deplorable in the euphemistically named Camp Liberty.  Nothing has improved.  Life has not improved for the people who have moved already from Ashraf to Liberty.  The situation there grows more intolerable and dangerous by the minute. 

You know, prior to World War II, just before the start of the war, a ship full of Jewish refugees trying to escape the Nazi regime looking for a safe harbor, looking for somebody to take them in. They got here and they were refused.  They were refused admittance.  They were turned back.  And at that point in time their fate was sealed. 

And for over 60 years and probably forever this will be a stain on the history of the United States of America and other governments at the time who recognized the dangers but were afraid to do anything that might provoke a dictator. 

Well, I hope that we don't ever have to look back at this situation in Iraq and in Ashraf in a similar vein and say, how could we not have done something?  How could we not have acted more directly? More dramatically?  How could we not have saved their lives? 

Let's never have to think about that about our government today.  We don't want to learn that lesson all over again. 

So here to help us bring attention to these problems, the Honorable Ed Rendell.  He served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania.  Served as a member of the Democratic Party, was elected government in 2002, his office began in January 2003.  Recently a member of the Democratic Associations Executive Committee and served as the Chairman to the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 presidential election.    Governor.     (Applause.)