From the Ravages of War, a New Start

Their Lives Endangered in Iraq, Judge and Family Find a Refuge In Suburbs of N.Va.

Iraqi judge Radhi H. al-Radhi lives in a quiet neighborhood in Alexandria. His brick rowhouse is on a street where U.S. flags hang and mini-gardens blend together.

Inside, the house is simply furnished. Pictures of his children and Asian art acquired during travels adorn the walls. The house carries the aroma of the meal being prepared in the kitchen, and an action movie plays on the television. It's a typical Saturday afternoon in Northern Virginia.

It's a peaceful moment for a man who said his work as head of post-war Iraq's anti-corruption efforts for the Coalition Provisional Authority resulted in death threats, missile attacks that destroyed his Iraqi home, and resistance from Iraqi and U.S. officials.

Al-Radhi is a soft-spoken man whose calm demeanor belies the intensity of his experiences. Jailed twice during Saddam Hussein's regime, he said he supported the initial invasion, but there is "so much corruption now. The money is gone, billions and billions. There is no electricity, no water in Iraq."

A little more than a year ago, al-Radhi testified before Congress about the corruption in his country, a bold move that made him a controversial figure. His words were debated by lawmakers and covered by the media. He decided it was too dangerous to return to his native Iraq and, at 62, he sought asylum in the United States.

Al-Radhi is one of many Iraqi refugees who call Northern Virginia home. Vu Dang, regional director at the International Rescue Committee's Suburban Resettlement Center, which helped resettle the family, said Iraqi admissions in 2008 have increased rapidly.

"By far, the Iraqis are making up the majority of our clients," he said.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement said the United States has resettled 60,192 refugees this year. Of those, 13,823 were Iraqis, 536 of whom have resettled in Virginia. That's an increase from 2007, when 48,281 refugees came to this country, 1,605 of whom were Iraqis and 64 of whom settled in Virginia.

Transition to life in Northern Virginia has not been without challenges. Al-Radhi's asylum was not approved until May, leaving him and his family waiting for months, unable to work legally or establish themselves. Dang said the process is "a very, very long wait . . . you can't go to work, and you're living day-by-day, wondering whether or not the government is going to deny your case and then deport you back to Iraq to your certain death."

His daughter, Rama, 28, and her husband, who declined to be named because of security concerns, live in Falls Church with his 1-year-old granddaughter.

Al-Radhi and his family have received a great deal of assistance from groups such as the International Rescue Committee and a local law firm that took up their case pro bono. Despite the generosity they've received, one major problem lingers: employment.

"People here are very kind. They want to know a lot about Iraq and society in Iraq and want to help us. But it is limited because of the job" problem, al-Radhi said.