Iraq headlines of car bombs and attacks have splattered across the media in previous years, overshadowing the side effects of the war, such as the Jordanian refugee population, according to Yasin Sarayrah, owner of Sarayrah Translation in Knoxville.

"Yasin Sarayrah has a lot of stories, and we thought it would be interesting to hear about the Iraqi situation from a Middle Eastern person," Lee Rhea, director of the I-house, said. Sarayrah and his wife, Julie Carter, lived for 15 years together in Jordan, and left before the official declaration of the war. 

Sarayrah discussed the refugee population increase because of the Iraq War and what this relocation has meant for the Jordanian government.  Only 30 percent of the population in Jordan is indigenous, making Carter feel like Jordan is a huge refugee camp. 

The Iraqi refugees complain of rapid inflation. Sarayrah gave an example of one economic situation where he saw the prices on the market increase 300 percent. 

"The actual unemployment rate in Jordan is 40 percent," Sarayrah said.  Job scarcity has lead to other economic problems that have only increased the hostility and stereotyping that occurs between the indigenous people and refugees.  Refugees also complain about lack of education, healthcare and global attention for the situation in Jordan.  Jordan requests $1 billion and Syria claims it needs $1.6 billion, but the U.S., the largest contributor, have only responded with $105.3 million. 

I think of Jordan as one big refugee camp Julie Carter, wife of Yasin Sarayrah

The increase in refugees in Jordan has caused growing concerns in the Jordanian government, he said.  The government fears an increase in terrorism, crime and overcrowding.  Jordan also has a huge water shortage problem, he said.

"Your faucet gets water only two hours a week," Sarayrah said.  The Jordanian government now has to buy their oil in the world market, which has hurt their economy.  During Saddam Hussein's rule, Jordan was able to get their oil for free, which helped stimulate their economy. But now they must deal with the increasing oil prices. 

Sarayrah also included personal stories of his upbringing in the Middle East.  He was abandon by his mother and was raised in a Bedouin tribe.  He moved from his tribe to the city to continue his education in high school.  He excelled at school and won a scholarship from the U.S. embassy to study at any university in the U.S.  After years of education and working, he received his Ph.D. in 2003 in public administration and policy analysis from the State University of New York at Albany. 

"I have changed a lot, I married an American lady and am giving this lecture in English," Sarayrah said.  He believes the key to change is education, as his education played a pivotal role in his personal development and growth. 

Rhea said, "I think he's hoping to be a conduit or channel of communications between us and the Middle East." Sarayrah held a question-and-answer session afterwards in hopes that he could take American opinions back with him to the Middle East. 

Many audience members asked Sarayrah his opinion on the Iraq War. 

"Uncle Sam, don't leave," Sarayrah said, in response.  "We have to leave in an orderly and systematic way.  Maybe leaving the Islamic soldiers in control, and it could take years for a complete withdrawal," he said.  Sarayrah quoted that 99 percent of Middle Easterners hate Americans.  "I'm really sad to say that," Sarayrah said.  He hopes that this does not discourage the U.S. because he believes if the U.S. immediately withdrawals, Iraq will split into three different states.  "You'll have the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds," Sarayrah said. 

Next year the I-house will be starting a new lecture series titled "Great Decisions."  This lecture series will be based from the national World Affairs Council that will choose six world topics. It will be similar to the Conversations about World Affairs program that took place this year, according to Rhea.