Retired Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones today told the Twin Falls Rotary Club that Idaho has “a moral responsibility to welcome Middle Eastern refugees” because the U.S. helped initiate the refugee crisis by invading Iraq “and creating great instability in the Middle East.” Jones, a former Idaho attorney general and a Vietnam veteran, noted that some groups have been agitating against refugee resettlement in the Twin Falls area, and particularly raising concerns about Syrian refugees.

“Breitbart News, World Net Daily and others have played fast and loose with the truth and should not be regarded as credible,” Jones said. “They have unfairly attacked the College of Southern Idaho refugee program, Twin Falls government officials, and Chobani, which has been a wonderful addition to the community.  We should not tolerate this type of conduct by outsiders.” He commended the CSI Refugee Center for its work in resettling refugees in the Magic Valley; you can read his full statement here.