Petreaus, Crocker Support Christian Assyrians
in Iraq!

Washington DC
By Ken Joseph Jr.
Sept. 13, 07

In between grueling testimony before the House of Representatives and Senate that ran nearly 20 hours, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker both publicly and privately expressed their support for the Assyrian Christians of Iraq and confirmed their reputations as friends of the Assyrian Christians.

The Assyrian Christians, the original people of Iraq and the people of Biblical Nineveh the setting of Jonah and the whale, became the first Christian Nation following the death of Christ.

As the only people who speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus, and with a nearly 10% population in Iraq, they are crucial to the success of the current efforts in Iraq.

Ambassador Crocker said `I just met recently with one of the Assyrian Christian representatives in Iraq. We fully support all help for the Assyrian Christians and understand their unique situation.`

When informed of the proposal from the Iraqi Government to provide for an Assyrian Province in the original Assyrian homeland in Northern Iraq, the Ambassador expressed support and asked for follow-up information to his office.

Having served in Lebanon during the crucial years of the beginning of the war there, Crocker a fluent Arabic speaker is uniquely positioned to understand. the situation for Christians in the Middle East.

Having served in addition to Lebanon in Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and Afghanistan and most recently as Ambassador of Pakistan, all of which have major Christian communities, his expertise has encouraged many to see hope for the embattled Assyrian Christian community in Iraq.

General David Petraeus, on the other hand served initially in Mosul, in historic Assyria and has many Assyrian Christian friends. Petraeus is famed for conducting the longest heliborne assault in history to reach Nineveh. His nearly one year in Mosul, rebuilding and setting up the administration in the heart of the Assyrian homeland and the program of public works and governmental reform made the region of the most stable in all of Iraq.

His restoration of the University of Mosul was a milestone in providing stability to the region as well as giving hope to many following the fall of Saddam Hussein, and in particular to the Assyrian Christians for whom he worked consistently for.

Contrary to rumor, he confirmed in between the House session that his mother, unfortunately is not an Assyrian, but said regarding the proposal from the Iraqi Government for an Assyrian area, `That is good news. Have the Prime Ministers office contact my office and we will see what we can do on a Security Are for the Assyrian Christians.`

With estimates of up to 800,000 Assyrian Christians as refugees, the Iraqi Prime Minister's office has proposed the setting up of an Assyrian Security Are to enable those who have left the country to return, support for resettlement and for support to those currently living as displaced persons outside Iraq.

In a pointed series of remarks drawing attention to the Assyrian Christians, General Petraeus said `In particular the Assyrian Christians have suffered greatly in Dora, their historic area in Baghdad and most have been driven out. In addition, many have been displaced in Assyria in Northern Iraq. I am deeply troubled by these developments and we are doing all we can to stop these and help them.`

Ambassador Crocker said `Please get my office information on the situation with the Assyrian Christians. We are available to do all we can to help them and other minorities in need.`

Deep concern has been expressed about the situation of the Assyrian Christians, often referred to as the `Canary in the Mine`, of Iraq.

With the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqi Government, US efforts are subject to Iraqi oversight and in particular for the Assyrian Christians who are much loved in Iraq, the support for them by the Iraqi Government has been strong, who nearly to a man say `The Assyrian Christians are the original. People of Iraq. This is their country. Whatever they need to remain in Iraq we will do for them.`

Concern has been expressed by some at the emphasis on attacks and refugees from the Assyrian Christian Community.

One expert with Assyrianchristians.com, who asked not to be identified for security reasons said `While the Assyrian Christians are suffering, all in Iraq are suffering. The Assyrian Christians are not suffering particularly more than other segments of the Iraqi population. The concern we have is that an overemphasis on the Assyrian Christians problems will be used by some to encourage mass migration which can result in the decimation of one of the last major historic Christian communities in the Middle East.`

Many in Iraq exaggerate their situation to relatives and officials to get a visa to go to Europe, the United States and other countries.

The strong commitment of the Iraqi Government, in particular the Prime Minister to a three fold plan to assist the Assyrian Christians, first with support for an Assyrian Security Area where they can live in a secure environment, second resettlement support for those returning to Iraq and those displaced within the country, and third, support in the form of monthly payments to those living outside Iraq while they prepare to return has been welcomed by many.`

With the strong support of the two key players, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, both of who are crucial to the success of the Iraqi Government plan, many feel that the situation of the Assyrian Christians who once brought Christianity across the Silk Road to Asia and much of the world is looking up.

Senator Joseph Biden, speaking also between sessions of the hearings in Iraq said ``You were right - I was recently in Baghdad and three of the officials I met with agreed with the plan to provide an area for the Assyrian Christians. I am committed to it with my plan for Iraq.`

Biden, another strong supporter of the Assyrian Christians as well as the historic regions in Iraq, along with Crocker and Petraeus along with the strong support from the Iraqi Government, have provided a window of hope for a long struggling, but strong and hardy people - the Assyrian Christians who in fact as the original people of Iraq, have the right to stay and prosper in their homeland - the Biblical Assyria.

www.Assyrianchristians.com