Iraqi Assyrians Meet Top U.S. Administration Officials (19/03/2003)

On March 6, 2003, three Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) including Dr. Emmanuel Kamber, Dr. Katrin Michael, and Ramsey Jiddou joined other Iraqi-Americans in meetings with Vice President Cheney, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, President Bush’s Envoy to Free Iraqis, Zalmay Khalilzad, and Deputy National Security Advisor Steve Hadley. Dr. Michael reportedly stated that “Saddam has ordered all of Baghdad’s citizens not to leave the city or they will be arrested. Four million inhabitants would be in danger.” She asked, “what measures are being taken to avoid a potential genocide?” Rice reassured the group that they are taking all measures to ensure that civilian casualties are avoided. Drs. Kamber and Jiddou met Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld later that day as well. Dr. Kamber is a physicist at Western Michigan University.

In a highly important symbolic encounter, Dr. Katrin Michael, a Chaldean-Assyrian met with President Bush for 20 minutes on March 14, 2003. Dr. Michael pointedly introduced herself as an Assyrian Chaldean and discussed her experience as a victim of an Iraqi governmental chemical weapons attack in the northern Iraqi city of Halabja in 1988. Reportedly, Vice President Cheney joined the meeting with President Bush and recalled the prior week’s meeting with Dr. Michael. With President Bush discussing Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction arsenal, Dr. Michael reportedly added that “Saddam’s blood is a chemical weapon to Iraq.”

Dr. Michael has a doctorate degree in Geology and may figure prominently in the future Iraqi government on account of her educational background in petroleum, Assyrian constituency, and years of activism in the Iraqi opposition movement. According to her upcoming autobiography “From Violence to Non-Violence,” Dr. Michael began her activism as a student and later joined the opposition to Saddam Hussein until fleeing following the chemical weapons attack. She recounts what is described as “her gradual conversion from violence toward the adoption of non-violent means as a pattern for opposition to injustice and suppression.”

These high profile meetings by Assyrians combined with earlier contacts at the Congressional and Sate Department levels by the Assyrian American League and the Assyrian Coalition highlight a dramatically enhanced Assyrian political prestige vis a vis the US Administration. One Assyrian political analyst noted “Such impressive inroads by Assyrian activists bode well for Assyrian political participation in a future Iraq especially if all of the forces could be coordinated.”

With the Iraqi government now on the run, Assyrians reflecting upon the upcoming war seem most concerned about potential threats developing in an environment of anarchy during any collapse of governmental authority. One Assyrian analyst noted “The Barzanis of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have been observed to thrive in an atmosphere of lawlessness, violence, and anarchy. Assyrians remain wary of the KDP as their last 12 years of experimental lawless autonomy have netted Assyrians land expropriations, assassinations, and torture.” Assyrians remain hopeful that the transition to a government based on laws will enable Assyrians to legally and peaceably address their claims. “At the very least,” added an Assyrian commentator, “these high level contacts should serve notice to any would be KDP marauders that the international spotlight will be focused directly on the Assyrians as well as other minorities such as Turkmen, Yezidis, and Mandeans in Iraq during any periods of instability.”

Assyrians in the Diaspora continue to engage the US and European governments on the condition of and threats against Assyrians in the Middle East in general and Iraq in particular. As the US government warns the Iraqi military that war crimes and crimes against humanity will be prosecuted, Assyrians are likewise hopeful that the same standard will be applied to the paramilitary forces occupying northern Iraq. An Assyrian political leader summarized Assyrian determination by noting “The time of lawlessness in northern Iraq is nearly over. KDP warlord Barzani and his clan will be no exception to these trials if Assyrians are once again victimized.”