To: tejek who wrote (847694 ) 4/4/2015 4:52:27 PM From: joseffy Respond to Obama does nothing to stop slaughter of Assyrian Christians A Q&A with Col Sargis Sangari USArmy (Ret) by William Mcintosh 1. Col. Sangari, summarize the situation of the Assyrian Christians on the Nineveh Plains. The Assyrian Christian communities on the Nineveh Plains in Iraq, and also in northern Syria in the Khabur River Valley, are facing annhilation by the forces of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). According to UN sources an estimated 660,0000 Assyrians have been driven from their homes by ISIL forces and are now living as refugees in Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and even Iran. 2. Which forces in Iraq are currently fighting ISIS and are they working together? Since August of 2014 Assyrian military forces have been fighting in Syria and Iraq under Assyrian command and control and the Assyrian flag. These forces have achieved unity of command and unity of effort, and are recognized by coalition forces as vital partners in the fight against ISIS/ISIL aggression. In October, and because of the demonstrated combat effectiveness of Assyrian forces, Sunni, Kurdish, and Shia forces began recruiting Assyrians into their ranks using the political networks they had previously embedded in the Assyrian communities. This move siphoned off troops and money from Assyrian forces, causing a reduction in their combat capabilities that contributed to the loss of 37 communities to ISIL in the Khabur River Valley. If this trend of Assyrian volunteers being sent to fight with other non-Assyrian groups is not halted, the result will be the complete destruction of the Assyrian Army and the subjugation of Assyrians in their own homeland under Kurdish, Sunni, and Shia military leadership and civilian administration. 3. In your recent media appearances you´ve spoken about a double standard being used by the US government with respect to the Assyrian Christians–why is this true? Assyrian Christians are not directly funded, supplied with weapons, or provided military training by the U.S. governement. By contrast, the U.S. government has spent millions in support of Kurdish, Sunni, and Shia groups. 4. You advocate self-governance for the Assyrians. Why? The question should be, “why not?” Why shouldn’t Assyrians be able to govern and defend themselves in their ancestral homeland, where they have lived for over 6,000 years? The U.S. advocates self-detemination for Kurds, Sunnis, and Shias living in Assyrian towns and villages of the Assyrian homeland; the U.S. has been providing and continues to provide financial aid and material and military support to these groups to achieve those objectives. Why shouldn’t the Assyrians be given the same opportunity to secure their own destiny? Self-determination for the Assyrians will result in the establishment of a democracy in the Middle East that will be a staunch ally of America and help to advance U.S. interests in the region. 5. You have called for $5 million in military aid from the U.S. for the Assyrians. What could the Assyrian army do with $5 million in military aid and why is it in the interest of the US to grant it? With $5 million the Assyrian military can equip and field 10,000 combat troops to the fight against ISIL. This will eliminate the need for the U.S. to put boots on the ground in both Syria and Iraq. The Assyrians can and will do their own fighting and they can and will achieve victory. Source: nec-se.com Lt. Col. Sargis Sangari (US Army ret.) is currently helping with the United Assyrian Appeal to assist with the huge humanitarian crisis affecting the Assyrian Christians in both Iraq & Syria due in large part to ISIS. Thanks to Obama, Iraq has become the new “Apocalypse Now” Obama and Kerry were warned about ISIS and paid no attention Mullah Obama ignores cries for help from Iraqi Christians Obama is not serious about defeating ISIL Obama Don’t Need No Stinkin’ OK from Congress
