The clock is ticking.
The clock is ticking. The Sunnis, the Shias and the Kurds of Iraq await the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops that is to take place by the holidays, each group anxious to pursue their simmering plans. Where will this leave minorities, particularly Christians? Will they have the Nineveh Plains to turn to for protection or will all the efforts of gaining a province go in vain, causing them to continue to flee Iraq and to become an extinct breed of their ancestors’ land? “The idea that the troops’ with- inching closer? Nineveh plan looks attainable By Weam Namou Chicago from Iraq on October 31. Their trip also included a visit to Washington, DC, where they tried to gain U.S. support towards making Nineveh a governorate for Iraqi minorities. The delegates left Michigan on November 14 to attend an international conference in Beirut on Christians in the Middle East. “I see the possibility of this province developing in one and a half to two years,” said Esttaifo. “Achieving Nineveh will bring great hope for all Christians.” “How can our community in the America (CFA), said Senator Carl Levin seems willing to help, but that the State Department doesn’t seem to understand why there’s a need for a province. “Levin said, ‘What if someone came along and proposed that we create the 51st state in America?’” Kassab recounted. “But Nineveh is not the same because our people in Iraq are being persecuted.” “Another thing we need to have is a stronger presence in Nineveh by building schools and hospitals, etc.,” said Esttaifo. “Currently, we are building a university that needs even know that there are Christians in Iraq. When we go to Washington as a Christian group rather than a national group we will attain more sympathy from the government. Unfortunately, some resist the idea of us being joined through one name.” Kassab agreed. “The fact that we are Biblical Christians is an important factor for those in Washington and for the churches in the South who would want to do nothing but help us,” he said. “You can treat this issue by adding Christian in parenthesis, either at the beginning or the end of CAS- CA,” suggested Ayo. “But we need something simple,” said Nona. “This long label has been called ‘the train name’ because it’s such a long chain.” “We are after the objective, not the path it’ll take to get to the objective,” said Esttaifo. But, after more discussion, CASCA’s name con- “The idea that the troops’ withdrawal will prevent the Nineveh Plains project from progressing is more media hype than it is a reality.” – Khalis Ayshoe Esttaifo, Iraqi Parliament The meeting at Shenandoah included a variety of community leaders. drawal will prevent the Nineveh Plains project from progressing is more media hype than it is a reality,” said Khalis Ayshoe Esttaifo, a member of the Iraqi Parliament and also chair of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council. “We think the change will have a positive outcome as it’s a chance for the Iraqi government to prove that Iraq is a democracy – as without minorities’ rights, there is no democracy.” Esttaifo held several meetings on November 12 with CASCA members, one at Shenandoah Country Club. He and his colleagues, Jonson Syawesh Ayo, chairman assistant of the Popular Council, and Istafou Habash of the council’s public relations and executive committee, arrived in United States help make this happen?” asked Martin Manna, president of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and the Chaldean Community Foundation, and a copublisher of the Chaldean News. “You can put more pressure on the U.S. government to put pressure on the Iraqi government,” said Esttaifo. “We need the agreement of the Najafi brothers, Osama Al Najafi [Iraqi Parliament leader] and Atheel Al Najafi [governor of Nineveh]. They are our two oppositions and they are neighbors to the proposed province so in order to maintain peace, we must all be in accord with this decision.” Joseph Kassab, executive director of the Chaldean Foundation of million to complete.” Manna suggested that the 16 minority political parties should have one official liaison in the United States to improve communications and relay the message more effectively to American Christians and the U.S. government. “I think our recent unity has brightened our image and given us the right to ask for our rights everywhere,” said Esttaifo. Although that statement is true, Nona said, the long name describing Christian Iraqis is a major problem in America. “Americans don’t know who Chaldeans and Assyrians and Syriacs are,” said Nona. “Many don’t tinues to be the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of America. Esttaifo noted that the withdrawal of U.S. troops will be a sensitive time. Terrorists, he said, tend to target Christians in particular when trying to get their message across since the media covers Christians more than other sects. “That’s why we need to have Plan B, C and D,” said Robert Dekelaita, an attorney from Chicago and longtime advocate for the Nineveh plan. “If all hell breaks loose after the U.S. troops leave, we don’t want our people murdered.” But Ayo said the chances of the Nineveh project succeeding are very high. 46 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2011
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