The American Mesopotamian Organization (AMO) calls on President Obama to arm Assyrian Christians in Iraq
(PRWEB) March 28, 2016 -- The American Mesopotamian Organization (AMO) announced that in mid-March in Baghdad, Iraq, the Restore Nineveh Now Foundation, a US-based 501 c3 organization, met with senior advisers to Prime Minister Haidar Abadi to discuss the inclusion of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units (NPU) in the US Government’s aid program for Iraq.
“Since the US State Department has acknowledged that the Islamic State is committing genocide against the ethnic and religious minorities of Iraq, including and especially the Assyrian people, AMO fully supports the Restore Nineveh Now Foundation’s call for the US Government to work with Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi to rapidly arm and train the Assyrian defensive force, Nineveh Plain Protection Units (NPU),” said Mr. David William Lazar, chairman of the AMO.
“The Assyrian Christians of Iraq have been specifically targeted by the Islamic State for elimination, and the NPU is the only Assyrian-led, registered security force in Iraq under the authority of Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi,” Mr. Lazar said. “As such,” Lazar continued, “When it comes to fighting ISIS, the NPU has as much, if not more, skin in the game than Kurdish or Sunni tribal fighters who have already been armed and trained by the United States.”
In a statement released March 28th, the Restore Nineveh Now Foundation called on the US Government to work with Prime Minister Abadi to include NPU in its Iraq Train & Equip Fund (ITEF). The objective of ITEF is to train, advise, and assist the Iraqi Army in initiating and sustaining combat operations against the Islamic State.
“It simply makes no sense, noted Lazar, “Not to activate all able bodied men in the fight against the Islamic State, or as some call them, ISIS.”
“ISIS has specifically targeted Christians in Iraq, which are overwhelmingly Assyrian,” Lazar continued. “It is time,” Lazar concluded, “To put the thousands of ready, able and willing Assyrian men into the fight against ISIS and rid Iraq of that horror forever.”
About the American Mesopotamian Organization
The American Mesopotamian Organization believes that the Assyrian American community can be instrumental in bringing about change to US policy towards the Assyrians of the Middle East. We strive to be part of this change and part of the solution in defending Assyrian political and human rights throughout the Near East. While we will represent the collective Assyrian American viewpoint on matters of public policy, we will also serve as liaison between the community and their elected leaders. For more information, please visit http://www.americanmesopotamian.org.
David William Lazar, American Mesopotamian Organization, http://www.americanmesopotamian.org, +1 (661) 220-0372, [email protected]
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