The high profile August 9 Iraqi opposition meeting sponsored by the US State and Defense Departments was most noteworthy for the conspicuous absence of any Assyrian political representation.  For years now, Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) from across the political spectrum have been frustrated by the seemingly deliberate policy of exclusion at the political organizational level within the various competing structures of the Iraqi opposition.

Such Assyrian neglect initially begun by some Iraqi opposition groups and now mirrored by the US government has spurred mobilization of Assyrian American organizations to press for greater recognition and inclusion of Assyrian groups in US sponsored opposition meetings. An important outcome of such efforts has included past Congressional letters to the White House and State Department pressing for constitutional recognition of Assyrians in Iraq (AINA, 3-19-2002) as well as a letter from the Chairman of the Congressional Committee on International Relations, Congressman Henry Hyde, to Secretary Burns inquiring about the status of Assyrians within Iraq (AINA, 6-02-2002). Most recently, Congressman Hyde wrote to Secretary of State Powell on August 8 chiding the State Department for not including Assyrians in the August 9 meeting. Although Congressman Hyde's intervention was believed to be too late to alter the list of participants in the August 9 meeting, it may none the less pave the way for inclusion in future meetings.

In his letter, Congressman Hyde noted that "I understand that the Assyrian people comprise approximately two million of the twenty-two million citizens of Iraq.  These people are not of Arab descent; they are Christian and are ethnically dissimilar from other major groups in Iraq.  The Assyrians have been coalition partners of the opposition for nearly twenty years.  They mobilized a militia both before and during the uprising after the Gulf War, and maintain an armed observation force in Northern Iraq to this day.  They have paid their dues in blood and are entitled to the fruits of their efforts."  Congressman Hyde added "It would be a mistake to start the process of determining the aftermath of Iraq without the representation of one of the most significant minority groups in Iraq."

Congressman Hyde's perseverance on behalf of Assyrian rights in Iraq is the most recent achievement of active lobbying in Washington D.C. by the newly formed Assyrian American League (AAL) in concert with the Assyrian Coalition of five major Assyrian political organizations.  Through its lobbyist, former Congressman Michael Flanagan, the AAL has very quickly cultivated ties with US leaders both in Congress and the State Department. Congressman Flanagan has continued to raise awareness in Washington regarding critical Assyrian issues including recognition, fair representation, assistance and security for Assyrians.  According to Congressman Flanagan, the AAL has successfully developed a very close relationship with the Chairman of the International Relations Committee, Congressman Hyde.

Congressman Hyde's letter follows an open letter by the Assyrian Coalition to the Iraqi opposition movement in general.  The Coalition letter dated June 8, 2002 noted that "Although Assyrians remain deeply committed to democratic change in Iraq, often times, Assyrian enthusiasm for some elements within the Iraqi opposition has been tempered by the lack of fair representation and inclusion.  Not only are Assyrians often excluded from opposition meetings, but when insufficient token representation is conceded, it usually does not reflect the will or choice of the Assyrian people but rather that of other members of the opposition."

The Coalition letter added "The true litmus test for a free and democratic Iraq remains essentially and inextricably based on the fair recognition and inclusion of all of its peoples.  Assyrians are unable and unwilling to support any opposition group or envisioned future Iraqi governmental reform that does not entail the fundamental rights of recognition and broad based fair representation."  Finally, in a thinly veiled reminder of Assyrians' relative demographic strength in the US compared to other Iraqi groups, the Coalition letter notes that "As representatives of the largest demographic group of Iraqis within the United States, the Assyrian Coalition remains committed to engaging and encouraging the United States and European governments to recognize and vigorously support those groups that genuinely understand and practice these fundamental principles of democracy.