[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1317-E1318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT FOR THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TRENT FRANKS

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2014

  Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, last month, 55 of my colleagues 
and I sent a priority letter to President Obama urging him to actively 
prioritize security and humanitarian support for the Christian 
community in Iraq. We specifically warned him of the dangers and 
brutality of the terrorist group ISIS in Iraq who are now rampaging 
across Iraq and terrorizing the vulnerable Christian population.
  In the letter, we specifically pointed out to Mr. Obama that QUOTE, 
``Parts of Syria and Iraq that have previously fallen under the rule of 
ISIS have witnessed summary execution, beheadings and even 
crucifixions.'' And that QUOTE, ``Absent immediate action, we will most 
certainly witness the annihilation of an ancient faith community from 
the lands they've inhabited for centuries.'' UNQUOTE
  Tragically, Mr. Speaker, President Obama--who once likened ISIS to a 
junior varsity basketball team--simply ignored us again, as he has done 
so many times before. And now ISIS, this ``junior varsity basketball 
team'', is beheading their way across Iraq and has declared that there 
would be QUOTE ``nothing for [the Christians] but the sword'' if they 
do not convert.'' Last week, ISIS torched a 1,800-year-old church in 
Mosul and ruthlessly destroyed the historic tomb of Jonah. Images of 
ISIS beheadings, crucifixions, rapes, torture and mass execution are 
all over the Internet and social media. Just this morning, I met with

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a group of NGOs based in Iraq who told me ISIS beheaded six 
Christians--then proceeded to play soccer with their decapitated heads.
  This past Sunday, for the first time in 1,600 years, there was no 
Mass in Mosul. The head of Iraq's largest Christian community said, 
``For the first time in the history of Iraq, Mosul is now empty of 
Christians.''
  Mr. Speaker, ISIS has systematically and insidiously targeted Iraq's 
ancient Christians, and they are now nearly extinct. It can rightly be 
called targeted religious cleansing, and it is a crime against 
humanity.''
  And yet, we hear not a word from the President of the United States 
when a Christian genocide is taking place at this very moment. And we 
have not heard one syllable about what his administration is doing or 
planning to do to relieve or protect persecuted Christians in Iraq.
  So, on the floor of this house, I repeat the words we wrote in a 
letter to President Obama a month ago, QUOTE, ``we urge you and your 
administration to urgently and actively engage with the Iraqi central 
government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to prioritize 
additional security support for these particularly vulnerable 
populations and provide emergency humanitarian assistance to those 
affected communities. Absent immediate action, we will most certainly 
witness the annihilation of an ancient faith community from the lands 
they've inhabited for centuries.'' UNQUOTE
  Mr. Speaker, if President Obama continues to ignore this Christian 
Genocide in Iraq, history will record that it was Barack Obama who idly 
stood around and let it happen.

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