During an exclusive interview with the Mona K Show radio program in Phoenix, Arizona that aired on Thursday June 16, 2016 at 4 pm on 1280 AM, U.S Senator from Arizona John McCain unflinchingly stated: “If the Pishmarga retakes Mosul, which I believe they will, the land that belongs in the Nineveh Plains Region which belongs to the Assyrians should be returned to the Assyrians and not taken by the Kurdish Population”. This statement affirmed the message in the Senator’s letter dated May 25, 2016 addressed to the KRG President Mr. Massoud Barazani highlighting great concern on reports of land confiscation and statements made by the KRG regarding Kurdish claims on territory in the Nineveh Plains Region. The letter further encouraged the KRG to respect and protect the fundamental rights of the Assyrian people. Senator McCain, former Republican Party’s nominee for President in the 2008 election, currently serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, sent the letter after an Assyrian delegation met with him on May 7th, 2016 at his Phoenix office urging him to address the ongoing Assyrian Christian struggle living in the KRG Region. The Senator’s letter to the President of KRG detailed accusations of mistreatment of the Assyrians, an ancient community with a long history in Iraq that remained the majority population in the Nineveh Plains Region until the ISIS invasion. The President of KRG was urged to respect the “Fundamental rights and freedom of the Assyrian People” holding the KRG accountable for their neglect and disregard for human rights of the group of people living under their regional government having declared their commitment to protect.

On May 25, 2016, Senator McCain wrote the unprecedented letter expressing his extreme alarm and concern on behalf of the Assyrian People that is by far a first of its kind coming from one of the most influential, most powerful Senators and highest ranking official in the U.S government expressing such strong sentiment against the KRG. When asked by Mrs. Oshana what moved him to react so quickly to write such a strong letter, the Senator replied, “The emotion, the sorrow, and the commitment of the Assyrian people” referring to the sentiment exhibited during the office meeting. The Senator being fully aware of the horrific history, non-ending struggle and longsuffering of the Assyrian Nation, during the interview repeatedly expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication of the Assyrian community in Phoenix and across the country for their “impressive contributions to our economy, to our culture and our life”.
The Senator also confirmed receiving a verbal response to his letter during a meeting with the KRG Foreign minister who as Senator McCain explained was a “bit defensive”. Although conveying his doubt in some of the claims detailed in the letter calling them “false”, the Foreign Minister assured the Senator his government did received his letter, was looking into the situation and would be responding in writing. Senator McCain informed the Foreign Minister the information received by his office was “reliable” and is hoping the issues would be addressed by KRG as a “high priority”.
With the continued unstable and volatile situation in North of Iraq the senator vowed his full support for the Christian Assyrian Militia called the Nineveh Protection Unit otherwise known as NPU that was formed under extreme conditions in order to readily protect their lands and the lives of the deteriorating Assyrian People against the attacks of ISIS. The senator said “I will be doing all that I can to make sure NPU gets the weapons and the training they need”.
The Assyrian People at large has expressed a deep admiration with great appreciation towards Arizona Senator John McCain for effectively utilizing the power of his influential office to address an issue that most officials have abandoned.