Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VATICAN194
2005-01-20 15:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
IRAQ: RELEASED ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR U.S.
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS VATICAN 000194
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN),NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR IZ PHUM PINR IZ VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: IRAQ: RELEASED ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR U.S.
WITHDRAWAL
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS VATICAN 000194
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN),NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR IZ PHUM PINR IZ VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: IRAQ: RELEASED ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR U.S.
WITHDRAWAL
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1.(SBU) Hours after being released by insurgents,
Mosul's Syro-Catholic Archbishop called for a timetable for
U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. Archbishop Basile Georges
Casmoussa emphasized his good relations with local Muslims
and blamed his kidnapping on mistaken identity. He further
claimed that his kidnappers' goal had been "to get
Americans out of the country." The prelate attributed his
quick release to the Pope's strong plea on his behalf. For
its part, the Holy See said it had paid no ransom for
Casmoussa's release and had been surprised by the
kidnapping given that both Christians and Muslims held the
archbishop in high regard. An official of Iraq's Chaldean
Catholic church in Rome countered Casmoussa's comments on
the U.S. presence in Iraq, saying that despite rising
violence, the U.S. had to stay "to get the job done."
--------------
CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE
--------------
2.(U) Just hours after his release, Mosul's Catholic
Archbishop called for the U.S. to set a timetable for troop
withdrawal. In an interview with the Rome-based Catholic
news agency, Asia News, Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa
said his abduction was not "anti-Christian," but rather
"something done to get the Americans out of the country."
The archbishop asserted that "there was no common ground
between Iraqi Christians and the occupiers." He claimed
his abductors had at first not realized who he was, and had
freed him after hearing the Vatican's call for his release.
Casmoussa said he enjoyed good relations with the Muslim
community and that he had received many messages of support
from his Muslim friends when he returned home.
--------------
VATICAN PRESSURE
--------------
3.(SBU) The Vatican was particularly energetic in
working for Casmoussa's release, issuing an official papal
statement to the press as soon as news of his abduction
came in. Charge spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Archbishop
Leonardo Sandri in the hours after the abduction was
reported, who expressed appreciation for U.S. interest and
welcomed further information from U.S. sources and U.S.
action to secure the archbishop's release. In a subsequent
meeting, the Holy See's Assessor, Monsignor Gabriele
Caccia, told Charge that the Vatican had learned that
Casmoussa had been abducted by mistake by a group that was
seeking money, not for any religious motivation. After the
quick release, the Vatican insisted that no ransom had been
paid. Its official statement said the Holy See had been
totally surprised by the abduction, given the great esteem
both the Christian and Muslim communities held for
Casmoussa.
--------------
CHALDEAN REP: NOT AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN CAMPAIGN
--------------
4. (SBU) The Chaldean Catholic Church's representative in
Rome, Monsignor Philip Najim, told us January 19 that he
had been in contact with Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel Delly,
who had not expressed increased concern for his own safety.
"Let's hope [the abduction of a high-ranking Christian
official] was just a mistake, as they say it was," Najim
said. He asserted that there had been continuing violence
against Christians in recent weeks, but felt that, while
the incidents underscored a perilous security situation in
Iraq, they did not represent an increased targeting of
Christians by insurgents.
--------------
U.S. MUST FINISH THE JOB
--------------
5. (SBU) When asked about Casmoussa's statements regarding
the American presence in Iraq, Najim merely emphasized his
opinion that the U.S. had to stay to "get the job done."
"The situation is getting worse and worse," he said, "but
only America can fix it." He suggested that the USG needed
to devote greater resources to its Iraq efforts if it were
to be successful. "I don't care about Saddam, [the claims
of the existence of] WMDs, or anything in the past," he
continued. "Let's be practical and move ahead. If you are
successful America will be beloved and the whole region
could change for the better."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6.(SBU) Casmoussa's comments on the U.S. presence in
Iraq track with previous remarks he has made. Just last
month he told an American Catholic weekly that there was no
shortage of pain, hardship and even death caused by the
U.S. military presence in Iraq. He claimed Americans
killed a young member of his flock in 2003 and that one of
his monks had been left paralyzed after a road accident
involving an American tank in early 2004. His political
sensibilities aside, the quick and forceful reaction by the
Vatican to Casmoussa's kidnapping illustrates the Holy
See's continuing preoccupation for the safety of the
Christian community in Iraq.
7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
Hardt
NNNN
2005VATICA00194 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLAS VATICAN 000194
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN),NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR IZ PHUM PINR IZ VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: IRAQ: RELEASED ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR U.S.
WITHDRAWAL
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1.(SBU) Hours after being released by insurgents,
Mosul's Syro-Catholic Archbishop called for a timetable for
U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. Archbishop Basile Georges
Casmoussa emphasized his good relations with local Muslims
and blamed his kidnapping on mistaken identity. He further
claimed that his kidnappers' goal had been "to get
Americans out of the country." The prelate attributed his
quick release to the Pope's strong plea on his behalf. For
its part, the Holy See said it had paid no ransom for
Casmoussa's release and had been surprised by the
kidnapping given that both Christians and Muslims held the
archbishop in high regard. An official of Iraq's Chaldean
Catholic church in Rome countered Casmoussa's comments on
the U.S. presence in Iraq, saying that despite rising
violence, the U.S. had to stay "to get the job done."
--------------
CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE
--------------
2.(U) Just hours after his release, Mosul's Catholic
Archbishop called for the U.S. to set a timetable for troop
withdrawal. In an interview with the Rome-based Catholic
news agency, Asia News, Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa
said his abduction was not "anti-Christian," but rather
"something done to get the Americans out of the country."
The archbishop asserted that "there was no common ground
between Iraqi Christians and the occupiers." He claimed
his abductors had at first not realized who he was, and had
freed him after hearing the Vatican's call for his release.
Casmoussa said he enjoyed good relations with the Muslim
community and that he had received many messages of support
from his Muslim friends when he returned home.
--------------
VATICAN PRESSURE
--------------
3.(SBU) The Vatican was particularly energetic in
working for Casmoussa's release, issuing an official papal
statement to the press as soon as news of his abduction
came in. Charge spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Archbishop
Leonardo Sandri in the hours after the abduction was
reported, who expressed appreciation for U.S. interest and
welcomed further information from U.S. sources and U.S.
action to secure the archbishop's release. In a subsequent
meeting, the Holy See's Assessor, Monsignor Gabriele
Caccia, told Charge that the Vatican had learned that
Casmoussa had been abducted by mistake by a group that was
seeking money, not for any religious motivation. After the
quick release, the Vatican insisted that no ransom had been
paid. Its official statement said the Holy See had been
totally surprised by the abduction, given the great esteem
both the Christian and Muslim communities held for
Casmoussa.
--------------
CHALDEAN REP: NOT AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN CAMPAIGN
--------------
4. (SBU) The Chaldean Catholic Church's representative in
Rome, Monsignor Philip Najim, told us January 19 that he
had been in contact with Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel Delly,
who had not expressed increased concern for his own safety.
"Let's hope [the abduction of a high-ranking Christian
official] was just a mistake, as they say it was," Najim
said. He asserted that there had been continuing violence
against Christians in recent weeks, but felt that, while
the incidents underscored a perilous security situation in
Iraq, they did not represent an increased targeting of
Christians by insurgents.
--------------
U.S. MUST FINISH THE JOB
--------------
5. (SBU) When asked about Casmoussa's statements regarding
the American presence in Iraq, Najim merely emphasized his
opinion that the U.S. had to stay to "get the job done."
"The situation is getting worse and worse," he said, "but
only America can fix it." He suggested that the USG needed
to devote greater resources to its Iraq efforts if it were
to be successful. "I don't care about Saddam, [the claims
of the existence of] WMDs, or anything in the past," he
continued. "Let's be practical and move ahead. If you are
successful America will be beloved and the whole region
could change for the better."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6.(SBU) Casmoussa's comments on the U.S. presence in
Iraq track with previous remarks he has made. Just last
month he told an American Catholic weekly that there was no
shortage of pain, hardship and even death caused by the
U.S. military presence in Iraq. He claimed Americans
killed a young member of his flock in 2003 and that one of
his monks had been left paralyzed after a road accident
involving an American tank in early 2004. His political
sensibilities aside, the quick and forceful reaction by the
Vatican to Casmoussa's kidnapping illustrates the Holy
See's continuing preoccupation for the safety of the
Christian community in Iraq.
7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
Hardt
NNNN
2005VATICA00194 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN),NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR IZ PHUM PINR IZ VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: IRAQ: RELEASED ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR U.S.
WITHDRAWAL
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1.(SBU) Hours after being released by insurgents,
Mosul's Syro-Catholic Archbishop called for a timetable for
U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. Archbishop Basile Georges
Casmoussa emphasized his good relations with local Muslims
and blamed his kidnapping on mistaken identity. He further
claimed that his kidnappers' goal had been "to get
Americans out of the country." The prelate attributed his
quick release to the Pope's strong plea on his behalf. For
its part, the Holy See said it had paid no ransom for
Casmoussa's release and had been surprised by the
kidnapping given that both Christians and Muslims held the
archbishop in high regard. An official of Iraq's Chaldean
Catholic church in Rome countered Casmoussa's comments on
the U.S. presence in Iraq, saying that despite rising
violence, the U.S. had to stay "to get the job done."
--------------
CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE
--------------
2.(U) Just hours after his release, Mosul's Catholic
Archbishop called for the U.S. to set a timetable for troop
withdrawal. In an interview with the Rome-based Catholic
news agency, Asia News, Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa
said his abduction was not "anti-Christian," but rather
"something done to get the Americans out of the country."
The archbishop asserted that "there was no common ground
between Iraqi Christians and the occupiers." He claimed
his abductors had at first not realized who he was, and had
freed him after hearing the Vatican's call for his release.
Casmoussa said he enjoyed good relations with the Muslim
community and that he had received many messages of support
from his Muslim friends when he returned home.
--------------
VATICAN PRESSURE
--------------
3.(SBU) The Vatican was particularly energetic in
working for Casmoussa's release, issuing an official papal
statement to the press as soon as news of his abduction
came in. Charge spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Archbishop
Leonardo Sandri in the hours after the abduction was
reported, who expressed appreciation for U.S. interest and
welcomed further information from U.S. sources and U.S.
action to secure the archbishop's release. In a subsequent
meeting, the Holy See's Assessor, Monsignor Gabriele
Caccia, told Charge that the Vatican had learned that
Casmoussa had been abducted by mistake by a group that was
seeking money, not for any religious motivation. After the
quick release, the Vatican insisted that no ransom had been
paid. Its official statement said the Holy See had been
totally surprised by the abduction, given the great esteem
both the Christian and Muslim communities held for
Casmoussa.
--------------
CHALDEAN REP: NOT AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN CAMPAIGN
--------------
4. (SBU) The Chaldean Catholic Church's representative in
Rome, Monsignor Philip Najim, told us January 19 that he
had been in contact with Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel Delly,
who had not expressed increased concern for his own safety.
"Let's hope [the abduction of a high-ranking Christian
official] was just a mistake, as they say it was," Najim
said. He asserted that there had been continuing violence
against Christians in recent weeks, but felt that, while
the incidents underscored a perilous security situation in
Iraq, they did not represent an increased targeting of
Christians by insurgents.
--------------
U.S. MUST FINISH THE JOB
--------------
5. (SBU) When asked about Casmoussa's statements regarding
the American presence in Iraq, Najim merely emphasized his
opinion that the U.S. had to stay to "get the job done."
"The situation is getting worse and worse," he said, "but
only America can fix it." He suggested that the USG needed
to devote greater resources to its Iraq efforts if it were
to be successful. "I don't care about Saddam, [the claims
of the existence of] WMDs, or anything in the past," he
continued. "Let's be practical and move ahead. If you are
successful America will be beloved and the whole region
could change for the better."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6.(SBU) Casmoussa's comments on the U.S. presence in
Iraq track with previous remarks he has made. Just last
month he told an American Catholic weekly that there was no
shortage of pain, hardship and even death caused by the
U.S. military presence in Iraq. He claimed Americans
killed a young member of his flock in 2003 and that one of
his monks had been left paralyzed after a road accident
involving an American tank in early 2004. His political
sensibilities aside, the quick and forceful reaction by the
Vatican to Casmoussa's kidnapping illustrates the Holy
See's continuing preoccupation for the safety of the
Christian community in Iraq.
7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
Hardt
NNNN
2005VATICA00194 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLAS VATICAN 000194
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN),NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR IZ PHUM PINR IZ VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: IRAQ: RELEASED ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR U.S.
WITHDRAWAL
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1.(SBU) Hours after being released by insurgents,
Mosul's Syro-Catholic Archbishop called for a timetable for
U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. Archbishop Basile Georges
Casmoussa emphasized his good relations with local Muslims
and blamed his kidnapping on mistaken identity. He further
claimed that his kidnappers' goal had been "to get
Americans out of the country." The prelate attributed his
quick release to the Pope's strong plea on his behalf. For
its part, the Holy See said it had paid no ransom for
Casmoussa's release and had been surprised by the
kidnapping given that both Christians and Muslims held the
archbishop in high regard. An official of Iraq's Chaldean
Catholic church in Rome countered Casmoussa's comments on
the U.S. presence in Iraq, saying that despite rising
violence, the U.S. had to stay "to get the job done."
--------------
CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE
--------------
2.(U) Just hours after his release, Mosul's Catholic
Archbishop called for the U.S. to set a timetable for troop
withdrawal. In an interview with the Rome-based Catholic
news agency, Asia News, Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa
said his abduction was not "anti-Christian," but rather
"something done to get the Americans out of the country."
The archbishop asserted that "there was no common ground
between Iraqi Christians and the occupiers." He claimed
his abductors had at first not realized who he was, and had
freed him after hearing the Vatican's call for his release.
Casmoussa said he enjoyed good relations with the Muslim
community and that he had received many messages of support
from his Muslim friends when he returned home.
--------------
VATICAN PRESSURE
--------------
3.(SBU) The Vatican was particularly energetic in
working for Casmoussa's release, issuing an official papal
statement to the press as soon as news of his abduction
came in. Charge spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Archbishop
Leonardo Sandri in the hours after the abduction was
reported, who expressed appreciation for U.S. interest and
welcomed further information from U.S. sources and U.S.
action to secure the archbishop's release. In a subsequent
meeting, the Holy See's Assessor, Monsignor Gabriele
Caccia, told Charge that the Vatican had learned that
Casmoussa had been abducted by mistake by a group that was
seeking money, not for any religious motivation. After the
quick release, the Vatican insisted that no ransom had been
paid. Its official statement said the Holy See had been
totally surprised by the abduction, given the great esteem
both the Christian and Muslim communities held for
Casmoussa.
--------------
CHALDEAN REP: NOT AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN CAMPAIGN
--------------
4. (SBU) The Chaldean Catholic Church's representative in
Rome, Monsignor Philip Najim, told us January 19 that he
had been in contact with Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel Delly,
who had not expressed increased concern for his own safety.
"Let's hope [the abduction of a high-ranking Christian
official] was just a mistake, as they say it was," Najim
said. He asserted that there had been continuing violence
against Christians in recent weeks, but felt that, while
the incidents underscored a perilous security situation in
Iraq, they did not represent an increased targeting of
Christians by insurgents.
--------------
U.S. MUST FINISH THE JOB
--------------
5. (SBU) When asked about Casmoussa's statements regarding
the American presence in Iraq, Najim merely emphasized his
opinion that the U.S. had to stay to "get the job done."
"The situation is getting worse and worse," he said, "but
only America can fix it." He suggested that the USG needed
to devote greater resources to its Iraq efforts if it were
to be successful. "I don't care about Saddam, [the claims
of the existence of] WMDs, or anything in the past," he
continued. "Let's be practical and move ahead. If you are
successful America will be beloved and the whole region
could change for the better."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6.(SBU) Casmoussa's comments on the U.S. presence in
Iraq track with previous remarks he has made. Just last
month he told an American Catholic weekly that there was no
shortage of pain, hardship and even death caused by the
U.S. military presence in Iraq. He claimed Americans
killed a young member of his flock in 2003 and that one of
his monks had been left paralyzed after a road accident
involving an American tank in early 2004. His political
sensibilities aside, the quick and forceful reaction by the
Vatican to Casmoussa's kidnapping illustrates the Holy
See's continuing preoccupation for the safety of the
Christian community in Iraq.
7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
Hardt
NNNN
2005VATICA00194 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED