"I love my people. I love my church. It is the best church I have ever had," he said. "I'm the only non-Iraqi there. It causes me great sorrow to see the international community - even my own nation (England) and yours - has not really done anything to help these people.
"So far no government has helped," Canon White continued. "No government has understood their needs. There has been a fundamental lack of understanding of the immediate nature of the conflict that we are now facing. So the Christians and other minorities need provision and engagement."
Despite his criticism of the Coalition and international governments, Canon White emphasised that he supports the Iraq war and believes that a US military pullout now would lead to more bloodshed.
"I agree we needed to remove Saddam Hussein from power. I think the war was right ... I'm delighted he (US commander in Iraq General David Petraeus) is there and he is doing an incredible job," he said.We have done nothing to support the Christian community or the increase Christian suffering.
Rev Canon Andrew White
General Petraeus is a regular attendee at St George's.
"The fact is we went to war. We actually were partied to enabling a lot of these problems; we can't just leave. I know people might want us to say we should ... but they haven't seen them. They are not on the grounds," said Canon White. "If we leave them, if we pull out I dread to think what will happen.
The vicar concluded: "It's a dire situation but together we can make a difference and we must make a difference."
USCIRF this year added Iraq to its Watch List of countries requiring close monitoring because of reports of religious freedom violations tolerated by the government. The commission acknowledges reported abuses in Iraq such as the assassination of Christian religious leaders, bombings and the destruction of churches, and violent threats intended to force Christians from their homes.
"In some areas, ordinary Christians have reportedly stopped participating in public religious services for fear of inviting further violence," said USCIRF chair Michael Cromartie.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimated Christians make up nearly half of the refugees fleeing Iraq although they make up only three per cent of the country's population.
Over 1.8 million people have been displaced from their homes in Iraq and close to two million Iraqis have left since the 2003 US-led offensive.
Others who spoke during the USCIRF hearing included Pasqual Warda, former Iraq Minister of Migration & Displacement and President of the Assyrian Women's Union; Dr Donny George, former chairman of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage and former director of the Iraqi National Museum; and Michael Youash, project director of the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project.
Democrat Anna Eschoo, the only Assyrian Christian in the US Congress, also spoke at the beginning of the hearing to share her concern and support for the issue of Iraqi minorities.
