I took off three days and have come back to find that president Obama is back to his usual manner of foreign policy. Obama is ignoring a warning about danger facing a friend. This time, the friend is the Kurdish people of Iraq. During the Iraq war, the Kurds were friendly and their portion of Iraq was perhaps the most peaceful area of the country. They have participated in the Baghdad government since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. They have kept order in their lands which are located in the northeast part of Iraq. When the Iraqi army dissolved ahead of ISIS, the Kurds and their militia took up positions to defend Kurdish territory. The Kurdish fighters have maintained their border with the ISIS area and prevented any move by ISIS to extend its so called caliphate into the Kurdish region. This has led to sporadic but ongoing fighting between ISIS and the Kurds at the border.
Yesterday brought news reports that the Kurds have asked the USA for help in defending themselves. The Kurds want weapons and ammunition. They are not asking for any American troops. The answer from Obama has been "no".
What we have here is a group or people who were oppressed for decades Under Saddam. After they were liberated, they became friends of America, and they have remained friends of America ever since. They have not participated in the sectarian infighting in Iraq. They have remained part of the democratic process set up in Iraq by the USA. Their local fighters did not flee when the ISIS terrorists came into Iraq. Their militia has been successful in holding off ISIS for months. All they ask for is help with weapons and munitions. Supposedly, Obama wants to act to defeat ISIS; at least that is the story that the White House puts out there. So here is a way to arm our friends and let them fight their own battle with out assistance. It seems like an easy decision. Even worse, the Kurds have warned Obama that ISIS is getting ready for an offensive against them, so Obama has little time to do his usual dither. Obama actually has to make a decision. Not deciding -- which is Obama's current supposed position--is actually saying no to the Kurds. Obama is standing by while a friend and ally is about to be attacked.
I can't imagine why Obama is not helping the Kurds. Maybe they need to offer to let him hold a fund raiser in Kurdistan. At least that is something he could understand.
Yesterday brought news reports that the Kurds have asked the USA for help in defending themselves. The Kurds want weapons and ammunition. They are not asking for any American troops. The answer from Obama has been "no".
What we have here is a group or people who were oppressed for decades Under Saddam. After they were liberated, they became friends of America, and they have remained friends of America ever since. They have not participated in the sectarian infighting in Iraq. They have remained part of the democratic process set up in Iraq by the USA. Their local fighters did not flee when the ISIS terrorists came into Iraq. Their militia has been successful in holding off ISIS for months. All they ask for is help with weapons and munitions. Supposedly, Obama wants to act to defeat ISIS; at least that is the story that the White House puts out there. So here is a way to arm our friends and let them fight their own battle with out assistance. It seems like an easy decision. Even worse, the Kurds have warned Obama that ISIS is getting ready for an offensive against them, so Obama has little time to do his usual dither. Obama actually has to make a decision. Not deciding -- which is Obama's current supposed position--is actually saying no to the Kurds. Obama is standing by while a friend and ally is about to be attacked.
I can't imagine why Obama is not helping the Kurds. Maybe they need to offer to let him hold a fund raiser in Kurdistan. At least that is something he could understand.
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