There are somewhere between 25 and 35 million Kurds in the Middle East. They form a large minority in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. They are, however, the only large group that has no state. After World War I, when the Ottoman Empire crumbled, there was supposed to be a Kurdish state established. Then, the world powers reneged on that agreement and split the Kurds into the four countries mentioned above. In all the years since then, the Kurds have not only been without their own country, but they have also been the target of discrimination in the region. In Iraq, the former dictator Saddam Hussein adopted a policy of "arabization" which basically involved taking over Kurdish lands and settling Arab Iraqis on them. In Turkey, the government has long looked at the movement trying to establish a Kurdish state as a terrorist group. Hundreds or thousands have died in an ongoing battle over the years in Turkey. Kurds in Iran supporting the establishment of a Kurdish state are risking their lives. In Syria under the Assad regime, the Kurds were treated no better.
Despite all this, or maybe because of this, the Kurds have turned out to be reliable friends and allies of the United States. During the Iraq War, the only region of Iraq that stayed peaceful and friendly to American forces was the Kurdish area in the northeastern part of that country. The Kurds welcomed the Americans who removed their oppressor, Saddam Hussein. When ISIS swarmed into Iraq, the Kurdish armed forces, the Peshmerga, formed the only effective opposition to the terrorists. The Iraqi army just ran away when ISIS appeared and left behind all of the army's expensive and modern American weaponry. The Kurds were armed with only surplus material left from World War II. Even so, the Kurds stopped and then reversed the ISIS advance. As the Kurds stood as the only bulwark against ISIS, the USA did nothing to help them. President Obama said that he would deliver arms to the Kurds to help, but he sent all assistance to the central government in Baghdad which gave no supplies to the Kurds.
After more than two years of fighting ISIS without US help, the Kurds might be expected to be angry with the USA. Strangely, however, the Kurds are still friendly to America. Obama, however, is still not helping the Kurds in their fight.
In Syria, the Kurds again have proven to be the most effective group fighting against ISIS. The battle in Syria in which the tide of the war against ISIS turned was at the town of Kobane. It was held against a large ISIS force by Kurdish soldiers who suffered greatly in the battle. Not only did the USA not help those defending Kobane, but we stood by as the Turks closed their border to any help from any source. The Turks were prepared to watch ISIS take Kobane so long as it meant that the Kurds were defeated. Despite all this, the Kurds took a large area in northern Syria along the border with Turkey.
Thirty million Kurds deserve their own country. They also deserve America's help in achieving that goal. We should arm the Kurds. We should push for the establishment of a new country in Kurdistan. They are our friends. They deserve our help.
Despite all this, or maybe because of this, the Kurds have turned out to be reliable friends and allies of the United States. During the Iraq War, the only region of Iraq that stayed peaceful and friendly to American forces was the Kurdish area in the northeastern part of that country. The Kurds welcomed the Americans who removed their oppressor, Saddam Hussein. When ISIS swarmed into Iraq, the Kurdish armed forces, the Peshmerga, formed the only effective opposition to the terrorists. The Iraqi army just ran away when ISIS appeared and left behind all of the army's expensive and modern American weaponry. The Kurds were armed with only surplus material left from World War II. Even so, the Kurds stopped and then reversed the ISIS advance. As the Kurds stood as the only bulwark against ISIS, the USA did nothing to help them. President Obama said that he would deliver arms to the Kurds to help, but he sent all assistance to the central government in Baghdad which gave no supplies to the Kurds.
After more than two years of fighting ISIS without US help, the Kurds might be expected to be angry with the USA. Strangely, however, the Kurds are still friendly to America. Obama, however, is still not helping the Kurds in their fight.
In Syria, the Kurds again have proven to be the most effective group fighting against ISIS. The battle in Syria in which the tide of the war against ISIS turned was at the town of Kobane. It was held against a large ISIS force by Kurdish soldiers who suffered greatly in the battle. Not only did the USA not help those defending Kobane, but we stood by as the Turks closed their border to any help from any source. The Turks were prepared to watch ISIS take Kobane so long as it meant that the Kurds were defeated. Despite all this, the Kurds took a large area in northern Syria along the border with Turkey.
Thirty million Kurds deserve their own country. They also deserve America's help in achieving that goal. We should arm the Kurds. We should push for the establishment of a new country in Kurdistan. They are our friends. They deserve our help.
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