When most Americans think about Iraq, the War on Terror is the conflict that comes to mind. Often the Kurdish population is never thought of or their ongoing battle with the rest of Iraq. The Iraq Kurdistan President, Massoud Barzani is refusing to meet with President Obama because the United States has placed the two main Kurdish political parties on the terrorist black list. The Kurds feel as if this label is unfair and damaging to their people. I found this article interesting because of the Kurds history of opposing Saddam Hussein and favoring the United States during our war in Iraq. The Kurd government reinforced my feelings in the article by pointing out that US forces did not suffer any casualties in the Kurd controlled area during their invasion, and proved thankful towards our forces. This leeds me to wonder why the Kurds were placed on the terror list in 2001?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/iraqi-kurdistan-president-obama-terror-list
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/iraqi-kurdistan-president-obama-terror-list
This does raise a lot of concern in the international community because if the Kurdish people are beginning to feel threatened/ betrayed by the US they are going to begin to oppose them. The West can use any ally they can get in the Middle East so it is probably wise to tread lightly among people who could be friends or foe. There may be more to the story about why they were placed on this terrorist list. 2001 was over 10 years ago as well so myabe there is some reevaluating that needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteI think the Kurds need to realize that they were placed on the blacklist by an entirely different administration. I am certain our current president has a different approach to the middle East, so they should not hold against Obama what another president's administration possibly did. However, if the Obama administration and/ or Congress rolled over and continues to list them on the terrorist blacklist, then there are details being withheld that the Kurds may not be openly acknowledging in order to increase support on their own behalf.
ReplyDeleteI think the Kurds need to realize that they were placed on the blacklist by an entirely different administration. I am certain our current president has a different approach to the middle East, so they should not hold against Obama what another president's administration possibly did. However, if the Obama administration and/ or Congress rolled over and continues to list them on the terrorist blacklist, then there are details being withheld that the Kurds may not be openly acknowledging in order to increase support on their own behalf.
ReplyDelete