Iraqi Kurds Are Badly Exposed

04/13/2007

Paul Munnis


In the discussion about leaving Iraq we have not discussed the plight of the Iraqi Kurds.

Caught between the U.S. government who is their ally, large numbers of Kurds who are residing in Turkey who are also a U.S. ally, and the Iraqi government who share oil treasure that they are sitting upon, the Kurds of northern Iraq are in a very precarious position.

The U.S. State Department needs to be working overtime to resolve this situation so that no matter whether we stay or go from Iraq, no matter whether the present Iraq government or another one arises, the Kurds and Turks can live as neighbors in peace.

Democrats do not need the safety of the Kurds hanging over their heads as a consequence of withdrawal. The Kurds need a peaceful future for themselves and for their children. Turks need some assured trade routes and some protection from a future Kurd insurgency. So the Parties must talk, negotiate, and reach political accommodation.

This sounds far easier than it is and yet we have top flight people in our State Department who can craft a political solution for negotiated settlement if they are given the needed backing and support.

I view this as an urgent matter, one needing a diplomatic full-court press. I think the UN needs to be the agent who runs the forum so as to assure all parties that the best interests of all the participants are being fairly represented.

It is hard to involve the Iraqi government right now, they can’t even meet in safety, yet some license must be given to a negotiator who can then participate in talks.

In this matter of Iraqi government safety we are starting to think that the government of Iraq may need to be moved to a safe haven, outside of Iraq, where they can operate to get their work done. They are debating this issue today and they may have some announcements before very long. We have not seen any discussion of what happens to the balance of political power when Iraqi members of Parlament are killed and no elections can be held to replace them. It seems to me that the balance of power goes into jeapordy.