In Support of an Independent Kurdistan

The ethnic Kurdish minority in Iraq has long been both one of the most neglected as scorned factions in the country, and one of the most steadfast American allies in the Middle East. No friends of Saddam Hussein after years of mistreatment and attempted suppression by the main Iraqi government, the Kurds aided coalition forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and more recently have proven invaluable in driving back the forces of ISIS in northern Iraq.

But for all their help, the Kurds are somewhat limited by diplomatic constraints. Kurdistan is an autonomous region within Iraq, and though in practice they have wide latitude in conducting their own internal affairs, they are still ultimately answerable to Baghdad, holding none of the benefits of true independence. They cannot formally represent themselves on the world stage, and are therefore needlessly reliant on other countries.

There is also little doubt that the Kurds as a group have long desired an independent country to call their own. The borders of the modern Iraqi state were drawn in the aftermath of World War One by the League of Nations, with little to no input from native Iraqis. As such, the current borders do not necessarily represent the needs or desires of the Iraqi people, whether Kurd, Shia, or Sunni.

The Kurdish people have been loyal American allies who want a country to call their own. The United States should act as a mediator between the Kurdish regional government and the main Iraqi government in Baghdad to help them achieve that goal. If successful, Kurdistan, the United States, and Iraq, along with the elusive goal of Middle Eastern peace, would benefit.