Obama must hear Kurds out

 

 

"It is time for us to make the transition of power to the Iraqis," the US President Barack Hussein Obama said during his address to the US troops near Baghdad.

"They need to take the responsibility for their country," he said. Obama's previously unannounced trip to Iraq, following his two day visit to Turkey, was confined to the main U.S. military base there, Camp Victoria. As Obama administration prepares for troop withdrawal from Iraq, security situation and stability of the country remain the two key concerns for him in order to successfully implement his objective of troop pull out. Despite Obama's optimism it seems highly unlikely that outstanding fundamental issues among the Iraqi factions and groups can be resolved in two years time which would lead to an atmosphere of peace, stability and security in Iraq without the US troops.

Some circles in America seem to have failed in seeing the real agenda and pathway to stability in Iraq and are engaged in petty matters rather than to deal with the core issues that have potential to devastate the future of Iraq or to push the country towards stability and prosperity. Los Angeles Times, for example, urged 'The president must push reconciliation between Shiites and Sunnis if there is to be stability after U.S. forces depart? As the date for the drawdown of U.S. forces approaches, Obama should use his leverage to press Maliki to incorporate the former Sunni insurgents into the security forces and political system. Without political reconciliation, Iraq will never have security and long-term stability.' The Times failed to understand that what endangers the future of Iraq is not the problematic relations between Shiite and Sunni sections of Iraqi Arabs but diametrically differing vision of Iraqi Arabs and the Kurds. Unless the issues are resolved the tension and conflict between Arabs (both Shiite and Sunnis) and the Kurds would bring Iraq to a complete standstill and most probably to a collapse. There is a real potential of civil war between them unless the US plays a serious role in conflict resolution while it still remains in Iraq.

Early troop withdrawal from the country before resolving the Kurdish-Arab conflict would jeopardize the whole US effort in Iraq since 2003 and even more the US interests in the Middle East. It seems that the Obama administration is aware of the seriousness of the issue and pays attention to it. During his short stay in Iraq President Obama met Kurdistan President and Kurdistan Regional government's Prime Minister in Baghdad and acquired the Kurdish views and concerns first hand.

During his meeting with Massoud Barzani, Kurdistan President, the Kurdish side conveyed their message to Obama. Barzani stated that 'The Kurdistan Region has always worked to be part of the solution not the problem in Iraq. We contributed in the political process, which culminated in the creation of the Iraqi constitution. We want to emphasise our full commitment to working with all parties and abiding by the Iraqi constitution to support a democratic, federal Iraq'. The message from Kurdish side is very clear: for Iraq to be stable and peaceful all sides must abide by the Iraqi constitution. Obama's response, if he is sincere in what he says, is very clear as well: He noted that strict adherence to the Iraqi constitution remains the best mechanism for peace and stability in the war torn country.

Adherence to the Iraqi constitution means implementing article 140. So far Iraqi Arabs shying away from properly implementing the constitution. Even more, Al-Maliki government attempts to rewrite a constitution which more than 80 percent of the Iraqi people approved of in the referendum.

Obama must pressure Iraqi Arab leaders to abide by the constitution and resolve the conflict between the Arabs and the Kurds if he wishes to leave a prosper and stable Iraq behind.

By Azad Aslan
Globe Editorial