Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Joe Biden's comments on US strike and killing of Qassem Soleimani [View all]SuprstitionAintthWay
(386 posts)and Kirkuk, the Kurdish Iraqi capital and half-Kurdish 2nd city.
How it wasn't the floundering Baghdad government, or the U.S. Army, who stepped into the breach between the surging Islamic State and Kurdistan. It was Iranian Gen. Suliemani and Shiite militias under his control. I knew he was the Big Dog in Iraq. But I didnt know he'd rescued our allies the Pesh Merga too.
Why would he do that? Because ISIS = Sunni. Suliemani = Iranian Shiite general in Iraq to defend the newly Shiite-controlled Baghdad govt -- and Iran's ascendant influence over it. If ISIS rolled over Kurdistan, they'd be harder to stop when they pressed on to Baghdad.
I remember Joe Biden in 2003 or 2004 arguing that we probably should help Iraqi Kurdistan become an independent Western-leaning nation, that they deserved it and would be a reliable U.S. ally. That made a lot of sense to me then. Yes the Ayatollah, the new Baghdad govt, Assad in Syria, and Erdogan in Turkey, would all object. But screw'em. An independent Kirdiatan still makes a lot of sense to me now. I suspect Biden was right, that his instincts were correct.
I think of how much better off the U.S. would likely be now if an independent Kurdish nation existed in the former NE Iraq today. Our interests and influence in the region would be more secure. How even Trump would've been unlikely to betray an independent nation of Kurdistan. And how if a pro-Iranian Baghdad govt wanted us out, like they might decide this weekend, how we'd still have a friendly base of operations, in Kurdistan.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden