Harry Schute Jr.: America, help to defend the Kurds Date: 06/09/2014 : 23:37:45 55 Views On Aug. 14, President Barack Obama said in a news conference that “we broke the siege of Mount Sinjar,” referring to the military and humanitarian aid missions to relieve the crisis facing Yezidi Kurds trapped by Islamic State fighters. Certainly, the efforts of U.S. aviators in attacking IS targets and delivering aid, in conjunction with the ground attacks of Kurdish Peshmerga forces, were critical in allowing most of those trapped on the mountain to find refuge in other Kurdistani-controlled areas. Yes, the siege is broken, but the job is far from done. The civilized world still faces a daunting humanitarian problem that exists across Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as an undefeated, brutal terrorist state in the well-equipped and well-funded IS. Now is not the time to breathe a sigh of relief. Iraqi Kurdistan is hosting more than 1.2 million refugees and internally displaced people. Many are minorities, including Christians, Yezidis, and Shabaks, who have been driven from their homes at the threat of conversion or death. The Kurdistan Regional Government is doing its best, with United Nations’ assistance, to provide for them. But the government has received no budget payments from Baghdad since the beginning of the year and is fighting a war against IS. The KRG will have to provide shelter, food, and support for the refugees, who will not be able to return to their homes as long as IS holds sway over their towns and villages. Although the Peshmerga have a reputation as fierce and loyal fighters — I saw them in action and they were instrumental in ensuring all of my soldiers returned home safely in 2004 — they are heavily outmatched by IS. The Peshmerga are using Soviet-era equipment captured from Saddam Hussein’s army before 2003. IS has modern U.S. equipment captured from the Iraqi army. The U.S. airstrikes and pledges of military equipment are much appreciated but this support must be ongoing, as the Peshmerga are at the tip of the spear in the civilized world’s fight against IS. Why should the United States help defend Iraqi Kurdistan? It is the one part of Iraq that is a success story out of the eight years Americans toiled to bring peace and stability to Iraq. If Kurdistan were to be threatened, one of the most pro-American, democratic, and secular places in the Middle East — besides Israel — would be at risk of extinction. It is in our strategic interests to ensure that the Kurds do not fail. The KRG is not asking for a single U.S. soldier on the ground to join them in the fight. But they do need modern equipment and training, and air support. Assisting in the defense of Kurdistan should be a priority for the United States and the civilized world. That must then be followed by: cutting off funding to IS; interdicting the flow of recruits, especially from the West; facilitating the formation of an inclusive new Iraqi government that includes Sunni Arabs; helping Sunnis choke IS of support; and supporting Iraqis and Syrians to take the fight to IS. This is a fight that must be taken to IS — here and now. If not, the monsters of IS will be more than happy to export their medieval blend of terror and intolerance to the rest of the world, making al-Qaida look like a bunch of schoolyard bullies in the process. Harry Schute Jr. is a retired colonel who commanded a U.S. Army Reserve civil affairs battalion in Kurdistan, was chief of staff for the Coalition Provisional Authority-North, and is currently a senior security adviser to the Kurdistan Regional Government. He wrote this for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Providence Journal
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 06:09:15 +0000
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