The argument that democracy does not work in the region is false. The Kurds have proved otherwise. Yet this progress is now under threat, not from secular dictatorship but from a warped and totalitarian view of Islam which is attempting to secure its place in the region. At this point, it is the Kurds who are ideally placed to launch counter-offensives against Isil – geographically and militarily. But for too long their fighting spirit and determination has been held back for lack of equipment. The Prime Minister’s announcement that the UK will supply and train the Kurdish Peshmerga is critical to remedy this. But it’s not just about guns and ammo. As has often been said, the region also needs a long-term political strategy to unite various interest groups in a common effort against Isil. Sadly, we can’t assume this will come from Baghdad or Tehran. It is encouraging that the Iranians have engaged, but can they be relied upon to act pragmatically? By linking nuclear negotiations to actions against Isil, they encourage a backlash from both Saudi Arabia and Israel, and potentially compromise any shared gains.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:46:40 +0000
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