The Kurdish people in northeast Iraq have developed an autonomous community which has remained tolerant of minorities who live in their territory. They have been steadfast in their friendship with the USA and Israel. They have developed a thriving economy. They are a poster child compared to the rest of Iraq. The central government until now has really been a Shiite government which has alienated the Sunnis and pushed them into the arms of ISIS. ISIS is a radical fundamentalist group which has shown no mercy to its enemies and has shown frightening military success.
The US and Europe should support the Kurds in their fight with ISIS. Kurdistan should take up as much space in northeastern Iraq as it needs including the oil fields whether as an autonomous region or an independent country. Iraq is a country of various ethnic and religious groups divided tribally that was hobbled together by European colonialists years ago. It was a mistake for the Bush administration to invade Iraq years ago with the delusion that all Iraqis would come together spontaneously and make a united western style democracy. We would have been better off supporting a mini-Kurdistan in northeast Iraq independent of Sadam Hussein and kept Sadam as a boogyman to be clobbered when he threatens our friends, but allow him to remain to keep the mullahs in Iran at bay (unless his own cronies would have thrown him out). We unfortunately broke the balance when we invaded so long ago, but now it is time to let central Iraq create a stable inclusive government or else fall apart as long as we keep our friends in Kurdistan.
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