Amedi: Kurds have many qualified individuals. They can build a democracy

By: Sarwar Salar Chuchani(www.sarwarkurd.blogfa.com)


Published on Sivil Magazine in Hewler, Kurdistan (September 26th 2009)

1- Mr. Amedi, can you give a brief overview on the Kurdish-U.S relations?

In the past, the US never attributed any importance to the Kurdish problem in neither parts of Kurdistan. In 1970s, the US supported the Kurdish movement, but the support was funneled through the Shah regime. The US never had any direct contacts with Kurds. In the aftermath of Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait, the US intervened and helped Kurds in a humanitarian mission, but again, the US never attributed any political importance to the Kurdish case. In the after math of the liberation war in 2003, the Peshmerges were very helpful to the US military mission in Iraq, but on political grounds, the US views Iraq as a single nation, despite its diverse ethnical make-up. In my view, a long term solution to the Kurdish problem in Iraq is in Erbil and of course Baghdad.

2- How Kurds can become an influential player on the American policy and its decision making centers?
This can be done in the US and Erbil: The Kurdish Diaspora in the US must learn and understand the US culture and the way its political system works. The US is a full-scale democracy. The Kurdish community must understand the American values and press for changes in the US policies when they feel there is a diversion in those values. They must convince American politicians that helping Kurdistan is in US’s strategic interests and in line with American values. In Erbil, there must be a reliable system. Take Israel for instance. If Israel was a dictatorship, its relations with the US would have been similar to the US relations with the Arab states. Because Israel is a western democracy, the US is committed to support it and protect it when it faces threats.

The elections in Kurdistan were very successful. The opposition picked up enough seats to press KDP and PUK to reform. I am very optimistic. I believe the new opposition can start the path to democracy and a Kurdish state, by creating a modern government system. The Americans will certainly support Kurds if they feel that Kurds are committed to democracy and the rule of law.

3- Is there something named “Kurdish lobby” in America? What are the bases of having or creating such a lobby?
As far as I’m concerned, the Kurds have no organized lobby in the US. In the past, the Kurdish parties have hired certain individuals to lobby for their cause in Washington. But in America, paid agents are not well-respected.

A true Kurdish lobby must be independent, and it must emerge from the Kurdish American community. It must be able to finance itself independently. The strength of any successful lobbying group is in its neutrality with regard to the US politics and its understanding of the US interests and in due course, the interests of the nation for which they are lobbying. For example, the Israeli lobby doesn’t support any factions neither in Washington nor in Israel, and it maintains a neutral line when seeking support for Israel in Washington.

But again, Israel is a democracy and a rule of law state. Kurdistan must also establish a democratic government of institutions. The US does not support any militia government.

4- Michael Rubin says Kurds want to by friends in America not to create friends, how you think
The traditional Middle Eastern ways don’t work in Washington. We have to learn American ways. There are people in Washington who will accept money and gifts in return of favors, but those people are not well-respected in the American culture. The American government will listen to an American citizen who is seeking support for Kurdistan, but in line American interests and values, rather than a paid-agent.

Again, the US will not support Kurds, if their government is rotten with corruption and nepotism

5- At the beginning of Iraqi liberation (and or occupation) there was a significant support to KRG, but we now notice that support is declining, what may be the cause?
Perhaps, there was cooperation between the US Army and the Peshmerges, but I don’t think the US ever favored Kurds in Iraq. The US policy of Iraq clearly focuses on its unity. The US will leave Iraq in 2011 per the SOFA agreement and wants Iraqis to solve their problems.

6- KRG can’t do what Iraq and Turkey can do for U.S, so they have priority in American agenda…how KRG can deploy a diplomacy that goes with the Iraqi and Turkish and subsequently American favor?
The only way through which Kurds can survive is democracy, by showing the world that they are a capable nation and have a functioning government that is committed to the Western democracy. Using excuses like “transitioning to democracy from guerrilla warfare” may sound reasonable in Erbil, but it won’t in Washington. Kurds have many qualified individuals. They can build a democracy.
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