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The #Kurds are becoming a central focus in the discussion about Trump's #SyriaWithdrawal.
Context is crucial to be effective advocates. Let's start w/some history.
🔹Who are Kurds?
🔹What is our history w/Kurds?
🔹Why is abandoning Kurds a mistake?
Graphics h/t @frontera_julie
Context is crucial to be effective advocates. Let's start w/some history.
🔹Who are Kurds?
🔹What is our history w/Kurds?
🔹Why is abandoning Kurds a mistake?
Graphics h/t @frontera_julie
1/ The Kurds are an indigenous group spread across Syria, Iraq, Iran & Turkey.
Many aspire to an independent Kurdistan which is opposed by the four countries.
Nonetheless, Kurds have developed close alliances w/the U.S. & others against terrorism. bbc.com/news/world-mid…
Many aspire to an independent Kurdistan which is opposed by the four countries.
Nonetheless, Kurds have developed close alliances w/the U.S. & others against terrorism. bbc.com/news/world-mid…
2/ The Kurds have been the U.S.-led forces' most reliable local ally against al Qaeda, ISIS and, before he was toppled, Saddam Hussein.
3/ The Kurds are motivated to help the United States in large part because Saddam Hussein committed atrocities like Halabja in 1988, and the U.S. stepped up to the plate to protect the Kurdish people. nation.co.ke/news/world/Whe…
4/ During the 1st Gulf War in '91, the United States encouraged a Kurdish uprising.
The uprising's failure & end of the war led to the neccessity of a U.S.-led coalition that protected Iraqi Kurds w/a no-fly zone from '92 until the 2nd Iraq war in 2003. historyguy.com/no-fly_zone_wa…
The uprising's failure & end of the war led to the neccessity of a U.S.-led coalition that protected Iraqi Kurds w/a no-fly zone from '92 until the 2nd Iraq war in 2003. historyguy.com/no-fly_zone_wa…
5/ The U.S. has had a multi-decade alliance with the Kurds to the great benefit of each side.
Such alliances represent foreign policy at its best.
This is how alliances are supposed to work, and why our enemies seek to change that dynamic.
Such alliances represent foreign policy at its best.
This is how alliances are supposed to work, and why our enemies seek to change that dynamic.
6/ During the 2nd Iraqi War, the Kurds were invaluable allies to coalition forces.
In 2005, post-Saddam Iraq recognized an autonomous Kurdish region in the country's North, & the Kurds there have largely governed & defended themselves since. bbc.com/news/world-mid…
In 2005, post-Saddam Iraq recognized an autonomous Kurdish region in the country's North, & the Kurds there have largely governed & defended themselves since. bbc.com/news/world-mid…
7/ Many Iraqi & Syrian Kurds heeded the call to fight ISIS. The Kurds recognized the threat to the region and to the Kurdish people.
Thus, the Kurds became the backbone of local allies on the ground battling ISIS in coordination w/the U.S. & our allies. nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/…
Thus, the Kurds became the backbone of local allies on the ground battling ISIS in coordination w/the U.S. & our allies. nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/…
8/ For three decades we have trained, worked alongside & developed a formidable Kurdish ground force that we can trust to aid or fight against terrorism.
Abandoning a strategic human asset to likely genocide is both morally and practically wrong.
Abandoning a strategic human asset to likely genocide is both morally and practically wrong.
9/ Abandoning our Kurdish allies would also do irreparable harm to America’s credibility globally, perhaps for decades.
Over a century of international goodwill towards the U.S. for actions & diplomacy that have promoted worldwide stability is at stake. cnbc.com/2018/12/22/tru…
Over a century of international goodwill towards the U.S. for actions & diplomacy that have promoted worldwide stability is at stake. cnbc.com/2018/12/22/tru…
10/10 With context, the debate around Trump's #SyriaWithdrawal, including why it's strategically important & why Mattis resigned, becomes clear.
Giving Syria to Russia, condemning allies to Genocide & lighting American credibility on fire isn't an option. pbs.org/newshour/polit…
Giving Syria to Russia, condemning allies to Genocide & lighting American credibility on fire isn't an option. pbs.org/newshour/polit…
