The Kurds Won’t Solve the Iran Problem: They’re good fighters and good allies, but not a panacea.
Mark Hertling, former commander of US troops in Iraq in 2007 shares his personal thoughts on why the Kurds cannot solve the Iran Problem FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS, when American presidents have wanted to put pressure on leader in Iraq or Iran, the same idea has consistently popped up: Use the Kurds. Now, as the Trump administration seeks “ unconditional surrender ” from the Iranian regime, the question of the Kurds has come up again. Last week, CNN reported that the CIA is arming Kurdish rebels “with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran.” The logic behind the suggestion is easy to understand. The Kurds are fierce fighters. They are among the more pro-Western and pro-American groups in the region. They were partners and helped stabilize parts of Iraq during the U.S. invasion. They were decisive in helping defeat ISIS when the Iraqi state nearly collapsed in 2014 and in destroying ISIS in Syria. For many Americans, they represent the kind of ally we wish...