IRAQ | Is Kurdistan Collapsing?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- In September 2023, reports emerged that the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) had written to President Biden calling for US mediation to save his territory. Arguing that the KRI was under growing political and economic pressure, he even warned that the region, and indeed the entire federal system in Iraq, was at risk of collapse. But what exactly lies behind this dire warning?
For many decades the Kurds have fought for an independent homeland. Having been denied a state at the end of the First World War, the territory marked out for a Kurdish state was instead divided between Turkey and Iraq. While efforts for independence continued in both countries, it has been in Iraq that the Kurds have gained their greatest success. Following the First Gulf War in 1991, they were able to carve out an autonomous region with Western support. In the following years, they built what effectively became a de facto state, and many saw it as a matter of time before they would break away. However, a referendum on independence in 2017 met with strong international opposition and the regional leadership was forced to back down. Since then, the KRI has come under increasing threat from the Iraqi central government and neighbouring Iran. On top of this, the Kurdish community is divided between two main political factions, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Having lost significant oil revenues, there are real concerns about the future of the region.
MY NEW BOOK!
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/produ...
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Audiobooks.com www.audiobooks.co.uk/audioboo...
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Hello and welcome! My name is James Ker-Lindsay, and here I take an informed look at International Relations, conflict, security, and statehood. If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe. If you want more, including exclusive content and access to the channel Discord server, please consider becoming a Channel Member or support me through Patreon. I would greatly appreciate your support. Thank you!
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
ruclips.net/user/JamesKerLind...
BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
/ jameskerlindsay
JOIN MY PATREON PAGE
/ jameskerlindsay
VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:40 De Facto Statehood and Iraqi Kurdistan
02:02 The Kurdish Quest for Statehood
04:17 The Emergence of an Autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan
05:19 Kurdish Preparations for Independence, 2005-2017
06:30 The 2017 Kurdish Independence Vote
08:32 The Current Instability in Iraqi Kurdistan
11:09 Will Iraqi Kurdistan Collapse?
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Kurdistan Regional Government
gov.krd/english/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
mofa.gov.iq/en/
Modern History of the Kurds
amzn.to/48Lq21t
EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO
kit.co/JamesKerLindsay
DISCLAIMERS
- The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation.
- Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you.
#Iraq #Kurdistan #MiddleEast
At one point, Iraqi Kurdistan seemed to be one of the world's most stable and prosperous de facto states. While it hadn't declared independence, many saw it as a state in waiting and a country in all but name. However, today, the picture is very different. So, do you really think it is in danger of collapsing? And, if not, are any hopes for an independent Kurdistan now over? As ever, let me know your thoughts and comments below.
Mate as a Kurd there are many things that need to be looked at, first it all depends on the international equations. Iran nowadays does its best to fall the Kurdish government through its allies in Iraq and The US 🇺🇸 is silent as of this moment. Besides that, in Iraq Sunnies also want their own region. We have to wait until war happens which is something that I can smell its odour.
Russia & china just whooped the dolla & the lackies of the west😂😂
Die Kurden in Nordiraq haben sich mit dem Referandum bzgl. Unabhängigkeit mit der Türkei und Iran komplett verscherzt.
Barzani Clan ist koorupt und nach meiner Ansicht nicht in der Lage ein Land aufzubauen und zu führen.
Die kurzsichtige Politik der irakischen Kurden unter Barzani hat sie in diese politische Sackgasse geführt. Sie haben in ihrem
Bestreben unabhängig zu werden ihre Abhängigkeit von der Türkei und Iran komplett vergessen bzw. nicht berücksichtigt.
Die Türkei ist der Zugang der irakischen Kurden an die Außenwelt. Die Kurden hatten den Erdölverkauf eingestellt, jetzt verkaufen
sie wieder. Die Türkei hatte als Reaktion den Flughafen von Erbil de facto gesperrt. Die Kurden haben nunmehr erkannt, daß sie
gar nicht so stark sind, wie sie gedacht hatten. Die Türkei und Iran werden niemals einen kurdischen Staat an ihren Grenzen
zulassen, koste was es wolle. Wie sehr die Türken diese These unterstützen sehen wir durch die Angriffe der türkischen
Luftwaffe in Nordsyrien und Nordiraq. Sie werden mit einer Autonomie leben müssen, das gilt solange wie die irakische
Zentralregierung (unter dem Einfluß der Iraner) das zuläßt.
@@zakariyashakir4091 Kurdistan is an unfinished thing of WW1. From India we can say when ur Kurds group & 40 million kurds yezidis will not be scattered & divided in different political groups with different agendas. Formation of Kurdistan will become easier. But u needs to keep good relations with Assyrians & Bedouins. Bcs neither Arabs in Mesopotamia nor Turks of anatolia or Iranians will be happy about it. Bcs present Iran is actually Arab turks mixers. U & Armenians r only Aryans there & Bedouins Assyrians r non arab turks in the region.
@@zakariyashakir4091 we have a strategy for ur Kurdistan. Declaring Iraqi region independence will not help Kurds, bcs Iraq is ur gateway to gulf ocean. Ur main obstruction is Turkey Iran & Arabs. So those region needs to be independent Kurdistan & Iraq region should remain as autonomous for sea access of anatolia region independent Kurdistan by keeping good rapport with Assyrians of Iraq.
I as a Kurd who live in Kurdistan region of iraq, i can say that our problem as the Kurdish nation, is not our surrounding countries. The only problem is KDP and PUK.
❤
Well it isnt exactly correct, the two rival parties are accountable for many of our problems of course, and they are the reason of the KRG to be weaker after all that support from the western allies, but the enemies surrounding us are also undeniably a big factor on that
well that´s not correct at all ,if those two paries are the only reason for our problems in kurdistan region then what about other parts of Kurdistan? as we all now our situation in kurdistan region is much better than other parts of Kurdistan.
as a Kurd i have to say your type of
ideology, is the only cancer that kills our dream to have an only state, and this F ideology is condemned who don’t agree with you, you must accept diversity to lead others….
You forgot PKK too.
As a Kurd living in the Iraqi-Kurdish region, I have to say that we have not received salaries for the last three months straight.
Bagerra
You political parties are more corrupt than ours in Baghdad. They promise so much yet they don't deliver. How come that they want to create a state but cannot pay monthly salary! They're a bunch of clowns
Почему ???
Не помню что говорят
Because your presidents, Barzani and Talabani families, are betraying the Kurds. They work for the invaders. Barzani and Talabani work only for their personal and family purposes. They are deceiving the Kurds. Barzani family is Turkey's toy. Talabani is Iran's toy.Kurds need to unite and act together with America and Israel...
as a Kurdish it’s almost 100 days without out salary 😢
cry
Because your presidents, Barzani and Talabani families, are betraying the Kurds. They work for the invaders. Barzani and Talabani work only for their personal and family purposes. They are deceiving the Kurds. Barzani family is Turkey's toy. Talabani is Iran's toy.Kurds need to unite and act together with America and Israel...
Why dont they give yo your salaries
@@batuhanyayla7214 bro the state is corrupt heavily because of that they can’t give us money , they steal our money to pay luxury things
Gryan xosha ?
Turkey will never allow an independent Kurdistan even if it incorporates only lands in Iraq, because they know it will embolden Kurds in Turkey to eventually join.
yes
True but can we morally agree locals should decide this issue but make it globally so its consistent everywhere regardless when its in our interest
I 100 percent agree with the Kurds. I think they should have their own state, but, I know how Turks play, they will do some very wicked things to other countries, so no one will support the Kurds.
@@EuroMaidanWasAnInsurrection
@@EuroMaidanWasAnInsurrectiondude literally. These same people say Russians in Europe cannot decide to rejoin Russia, but a group of people in the middle east try to do so, they support it.
It's alarming how people are so accustomed to hypocrisy and double standards.
That is correct because the barzani clan are Erdogans guard dogs and care more about financially securing their future than the Kurds.
Months ago I requested you for a video on this subject. Thank you so much professor 🙏 🙏
Thanks. Great suggestion!
I was actually in Iraq (2016-17) working as a journalist for a local news agency. what I can say about KRG is, it is unfortunate that the people there are represented by KDP and PUk, both parties are mind bogglingly coropt
Well that's Iraqi politics after 2003 for ya
@@thewinner2782
Let me guess, before 2003 Iraq was democratic🤡🤡🤡
They are nothing but two mafia families
@@daraa151 that's not what I said
@@thewinner2782
Enlighten us please
It’s a remarkable, Professor Jim🎉. Keeps the wonderful job 🎉
Thank you so much! Have a great weekend.
Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria may differ in everything, but there is a permanent agreement on the non-establishment of a Kurdish state between them. Secondly, the economy of the Kurdistan region depends on Baghdad and Ankara by 90% through oil, tourism and commodity trade
The iraqi government is so corrupt that we see no money of the oil they sell. They probably is going to iran because there are irans dogs in iraq 😂😂😂
You have misunderstood something...Turkey gave up these lands on the condition that these lands would not be divided, otherwise Turkey would have claim to these areas again. This has nothing to do with a Kurdish state, it is simply better if it stays as it is, for everyone.
@@yaxshibala
Turkey, after the
collapse of the
Ottoman empire
could not have
hung onto its
domains. The
proverbial Pandora's
box (nationalism)
had been opened
during WW1.
All UK, France, Soviet
Union would have had
to do would be to fund
and arm rebels -- The
easiest way to obtain
power and influence
within a territory.
@@yaxshibalaexplaine why
@@reberbakir2126In the Ankara agreement signed between the British, Iraqis and Turks in 1926, Turkiye has the right to intervene in Iraq's Mosul and Kirkuk provinces in case Iraq is divided or in danger of division. Actually, this happened in the 90s, but the West created terrorists like the PKK and prevented Turkiye. The first thing the terrorists did was to attack Mosul oil, now the oil is going to America, meaning the rights of Iraq and Turkiye are being stolen.
Another great, unbiased summary, Thank You!
Thank you so much.
Always interestingly good videos. Thank you. :)
Thank you so much!
You chose a wonderful topic and the way you present the information is very excellent❤
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the very kind words!
very good background and review of the situation thanks
Thank you very much indeed!
Es lebe Freiheit und Frieden in Kurdistan🏳️🏴✌️🏳️🏴wir waren schon immer alleine im Stich gelassen. Wir haben einen Spruch dazu: no Friedens but the Mountains
I have to say this as a Kurd. Kurds' efforts to become a state are local and not unanimous. It is a situation used by big powers for their own interests. I hope that one day an independent Kurdish state can be established.
Why would some Kurds not want their own state? It seems to me that people would want to be able to run their own lives.
@@bunjijumper5345I think what he/she means is that every region has its own idea of independence and the movement is not centralised
@@bunjijumper5345 independence doesn't mean shit if you live a happy life
@@bunjijumper5345If you look at Kurds in Turkey many already kind of "gave up“ on the idea of an own state, they just want their language, culture etc. to be respected and to be presented fairly in the political spectrum. However the opinions of Kurds in Turkey differ of course. Some do want independence and some don‘t.
@@bunjijumper5345 bcs Kurds r not united for various reasons & vested interests that's why.
Thanks for the video. In my opinion, the main problem is that the two Kurdish parties and peshmerga forces cannot unite, this paves the way to unstability in the long term since our allies can’t rely on us for their plans
It's sad that a people has suffered throughout histonry,a people left to their own fate! Kurdish people surrounded by very aggressive neighbour's.Non-Kurd. Love and respect ❤ Kurdish people.
Kurds deserve their state, I support you as muslim.
In that case,take kurds give part of your country if you really love them a lot
lol no they don't
We are not taking any one land, we only want to free and take back our ancestral lands which was occupied, divided and stolen by the arabs, Turks, and Persians 100 years ago with the help of the British government, Understood?!.@@GaviHernandez-ry9lm
Make the most important country in your land not in our land
@@Luffy-jw4puIt's our land we were here Long before you, your land is in central Asia
Thanks for sharing the truth, as a Kurdish I really appreciate how accurate your work is, thanks again.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
James, first time l agree with you fully. Thanks for the video...
Haha! I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. :-)
i'm impressed by the accuracy and unbiased information great job.
Thank you very much indeed. I really appreciate it.
👏😐
Very interesting.
Best wishes to the people of Kurdistan.
Thank you for keeping us informed Professor.
😂😂
@@skp8748 What's your problem?
Thanks man from the bottom of my heart!
It is disappointing how standards for independence vary widely depending on who wishes to declare it or had already done so. Kurdistan’s efforts were snuffed immediately with a concerted efforts of all their neighbors as well as the US, while Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence was welcomed, encouraged and recognized by many. The situation and circumstances in the two are not the same but there are some stark similarities. Double-triple-quadruple standards of some major international players never seize to amaze me. Localized interests of the big guns always trump the interests of the people in question.
It’s not same. Kosovans went through genocide and couldn’t protect themselves while kurds chose violence and terror.
I know what you mean but the fact the US had no intention to intervene on behalf of Kosovo before the world found out about the ethnic cleansing and war crimes going on in the region, most targeting the Albanian populations in Kosovo
@@irvin099 cut the nonsense no such thing happened if so at least provide some location in kosovo which you won't find.
Enlight yourself before posting, different situations.
@@samthebrownman then how US endorsed ethnic cleansing in Bangladesh by its lacky Pakistan in 1971 ?
Thanks. It's great video.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the unbiased information. I wish you have more followers
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
My heart breaks for this people
Thanks man, but all people throughout the world should know that we never give up and never gave up, much love and respect 🫡
We the kurds suffer alot but let the enemies know this : giving up is no option !!
This report was really vital mate, thank you from a Kurd of kurdistan
Thank you so much. As always, there was a lot to cover. But I hope I explained the main difficulties the region is facing.
@@JamesKerLindsayit is explained every Crystal clearly, how do I get to contact with you online ?
Kurdistan doesnt exist🤣🤣
Did you just declare independence right now? 😅
@@ismi675 you don’t exist as well 🙃
Thanks Prof 👍🏻👍🏻
Very good and important content.
Great video and a nice analysis of the situation, I would have appreciated to have heard your toughts and your opinions on how they could turn this situation around? Externally they have been very unlucky throughout hundreds of years, but what can they do internally to fix the situation and get their status back?
Thanks. Great suggestion. I should try to return to this in a future video. But, at this stage, it seems hard to see how things can be turned around. Clearly, the focus isn't there from the United States. And unless Iraq, Iran or Turkey can be brought on board, any declaration of independence will leave the territory completely isolated.
Great episode. The official name is not Kurdish Region of Iraq, but Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Great explanation
Thank you.
Thank you for broadcasting this video. Regarding the formation of the independent state of Kurdistan, I need to say this. According to the United Nations, the interval between the independence referendum of any country is from one to ten years. Definitely up to four years.
This is sad to hear. I haven’t followed Kurdistan much in the last two years so to know so much has declined in such a short time is disheartening. At one point, Erbil was the place I wanted to visit most in the Middle East/West Asia.
I hope they can turn things around.
Erbil is a great place, you can go visit no problem
Be careful of terrorist attacks, my friend.
How you going take from this man bro you guys need to wake up Kurd
You have not missed a lot!
As an Iraqi born Kurd, living in the US, I can assure you that Erbil is very much safe. Most of the major cities like Suleimani and Duhok are also safe, provided you have a basic grasp of common sense--as you do in every other country across the world. I just finished visiting family there and returned a few months ago.
America really chose a small organization over its strongest NATO ally Turkey. If every minority deserves a country. We expect Native Americans in the great lakes, and also a state for black people around Atlanta!!
The indigenous people were colonized before the institution of the modern concept of self-determination. Meanwhile, Kurdish independence was born in the context of Wilson's 14 points and the establishment of national determination.
I know these uncomfortable truths unsettled Turks who blindly follow Erdogan, but those are the facts.
@@FightXScience-wh6kx I don't follow the logic here. The Kurds had been subjugated as part of a Turkish Ottoman state since far before the indigenous peoples of America were colonized.
@@yarsaz4347 The Ottomon Empire no longer exists. It was dismantled precisely with the institution of the concept of self-determination and Wilson's 14 point plan. That is when the Kurds began their independence movement....not coincidentally
@@FightXScience-wh6kx The Kurds are an Iranian ethnic group therefore they already have their own state. They are not native to Anatolia, they were nomadic groups who came from Iran. If self determination means having their own state then they already have it. They can join their Iranian brethren in Rojhelat. Notice how Wilson's plan never involved Rojhelat.
Great job thanks
Thank you very much!
@james interesting view on the Kurdish issue
I proud of Kurdish people.
Thanks, James!)
Great report and analysis, many thanks!
The kurds are one of the original iranian tribes, not sure why westerners are so helbent in causing division in this region...
It's only Iraqi Kurds who are eager for a country ( greater Kurdistan)
15 million Kurds live in Turkey and they would rather be a part of Turkey than having their own country. Same for the Kurds in iran.
It’s because it’s ancient Assyria, beneath the ground lays many ancient Assyrian artefacts that are worth in the millions
The iraqis Said the Same thing under Saddam. If you and the turkish governmant is so sure about that, just let them vote. Surely there will also be more than 90% Voting for Separation.
I am Kurdish and this is such bullshit. Turkey has imprisoned the Kurdish politicians without fair trials. Not a single Kurd who isn’t assimilated thinks like that😂
Great video..
Thank you very much!
A great video
Great video! I've not been following Kurdistan closely in the last year, but I'm not that surprised to hear how bad things are getting. The corruption and human rights situation is terrible from what I've heard, but the government was able to maintain control because of its control of oil revenue. Without this, I think that most of the power structures will eventually collapse. 😢
Thank so much, Fredo. It is incredibly to see what has happened to Iraqi Kurdistan. At one point it seemed so stable and was lauded as a bastion of democracy in the region. It does seem on its way to becoming a failed de facto state.
By the way, I loved your most recent YT short. Who’d have thought Estonia had a separatist kingdom!? 😀
@@JamesKerLindsay Thank you! Torgu's main advantage as a de facto state is no one in Estonia seems to mind it at all. 😂
💡 Perhaps the only solution to Kurdistan at this point is to play all the selfish neighbors & interntional community by doing exactly like what Nigerian army has been doing with boko haram for decades. Keep ISIS threat alive to force everyone to rush with little limit to help Kurdistan to fight them forever🤏
@@duran9664 sorry aber diese Idee ist einfach nur dumm
@@duran9664 ur absolutely right. That's the game is going on. ISIS means Salafi group. Al Qaeda is wahabi group. Even if they finish ISIS, then al Qaeda will be thrown at Kurds.
Corruption is the single largest contributor to KRG downfall. About the oil case, they argued they are entitled to 100% profit from their oil territory sale plus revenue sharing from what Iraq’s central government. They were tolerated for too long.
Indeed that's correct, corruption leads to falldown
You should make a video about the autonomous administration of northern Syria
Thank you
I consider myself a supporter of Kurdistan. I hope that one day it can be an independent republic.
Same here bud, they have fought so hard for freedom and they get absolutely nothing in return.. this is why I want the Russia-Ukraine war to finally end since it has been stalling sooo many independence movements around the globe.
I voted Yes in the independence referendum, not because I though anything good will come out if it but because the Kurdish leadership had put me in a position that I had no other choice. I could never vote no for statehood or not vote, it’s such an ancient and sacred dream for us that it cannot be played with, but unfortunately the Kurdish leadership and specifically Masoud Barzani did, purely for his immediate personal political interest.
As a result of that referendum, we lost 1/3 of the land we controlled, it destroyed any trust, even little, we had built with surrounding nations and of course we had to nullify the referendum results anyways at the end.
Baghdad was a kurdish city. Bagdad in Kurdish means land of lords. Bags were lords and my family are Bags and many Kurds! If you search in Arabic there is no meaning for Bagdad and just says online city of peace which should be مدینە السلام(madina alsalam) so why don't they say madina alsalam? Because Bag dad are both Kurdish words again! Arabs, Pars/fars and Mongols/Turks stole our land, history and language.They stole everything from us Sumerians/Kurds for over a 1000 years with the help of some western countries like Britian and France!
Kerbela also was a kurdish city Ker=donkey lol
Kurds used donkeys to move goods around and one time the donkeys got sick and became problem so they named the place ker=donkey bela=problem. Ker is bela! Donkey is problem! Get it Kurds?Wake up please. Kerkuk anyone? Ker+kuk. There is a story behind every city name! The Arabs came up from Arabia and took our land!
Референдум не аннулирован. Главное единство Братья мой и тогда будет мир.
@@watup3494 я начал изучать нашу Курдскую историю и понял вес ближний восток это Курдски земли от Дамаска до Багдада это Курдские земли Братья мой поймите одно вместе мы сила по одиночку мы не кто.
You are a big lier .
We as Kurds, we all voted Yes for independence regardless to any other reasons.
And we are going forward for independency. Live longer you will see !!
@@watup3494don't spread lies! Baghdad was NEVER a Kurdish city. It was built by al-Mansur, an Arab caliph. Baghdad in Persian means "Bestowed by God" but the name predates even kurds and even persian as its been found present in Old Babylonian and Aramaic. Stick to your mountains and stop trying to steal other people's history
Hi James will you ever do video on the prospect of Greenland independence?
Yes. I hope so. It's high on my list.
Very interessed information
Thanks you from
🇩🇰🇩🇰DENMARK🇩🇰🇩🇰
I am a kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan, and as kurds we have no truer enemy than the Barzani clan.
Thanks for this sad but most useful report. I did find myself distracted a bit, however, by the subliminal background music. It's like trying to concentrate on a conversation with mosquitoes buzzing around your ears.
Thanks a lot for the feedback. I’m still adjusting to a new recording space. All my old settings have had to be reworked. You wouldn’t believe how tricky it is to get sound right!
@@JamesKerLindsay , I sympathize completely. Perhaps just a tiny amount of white noise to cover background distractions?
Great video
Loving your comeback to uploading keep it up
Thanks so much. It was strange to be away for so long. But glad to be back!
James - I would appreciate if your slides would appear more than three , Better five seconds .
Thanks. I put them there really as visual footnotes. It’s the academic side of me. They are meant to say “here’s the reliable place I got my information”. I work on the basis that if anyone wants to take a deeper look they’ll pause the video. (A bit like how I’ll usually ignore footnotes while reading, but occasionally will want to know more.) But I’ll try to keep the more information heavy ones up longer.
Bəs İraqdakı türkmənlər? Onlara müstəqillik gərəkdirmi? Nə düşünürsünüz?
james: _onu söyleyemiyoruz maalesef_ 😅
Türkmenler Amerikan'ın köpeği olmak istemedikleri için Batı medyasında onların ismini dahi anan yok.
Future country? Who gets to decide where a new country can be build?
Nice video
Thank you very much.
Living in Kurdistan as a Kurd, I am intimately familiar with our current situation, and our primary concern lies with our government. The two dominant political parties have assumed control over every aspect of governance, often manipulating their authority and the legal system for their own benefit. It has been three decades since the Kurdish government gained authority in the region, yet they have struggled to fulfill fundamental needs like electricity and fuel. To be candid, I wouldn't be greatly disheartened if the Kurdish state were to collapse; at least then, my people could rely on receiving their monthly salaries.
Couldn't have said it better.
do something about it. we are the people. Biji Kurdistan.
بەو خوایە تۆش زۆر کەری
Ekonomik olarak bitirirse. Zaten bitmiş demektir
@@panasonics346 if the government doesn't give u the chance or the opportunity then what we are supposed to do as individuals? U don't get it unless you live among us, buddy !
As a Kurd, I must say that the independence referendum was a big mistake. The regional government was wrong because they thought US and EU support the independence referendum. Before the referendum, there was a very good relationship between Türkiye and the regional government. Despite the Iraqi central government, Turkey was buying oil from the regional government and paying the money to the regional government. This was a very important source of financing. With this financing, large infrastructure projects were implemented in the region through many companies from Turkey. There was a rapid development process in the region. After the referendum, Türkiye stopped relations and oil exchange with the regional government. He continued his shopping with the central government. The share of the regional government in oil exchange has decreased significantly. Currently, the flow of oil to other countries via Türkiye has stopped. Turkey stated that the Iraqi central government and the regional administration must reach an agreement in order for the oil flow to begin. Countries in the region do not want a new state in Syria or Iraq. Because they think that artificial states will cause new problems in the region. Even though years have passed, even Israel's presence in the region is not established and its future existence is questioned.
CLEAVER KURD !!!
@@rtchakarKürtünüskim?
@@ottomanslapx7157ananizsikim ?
المكر السيء يحيق باهله..... بالعافية عليكم برزانيكم
Thanks for highlighting the plight of the Iraqi Kurds… hopefully things will get better soon with International intervention and support
Baghdad was a kurdish city. Bagdad in Kurdish means land of lords. Bags were lords and my family are Bags and many Kurds! If you search in Arabic there is no meaning for Bagdad and just says online city of peace which should be مدینە السلام(madina alsalam) so why don't they say madina alsalam? Because Bag dad are both Kurdish words again! Arabs, Pars/fars and Mongols/Turks stole our land, history and language.They stole everything from us Sumerians/Kurds for over a 1000 years with the help of some western countries like Britian and France!
Kerbela also was a kurdish city Ker=donkey lol
Kurds used donkeys to move goods around and one time the donkeys got sick and became problem so they named the place ker=donkey bela=problem. Ker is bela! Donkey is problem! Get it Kurds?Wake up please. Kerkuk anyone? Ker+kuk. There is a story behind every city name! The Arabs came up from Arabia and took our land!
@@watup3494The land is Assyrian.
Kurds arrived at it not even 1000 years ago. All that you've said is laughably false.
Kurds also genocided Christian Assyrians with the help of Ottomans.
International intervention wrecked Iraq and led to this situation in the KRG.
You have no self-awareness.
a fool asking for international intervention 😞
This is good yo keep Irak Stronger
I love your content. I wish you could use more visuals. That would definitely help with the hits.
Thanks. But I’m not sure people realise just how difficult it is to write a script, film, edit and publish a video every week, on top of everything else I do. It is hugely time consuming. (Especially as, unlike most channels, I try to respond to comments.) Making amazing visuals is hugely time consuming. I simply don’t have the extra time or support to make animated maps on top of the other things. And sourcing archive footage that isn’t hugely costly takes a huge amount of time. (If I go to AP or Reuters they want about €300-1k for just a few seconds of material.!) For all these reasons, as much as I wish I had the resources of Jonny Harris, and his team, I don’t. I’d like to think that most viewers appreciate that. I know that some people will want the fast-paced visuals, and won’t bother watching if they don’t get them. It’s a shame. But I understand. Still, I hope that the people who come back each week appreciate that they are getting well-researched pieces that hopefully explain complex events - even if in a less flashy way than other channels. But if you, or anyone else reading this, would like to help contribute to the channel, any extra support to get me closer to some extra assistance would be incredibly welcome: www.RUclips.com/JamesKerLindsay/join. Of course, I understand that some can’t afford it just now. In that case, at least watch every ad that RUclips throws at you. It all helps. Thanks. 🙂
Part of why the KRG was able to remain for so long was that during Arab-majority Iraq's darkest war years it existed as an oxygen valve for those who were able to take a break from the violence in an oasis of Kurdish stability. This is why there are so many hotels in the north. Families from Baghdad could come up for Eid per example and not have fret about the prospect of a mass casualty attack. But now that federally-controlled Iraq is largely at peace, the KRG is far less necessary to tolerate.
Baghdad was a kurdish city. Bagdad in Kurdish means land of lords. Bags were lords and my family are Bags and many Kurds! If you search in Arabic there is no meaning for Bagdad and just says online city of peace which should be مدینە السلام(madina alsalam) so why don't they say madina alsalam? Because Bag dad are both Kurdish words again! Arabs, Pars/fars and Mongols/Turks stole our land, history and language.They stole everything from us Sumerians/Kurds for over a 1000 years with the help of some western countries like Britian and France!
Kerbela also was a kurdish city Ker=donkey lol
Kurds used donkeys to move goods around and one time the donkeys got sick and became problem so they named the place ker=donkey bela=problem. Ker is bela! Donkey is problem! Get it Kurds?Wake up please. Kerkuk anyone? Ker+kuk. There is a story behind every city name! The Arabs came up from Arabia and took our land!
they simply dont care, and past is past lets work for a better kurdistan@@watup3494
@@watup3494as a kurd i dont know what youre talking about
@@watup3494 You must be joking. Firstly, Karbala is an Arabic name and means distress and affliction (the word “affliction” you took from Arabic). Secondly, “Kurdistan” was the land of the Assyrians. The evidence is that every time I hear that you have found traces of the Assyrians, they are Semites, by the way, and the Arabs are Semites, so they are our cousins and the Akkadians as well, and you are Indo-Europeans who do not support the land of the Semites. In addition to the fact that the Sumerians are not confirmed by scholars as to who they were, but many believe that they were also Semites. You came from Iran and took the land of the Semites.
@@user-cw7kb2lo3k Bro really pulled a "we wuz semites" card 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I think the current state of "Kurdistan" and the Kurdish population across the middle east is indicative of the short term thinking of US foreign policy. Had it not been for the Kurdish forces supporting local and international authorities against ISIS the new country may have been their, yet they were immediately ignored and isolated as they have been so many times not because they are a threat but because they are not !!
Please do your research regarding Kurds fighting against ISIS, I am a Kurd from Arbil if it wasn't for Kurds fighters from Rojava this region would be under ISIS control this is a paid PR by the Barzani family to make them look good until you live there and work with the locals you have no idea the miseries they deal with the those clans who control the region.
@@GHOSTYGAMINGS_ I am confused sir, I stated that the reason ISIS were stopped was because of Kurdish troops. I personally don't get into the micro geopolitics of regions but I consider "Kurdistan" to stretch beyond and between borders in the region when I talk about your people. You live in the area so I certainly won't disagree with you and I in no way meant to downplay the Kurdish people or their right to sovereignty.
@@EamonCoyle My apologies for my disrespect, I am among many who Kurds who are has grown tired of dealing with corruption while the west allows these Kurdish tribes to rule the region without any prior experience or education. It is so bad in Kurdistan that prostitutes have more power than the court, Barzani family pay these prostitutes to spy for them and use them against those who are not happy with them.
@@EamonCoyle I agree with your view generally, and I wish the Kurds finally got their own state. However, you have to think of the ramifications of what you're proposing for the US: they would get to carve a sovereign state (Iraq) unilaterally?
@@Kapito13 An absolutely valid point, hard to cover all the bases in a comment but my view would be that the decision of how and where the Kurdish state should be is something for the region. The west as far back as 1914 have been making half hearted and half informed decisions that have destroyed the middle east and should let them decide their own fate be it good or bad.
Çok teşekkür ediyorum bize yer verdiğiniz icin ama ALLAH ' ın izniyle bir gün 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐃İ𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 kuracağız ❤
Videoyu anlamadın herhalde Kürdistanda insanlar maaşlarını alamıyor insan hakları büyük düşüşte.....Kürdistan iran türkiye ve suriye devletleri tarafından izole edilmiş.....Hem Allah hemde bu ülkeler hiçbir zaman Kürdistanı kurmanıza izin vermeyecekler.
Hangi bölgede sorabilirsiniz?Amerika ve İngilterenin gazına geleyim demeyin sonra sizi sırtüstü KAZZIĞA otururlar. Beyninizi kullanın, yaşadığınız ülkeni kurallarına uyup kardeşçe geçim sağlayın.bolgedeki pkk ypg terörist lere uyup huzurunuzu bozmayın!
Once again, thank you Prof. Ker-Lindsay for a thorough and enlightening treatment of this geopolitical issue. I've always wondered about the closeness of cooperation between political parties in Kurdistan and Kurdish political parties/groups in Turkey (such as KKP, PKK, HDP) and how that may raise the suspicion of Turkey inasmuch as Turkish fear of irredentist Kurdish claims on their side of the border, not to mention support from within Kurdistan for anti-Turkish government attacks. Certainly, it is possible that the Kurdistan government does not involve itself with the Turkish parties, but might the possibility of such cooperation alone create a transnational external destabilizing force for the Kurdistan government?
Thanks. This is a great topic for another video. The transnational cooperation between Kurds is a fascinating subject, and obviously shaped by all sorts of factors. I really should do something on this at some point.
@@JamesKerLindsay Why is your analysis so weak? PKK has been officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN, EU, USA and many other countries. Terrorist activities have been officially proven. So why don't you say that they are a terrorist organization? Another weakness in your analysis is that you do not mention that the Kurdish population is spread throughout Anatolia and most of them live in western Turkey. A large part of Turkey's industry, tourism economy and population is located in the west of Turkey. In the east of Turkey, the population is sparse and economic activities are very low. For this reason, most Kurds migrated to the west. Istanbul is the city with the largest Kurdish population. A Kurdish state in the east of Turkey is of no benefit to the Kurds. The overwhelming majority of Kurds in Turkey want to live in prosperity in the west of Turkey and do not care about a Kurdish state in the east. Separatist groups can exist in every ethnicity, but this does not mean that the majority of that ethnicity is separatist. You explain it as if all 35 million Kurds want an independent state. You are misleading your audience.
@@randomhuman5525 yes I can believe they don't want to split away from Turkey because Turkey is a peaceful functioning country unlike Iraq and Syria. The kurdish population in only Iraq and Syria should focus on creating a new single country together
@@JamesKerLindsayThe regional government did not pay the salaries of the employees except two salaries within six months. Unfortunately, they are thieves and a gang that rules the region. They openly rob the people. These are mercenaries and criminals 😢😢
@@abdiaha7022Turkiye does not want Syria and Iraq to be divided, and if there is a danger of division in Iraq, Turkiye has the right to own Mosul and Kirkuk according to the Ankara agreement. There are many unknown dynamics the people of the region have to cooperate with the Turks to protect themselves from those who make this civilized geography quarrel.
Thank you for the video. Greetings if you are an unfortunate Kurd living in Turkey.
Despite the obstacles and pressure facing the Kurds, we see that they are better than others in the region. The Kurds are a great, loyal, honest, brave, civilized and reliable people.
😂😂😂 Found another puppy to bring your shoes probably.
@@ottomanslapx7157 you mean puppys like turks for israel?🥹
Prof James Ter-Lindsey, what do you want..?
Problem is that if they don’t create a problem then US doesn’t give them money. Whether deliberate or not, problem is a blessing when politicians are in financial difficulties.
In some parts where mapshow a Kurdish population, Kurds are not in the majority. Arabs and South Azerbaijani Turks are in the majority...
Most maps on topics I cover are contested. It’s in the very nature of what I do. It goes with the territory, so to speak. :-)
@@mustafahakansandk7747you’re disrespectful
Excellent video Sir. One thing to note, the Kurdish withdrawal from Kirkuk and other disputed areas that the KRG (Peshmerga) took from ISIS was also aided by the fact that the PUK essentially switched sides (to be aligned with Baghdad against the KDP), this left the KDP to fend for themselves, leading to an instant collapse of the front lines, and later, any political bargaining chips they had were instantly vaporised.
I would also argue the main reason (and perhaps the only reason) why the KRG wanted to have that independence referendum was because they held Kirkuk (perhaps the only time in modern history they achieved this feat, as the federal government was far more concerned about losing 30% of the country to ISIS than to have a battle against the Kurds, it's all about picking your fights!).
Thanks. Important points. It rather underscores the problem of Kurdish differences as a key source of Kurdish weakness.
We have to emphasize on the multi factors that causes to diminish our state and possession nowadays, but the one that is reliable and affects our state to downfall and corruption is belong to our authority and unsuitability of our parties and government.
This is a dilemma situation. It cannot ever get fixed.
@Mr. Ker-Lindsay, thank you, sir! Your painstakingly detailed videos never fail to educate and indeed, illuminate! 👍
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the kind words of support. It means a lot. Have a great weekend!
This is a case that once losing its usefulness to the objectives of world and regional powers, Iraqi Kurdistan is just being abandoned.
We might get some recognition because of what is happening right now 😉
Did you any audio of this on spotify?
Kind of sad to hear this. With so many regional powers against them it would be better to negotiate wider autonomy instead of statehood.
There's no them... they're not united. Most kurds especially in turkey and Iran don't care for this. Kurds in Syria also are under brutal subjugation by certain Kurdish tribes who force them to be in opposition to both Assad and the rebels.
As states won't give them autonomy for fear of them getting an appetite for independance, I would just take care of their natality if I were them.
Make babies and preserve their culture. Also send their youth to the political and economic capitals of the region to gain weight.
@@skp8748kurd in Syria they under attack , they defend themselves against Syrian arab tribes and Turkey, right now because of Israel and Palestine conflict no one talk about them.
@abdalkhaliqmohammed8538 kurds in syria assassinated one of the chiefs of the arab tribe which was an ally against ISIS so its understandable why they would be under attack from them as yk they were the aggressors in the first place.
Actually Iran and Turkey although rivals are challenging USAs position in the region. They do this in cooperation with Russia and possibly with China as the player behind the curtain. Kurdish government in Iraq and now YPG in North Syria/Rojava are seen as an obstacle to achieve this goal since both are somewhat considered as US allies. Iran wants to create a Shiite belt from Iran to Iraq to Syria while Turkey wants to benefit from the power vacuum by weakening USA in the region.
America: We have no allies except the Khazar Jews
Mantıklı ama kürtlerin bu kadar sorunla nasıl başa çıktıklarına şaşırıyorum onlar gerçekten güçlü
Kurds have a history ? thousands of years ? do some researches Mr. James
The report in question appears to have been prepared by the two dominant political parties in Kurdistan, but it has raised concerns for not fully addressing the facts and truth behind the collapse of the region. Some believe that the leaders responsible for the situation are not held accountable in this report.
we already divided in many ways and now this adds on the top 😅 i really need to find new place to call home
When independence is clearly not achievable because of the presence of strong states, the only logical approach is to fight for acceptable autonomy within existing framework.
The Kurds have lacked imagination, and tried too hard for the impossible.
Thanks for the video professor, glad you’re shining a light on a region that has flown under the radar ever since Iraq reasserted sovereignty half a decade ago.
One thing I found interesting to discover was a congressional hearing from early 2007, so just before the Surge, about how to fix Iraq with Richard Holbrooke. His proposals included something basically akin to his work at Dayton, where Iraq would become a loose confederation like Bosnia, with the Iraqi Kurds gaining all but independence.
Holbrooke’s old deputy Peter Galbraith on the other hand proposed complete independence for the Iraqi Kurds as well as for the Shia in the south, whereas Holbrooke did not want to go so far, presumably because this would upset Turkey in the north and open up the south to Iran.
Although these guys, longtime state department officials under Democrat presidents, were not in power at the time, had the Surge failed in 2007-2008 then you could have conceivably seen these proposals put into action when the Democrats returned to the White House in 2009.
In any case, very interesting scenarios to consider. Thanks as always for providing an informed basis for discussion!
Thanks. It's fascinating to see the debates on this. Many may have felt that creating an independent Kurdistan made sense. The problem was that it would have been a clear violation of international law. Interestingly, that didn't stop the US at the time from creating an independent Kosovo, drawing on many of the same background factors and against many of the same principles that stopped it from recognising a Kurdish state.
Yes. Seems to me there should be more explicit emphasis that US support for Ukraine is a national security issue, not a “foreign aid” issue.
It’s not a national security issue
of course the plan could not be implemented the Turks won the war remember?
Honestly, I am starting to hate international borders and the insistence of international actors that 1945 borders can never ever be changed, even if that means that large minorities can never attain any statehood.
Imagine there would be no Ukraine because international actors would say that Ukraine is Russia because of past borders being drawn that way. Or imagine that Italy never had been founded and that Italians would be forced to accept Austro-Hungarian sovereignity and borders forever.
Most countries in the world are unfortunate in that they are stuck with borders that haven't been drawn by them themselves. It's like saying "Europeans have made a decision for you, so stop crying and accept what Europeans forced on you!"
The Kurds are just the latest victim of this.
Baghdad was a kurdish city. Bagdad in Kurdish means land of lords. Bags were lords and my family are Bags and many Kurds! If you search in Arabic there is no meaning for Bagdad and just says online city of peace which should be مدینە السلام(madina alsalam) so why don't they say madina alsalam? Because Bag dad are both Kurdish words again! Arabs, Pars/fars and Mongols/Turks stole our land, history and language.They stole everything from us Sumerians/Kurds for over a 1000 years with the help of some western countries like Britian and France!
Kerbela also was a kurdish city Ker=donkey lol
Kurds used donkeys to move goods around and one time the donkeys got sick and became problem so they named the place ker=donkey bela=problem. Ker is bela! Donkey is problem! Get it Kurds?Wake up please. Kerkuk anyone? Ker+kuk. There is a story behind every city name! The Arabs came up from Arabia and took our land!
I hate most states for how they hate their "minorities" and deny them their rights while celebrating their "independence" on national day.
I also hate those "no country is homogenous", "diversity is wonderful" type of people in the West. They enjoy so much "world music" and exotic dishes in their bubble that they can't realize how horrible it is elsewhere to be persecuted and forced into assimiliation, like it is in most of the other intolerant countries.
When Turkey were expected to be USA's natural ally as a NATO member in the region US choosed Kurds over Turkey. It would be nice if you will ever elaborate the reasons of it in future videos,Thanks.
Very simple, because the US controls all of the oil fields in Northern Syria and Northern Iraq.
And when that sht runs out, they will greenlight us to clean up that terrorist den over there once and for all.
Maybe because Turkey doesn't support Israel?
@@lmao5070 Turkish citizens does support israel but we also support the rigth to live of innocent people. An avarage Turkish citizen does not give a damn about the religion of a person and we don't value their life based on their religion. It might be hard for some people to understand but life of an innocent jew matters equally important with an innocent palestanian muslim's life.Yes Turkey does not blindly support every action of USA in the region but we always care an ally which acts like an ally. US choose a puppet over an ally. Btw sometimes politicians might increase the tensions but what politicians says and what a nation feels are two different thing.
@@n00b_n00b_ A classic Turkish interpretation.
Turkish citizens do not support Israel. With what right do you tell this lie?
Hopefully they keep it together bzhi kurds
KRG, KDP, PUK are as corrupt as it gets. What we need is an influential leader who the people of Kurdistan will fully back. As a Kurd living in the states, what I see from the Barzani family is nothing short of nepotism.
In september,october,novermber and december we didnt get salaries and the salaries isnt that much an average teacher gets 600$ or 1.1m dinar
Professor do you think Iraq will be divided ?
Yes, between Slovenia and Slovakia
One thing I notice about the exponents of ‘all’ so-called nations is that they exaggerate what unites them internally and they exaggerate what differentiates them from their neighbours 🤷♂️
As an American I am sadly not surprised whenever I read news stories about my government shafting a functional democracy that helped us in the war.
“It is so easy to be an enemy of the United States, but so difficult to be a friend.” - Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
✍️ perfekt Prugram Respekt from Irak Kurdstan 💚🌹🌹🌹
Thank you very much!
As a kurd , kurdish regional government have become an aristocratic nepotistic government , average workers havent gotten their august salary
Basically like any other normal government in the glorious middle east
2+2=1
KURDISTAN 🟥☀🟩
Fundamental problem of Kurdish had always being without long term strategy planning, changing side according to short term gain, and become the Plan B option after Israel for US off shore balance strategy in EuroAsia landmass
America: No, you smart one, the Khazar Jews control Congress, and I am weak
Pff look up and check up on which Middle Eastern countries the US has most power over and allegiance with = Turkey (NATO), Iraq (millitary bases), Egypt (Sisi sold out Western ex generel), Pakistan (military allegiance). Dont talk about Kurds like you know them. The PKK side for example has never sided with the US, EU or Israel. The mentioned countries has, do your research
@@rojvankoc7252You should look at the long term strategy of Kurdish people, to be honest, I don't see any