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.
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 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
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...
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...
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
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
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
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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.
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!? 😀
💡 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 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.
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.
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. @@LeftWingNationalist
@@LeftWingNationalistdude 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.
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.
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
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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.
@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
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
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.
@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.
@@bilic8094 Haven't been there in a while but it depends where in any city you go. Certain parts are beautiful and safe while others are the polar opposite
@@solsolsolomon It was right by camden yards the baseball stadium I've never been to Baltimore before but I thought it would look alot better since the stadium is really nice I thought the area would be also but quite the opposite.
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!).
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.
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.
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 🤷♂️
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.
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!
Kurdistan will survive from economic war started against them from Iraq allied to Iran and Iran it self . Kurds ppls much more stronger than what you see or reads on edges of newspapers. These ppl faced more extreme conditions before and never give up. They live longer ✌️✌️
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.
Çok teşekkür ediyorum bize yer verdiğiniz icin ama ALLAH ' ın izniyle bir gün 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐃İ𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 kuracağız ❤
Год назад
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!
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.
Being used as a geopolitical pawn spanning decades.If and when thier supporter decides to withdraw aid they will decrease thier presence in the regions.
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
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.
As Arabic speaking Iraqi and mixed ethnicity origin Arab Kurd Turk and Persian I am Iraqi And if the kurd want to be independent in their region border according to the UN in 1991 It’s okay with me and with 90% of Iraqi population But taking land of Iraqi Turkman, Assyrian, Yazidi, Shabak, Sunni Arab and Shia Kurd (Lur) that’s will not happened now or in future And we will definitely protect our Iraqi brothers (Turkmen, Yazidi, Assyrian, Sunni Arab and Shia Kurd ) and there land
@@RJH8770So why should there be 22 arab ethnostates? What a retarded comment. Northern Iraq is almost 100% Kurdish. Also ezidis (yazidi is a slur) are Kurds, I am ezidi. The only natives except Kurds are Assyrians and I think they would much rather prefer us than Arabs tbh.
@@quzunarqozi5171 because there's no such thing as an "Arab ethnostate" outside of the gulf and Kurds don't have the mental bandwidth to see the world outside of ethnic line (your comment is proof). Majority of Northern Iraqis are mixed and are mainly Mesopotamian Arab (indigenous people of Iraq mixed with Arab) and Northern Iraq isn't even 100% kurdish and they only reason they (abd yazidis) ended up there in the first place is because of population transfer policies during the Ottoman and Safavid empires. Otherwise both peoples are native to Iran and they're welcome to go back there instead of trying to steal other people's lands. I'm sure the Assyrians would especially appreciate that vs having their lands squatted by and getting massacred by ethnically cleansed by an Iranic people.
As an Iraqi Kurd, I agree that this region is heading towards destruction because there is no hope for prosperity here. The PUK and KDP destroyed everything. ” 60 days without salary ”
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.
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.
@@GHOSTYTRT 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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
@@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 !
There is no ethnic distinction in Turkey. There are people from 72 nationalities in Turkey, no one cares what ethnicity or religion they are. Kurds have served as presidents, prime ministers, ministers, chiefs of general staff, and army commanders, and continue to do so. The first head of the founding government was Kurdish. The problem is that the colonial western states are trying to weaken the region. Different ethnic and religious groups live in every state in the world.
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.
I never understand why (turkey_syria_iran_irak) hate us and don't let us be indepented, it break my heart when i watch news with my father he said everythink will be but not 'War ' it makes me cry a lot . What they did to us was unfair i don't have anythink to say but if a little they are a human they let us be free 💔
@@erolbirbeyaktar who are you to say there are not kurd.then who i am that you speak with if i am not a kurd why i speak for a kurd entitle. stop nonsense for one minute come to kurd place!!!! Are you be satisfied ?! Did you have any idea what happening to the kurds???
@@gladiuspax2390 Kurds are an ethnic Iranian people. Breaking off from Turkiye or the other two Arap states may make sense but eventually they would join their Iranian brethren in Rojhilat
Wrong. Türkiye has very good relations with the autonomous Kurdish state in Iraq. However, Türkiye is against the disruption of Iraq's territorial integrity. Most Kurds in Turkey do not want independence and prefer to live in western Turkey. Istanbul is the Turkish city with the largest Kurdish population.
Unlike Christian minorities, Kurds were not promised independence. The option was a British mandate. When Turkey proposed a plebicit for North Iraq in Laussane, Lord Curzon famously said “how can Kurds decide, they would eat the papers”. I have no clue how this is supposed to be funny.
Hey, thanks for covering this topic. Your information is very accurate I Aza Iraqi Turkman I feel compassionate for Kurdish dream of creating an independent estate. I believe we as a minorities beside the Kurds need to build good ties and allies with each other in order to emerge New independent north state. However, it seems like has enormous influence both of Iraqi and Kurdistan politics. Besides, I believe Kurdish politician throughout last two decades, made huge mistakes. As a Turkman, I blame my leaders too that they follow the central Iraqi government. If I were politician, I would build a good relationship with Kurtz and try to establish an independent estate that gives right to all ethnic groups. As well as be far away from central Iraqi government. Indeed, it’s important to establish healthy international relationship between West, Russia and China and Israel. Nevertheless, it seems like most of the Kurdish politicians, as well as Turkman. They were corrupted, and they only think about their personal gain. Again, no doubt that Iran has huge an enormous influence on every single political decision in Iraq, and that’s far more dangerous and eminent to decide the future of Nordic Iraqi estate.
@watup3494 As a Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan, your informations far from truth. Historically we never claimed baghdad and also Sumerians were not Kurds but Medians were. Please don’t share informations without any proof, and for Kirkuk i agree it was a Kurdish city historically and even through historical maps which Kurdistan also mentioned we can see that Kirkuk belongs to the Kurds + they are many many historical side inside Kirkuk which can be seen and be a proof that Kirkuk is a Kurdish city, but neither Baghdad and Kerbula are not a Kurdish cities and never will be.
@watup3494 Are you crazy? Do you understand what you write? Even Karbala is Kurdish 😂 Baghdad is Kurdish 😂 This is the thing that made me laugh the most today. Why are you stealing our history now? The Sumerians are a civilization in southern Iraq, where the marshes of Iraq, the reed house, and the papyrus sticks are not Kurds 😂 and Baghdad is the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate Abu Jaafar Al-Mansur was the one who built Baghdad and made it the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and also called it Dar Al-Salam. Then Karbala was not inhabited by people until Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed there and it was called Karb And Bala Which means the distress and affliction that befell Hussein and his family on their land, just as Hussein bought the land from the Banu Asad, a tribe that used to live in it. Now come and spread your lies here 😂🇮🇶
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.
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.
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.
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 ?
Months ago I requested you for a video on this subject. Thank you so much professor 🙏 🙏
Thanks. Great suggestion!
👏😐
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’s a remarkable, Professor Jim🎉. Keeps the wonderful job 🎉
Thank you so much! Have a great weekend.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Another great, unbiased summary, Thank You!
Thank you so much.
Thanks for highlighting the plight of the Iraqi Kurds… hopefully things will get better soon with International intervention and support
@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 😞
Lets hope no international intervention happens, lets hope KRG falls and it gets replaced by a government with less corruption
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.
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.
Sending love to my Iraqi Kurd brothers and hope their regional government will do better for them
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.
@@LeftWingNationalist
@@LeftWingNationalistdude 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.
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 ?
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 !!
i'm impressed by the accuracy and unbiased information great job.
Thank you very much indeed. I really appreciate it.
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.
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 🙃
I am a kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan, and as kurds we have no truer enemy than the Barzani clan.
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!
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
This is good yo keep Irak Stronger
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?🥹
Thanks for the unbiased information. I wish you have more followers
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Future country? Who gets to decide where a new country can be build?
Very interessed information
Thanks you from
🇩🇰🇩🇰DENMARK🇩🇰🇩🇰
Thx im kurd i like this video
Thank you!
✍️ perfekt Prugram Respekt from Irak Kurdstan 💚🌹🌹🌹
Thank you very much!
I proud of Kurdish people.
very good background and review of the situation thanks
Thank you very much indeed!
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.
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
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
Always interestingly good videos. Thank you. :)
Thank you so much!
James, first time l agree with you fully. Thanks for the video...
Haha! I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. :-)
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.
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 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@user-cw7kb2lo3kI don't think the ancient world was neatly divided into Semites and Indo-Europeans.
Thanks. It's great video.
Thank you so much!
Love Kurdistan from Maryland
As a Kurd thank you ❤
I was recently in Baltimore I didn't expect it to look so rough.
@@bilic8094 Haven't been there in a while but it depends where in any city you go. Certain parts are beautiful and safe while others are the polar opposite
@@solsolsolomon It was right by camden yards the baseball stadium I've never been to Baltimore before but I thought it would look alot better since the stadium is really nice I thought the area would be also but quite the opposite.
Thank you for the video. Greetings if you are an unfortunate Kurd living in Turkey.
Great explanation
Thank you.
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.
You should make a video about the autonomous administration of northern Syria
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.
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.
Great job thanks
Thank you very much!
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 🤷♂️
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.
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
Make the most important country in your land not in our land
@SadLilith--- I am no older than the Sumerians who inhabited this land 15,000 years ago.
@SadLilith--- You're part of Iraq, anyway.
Thanks, James!)
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..
Thank you very much!
Kurdistan will survive from economic war started against them from Iraq allied to Iran and Iran it self .
Kurds ppls much more stronger than what you see or reads on edges of newspapers.
These ppl faced more extreme conditions before and never give up.
They live longer ✌️✌️
Yes Mr James= The World with peace, unity and love,, watching from berbera somaliland rep,,, v
Hopefully they keep it together bzhi kurds
Very good and important content.
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.
Thanks Prof 👍🏻👍🏻
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!
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.
Being used as a geopolitical pawn spanning decades.If and when thier supporter decides to withdraw aid they will decrease thier presence in the regions.
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
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.
Said a Turk, with a country that calls Kurds the Mountain Turks!
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 😉
As Arabic speaking Iraqi and mixed ethnicity origin Arab Kurd Turk and Persian
I am Iraqi
And if the kurd want to be independent in their region border according to the UN in 1991
It’s okay with me and with 90% of Iraqi population
But taking land of Iraqi Turkman, Assyrian, Yazidi, Shabak, Sunni Arab and Shia Kurd (Lur)
that’s will not happened now or in future
And we will definitely protect our Iraqi brothers (Turkmen, Yazidi, Assyrian, Sunni Arab and Shia Kurd ) and there land
You are at the level of ridiculousness.
@@tekhayat5995he is not. Most Iraqis are mixed ethnically so the concept of a Kurdish ethnostate is bizarre in a region made up of a mixed peoples
@@RJH8770So why should there be 22 arab ethnostates? What a retarded comment. Northern Iraq is almost 100% Kurdish. Also ezidis (yazidi is a slur) are Kurds, I am ezidi. The only natives except Kurds are Assyrians and I think they would much rather prefer us than Arabs tbh.
@@quzunarqozi5171 because there's no such thing as an "Arab ethnostate" outside of the gulf and Kurds don't have the mental bandwidth to see the world outside of ethnic line (your comment is proof). Majority of Northern Iraqis are mixed and are mainly Mesopotamian Arab (indigenous people of Iraq mixed with Arab) and Northern Iraq isn't even 100% kurdish and they only reason they (abd yazidis) ended up there in the first place is because of population transfer policies during the Ottoman and Safavid empires. Otherwise both peoples are native to Iran and they're welcome to go back there instead of trying to steal other people's lands. I'm sure the Assyrians would especially appreciate that vs having their lands squatted by and getting massacred by ethnically cleansed by an Iranic people.
@@RJH8770 LOL what a bunch of bullshit😂😂😂 stop taking drugs, it’s not good for your health.
As an Iraqi Kurd, I agree that this region is heading towards destruction because there is no hope for prosperity here.
The PUK and KDP destroyed everything.
” 60 days without salary ”
ئەرێ گەوادێ نیە ئەم جوت جزمەیەی دەسەڵات بتۆپێنێ؟
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
we already divided in many ways and now this adds on the top 😅 i really need to find new place to call home
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.
@@GHOSTYTRT 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.
Thank you
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
@james interesting view on the Kurdish issue
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?
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
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 !
Half of my heart is always in North Iraq, beloved Kurdistan! Hope things would get as good as they can in the future! Sar chaw!
Kurdistan will become independent, keep on crying 😂
There is no ethnic distinction in Turkey. There are people from 72 nationalities in Turkey, no one cares what ethnicity or religion they are. Kurds have served as presidents, prime ministers, ministers, chiefs of general staff, and army commanders, and continue to do so. The first head of the founding government was Kurdish. The problem is that the colonial western states are trying to weaken the region. Different ethnic and religious groups live in every state in the world.
Elə Hakan Fidan kürddür. 😊
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.
Kurds are honorable people, the sons of Salahuddin, much respect to them.
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.
@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!
I never understand why (turkey_syria_iran_irak) hate us and don't let us be indepented, it break my heart when i watch news with my father he said everythink will be but not 'War ' it makes me cry a lot . What they did to us was unfair i don't have anythink to say but if a little they are a human they let us be free 💔
Free?? There is no kurdish race!! But ok if you feel kurd himself..life is not long dont waste your time this ideas..
@@erolbirbeyaktar who are you to say there are not kurd.then who i am that you speak with if i am not a kurd why i speak for a kurd entitle. stop nonsense for one minute come to kurd place!!!! Are you be satisfied ?! Did you have any idea what happening to the kurds???
You aspirations for statehood have been exploited by the West and the Zionist movement
Turkiye's problem is the terrorists using your name, not the Kurds.
I feel very sorry for Kurds because they seem to be very separated from each other :(
@@gladiuspax2390 Kurds are an ethnic Iranian people. Breaking off from Turkiye or the other two Arap states may make sense but eventually they would join their Iranian brethren in Rojhilat
A great video
نەتەوەیەکی غەدر لێکراوین🙂. تاکە شت کە بمانەوێت ئەوەیە وڵات و سنورێکی تایبەت بە خۆمان هەبێت وەک هەر وڵاتێکی تر😍.
🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
This is a dilemma situation. It cannot ever get fixed.
With Iraq and Turkiye being so against the Kurdish people, what can we do to help them? Since they are one of the largest group of stateless people.
Wrong. Türkiye has very good relations with the autonomous Kurdish state in Iraq. However, Türkiye is against the disruption of Iraq's territorial integrity. Most Kurds in Turkey do not want independence and prefer to live in western Turkey. Istanbul is the Turkish city with the largest Kurdish population.
@@randomhuman5525NOPE
@@SRAMLiraium Are you ignorant?
@@randomhuman5525 YOU İGRONANT? TURKS NEVER TOLERATE KURD FOR LANDS ?.
Great report and analysis, many thanks!
Unlike Christian minorities, Kurds were not promised independence. The option was a British mandate. When Turkey proposed a plebicit for North Iraq in Laussane, Lord Curzon famously said “how can Kurds decide, they would eat the papers”. I have no clue how this is supposed to be funny.
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
It is amazing video. I am from Kurdistan of Turkey
Great episode. The official name is not Kurdish Region of Iraq, but Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Hey, thanks for covering this topic. Your information is very accurate I Aza Iraqi Turkman I feel compassionate for Kurdish dream of creating an independent estate. I believe we as a minorities beside the Kurds need to build good ties and allies with each other in order to emerge New independent north state. However, it seems like has enormous influence both of Iraqi and Kurdistan politics. Besides, I believe Kurdish politician throughout last two decades, made huge mistakes. As a Turkman, I blame my leaders too that they follow the central Iraqi government. If I were politician, I would build a good relationship with Kurtz and try to establish an independent estate that gives right to all ethnic groups. As well as be far away from central Iraqi government. Indeed, it’s important to establish healthy international relationship between West, Russia and China and Israel. Nevertheless, it seems like most of the Kurdish politicians, as well as Turkman. They were corrupted, and they only think about their personal gain. Again, no doubt that Iran has huge an enormous influence on every single political decision in Iraq, and that’s far more dangerous and eminent to decide the future of Nordic Iraqi estate.
Don’t be so naïve. Kurds want to steal Kirkuk from you
@watup3494shut up Baghdad was arab from the start
@watup3494 you are joking right. Baghdat was and always was an Arap city.
@watup3494 As a Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan, your informations far from truth. Historically we never claimed baghdad and also Sumerians were not Kurds but Medians were. Please don’t share informations without any proof, and for Kirkuk i agree it was a Kurdish city historically and even through historical maps which Kurdistan also mentioned we can see that Kirkuk belongs to the Kurds + they are many many historical side inside Kirkuk which can be seen and be a proof that Kirkuk is a Kurdish city, but neither Baghdad and Kerbula are not a Kurdish cities and never will be.
@watup3494 Are you crazy? Do you understand what you write? Even Karbala is Kurdish 😂 Baghdad is Kurdish 😂 This is the thing that made me laugh the most today. Why are you stealing our history now? The Sumerians are a civilization in southern Iraq, where the marshes of Iraq, the reed house, and the papyrus sticks are not Kurds 😂 and Baghdad is the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate Abu Jaafar Al-Mansur was the one who built Baghdad and made it the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and also called it Dar Al-Salam. Then Karbala was not inhabited by people until Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed there and it was called Karb And Bala Which means the distress and affliction that befell Hussein and his family on their land, just as Hussein bought the land from the Banu Asad, a tribe that used to live in it. Now come and spread your lies here 😂🇮🇶
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.
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.
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.
Ne Mutlu Türküm diyene 🇹🇷 29 October 100. Year of Turkish Republic
Kurds don’t exist they are mythological beings created by Assyrian not real people or even humans
T*rköpek
#herbijikurdistan
Any artificial entity subject to external forces, no matter how long the circumstances of its existence, the inevitability of its collapse is certain.
For sure, same applies to the central government which run by Argentine
تركيا دولة مصتنعة و نصف دول العربية كمان مصتنعة!!!
True