Professor Charles G. MacDonald says the United States have common goals with the Kurds, but wants an unified and stable Iraq with a decreasing military involvement of the United States.
MacDonald is a professor of international relations at Florida International University and current president of the Kurdish Studies Association. He has written extensively on the Kurds and is the author of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the Law of the Sea.
A lot of experts say that the Kurds under the White House pressure has agreed on the Iraqi Election Law. In return, some experts say there are guarantees from Obama towards the Kurds concerning article 140 and Kirkuk. What do you think about this?
The Obama Administration is moving to address the Iraqi situation in a fundamentally different way than did the previous Bush Administration. The United States would like to see a unified, stable Iraq that is able to move forward toward "civil society" with a decreasing military involvement of the United States. The Obama Administration realizes that there are many forces seeking to foster conflict between the Kurds and Arabs in Iraq as well as along sectarian lines. To avoid such conflict President Obama has moved to encourage cooperation among the principal political groups in Iraq. The White House seeks to encourage cooperation through engagement and mutual benefit. The difficult issues in Iraq, including Kirkuk, require a foundation of trust and commitment. The Obama Administration has moved with purpose in that regard.
The Kurds have a long history of betrayals from U.S, which dates back to 1975. Do you think the last promises from the US will be the same as the last promises? Or will it be different?
The United States support for the Kurds in the past has suffered set backs and disappointments, but the United States and the Kurds are today seeking significant common goals--goals that will not be easy to achieve and which will require cooperation with each other and with other political forces. We hope that we will together achieve these goals.
Earlier president Obama spoke with the KRG president Massoud Barzani by phone. A lot of people believe the goal was to pressure the Kurds on the election law and not to give guarantees to the Kurds. How do you see this?
President Obama's commitment to the Kurds was unprecedented. The American President spoke with the KRG President to come to a mutual agreement to move forward with the elections in March 2010. Such cooperation requires support because there are enemies of the Kurds and of the United States who would like to see both fail. The road ahead will not be easy, as shown by recent attacks on election officials. As the Kurds and other Iraqis know, avoiding conflict and achieving stability requires considerable negotiation and cooperation.
A lot of people think the implementation of article 140 in Iraqi constitution has expired, but some people think that the latest statement from White House on article 140 has given new life into article 140.
The future of Kirkuk remains to be addressed. Article 140 represents a legal process based on the Iraqi Constitution. Its implementation will be challenging, but with the positive involvement of the principal political forces in Iraq, it can be made to work. The certain insurgent groups want conflict and are trying to divide the Iraqi government. Uncertainty too often breeds fear and conflict. The future of Iraq remains in the balance. The United States is working for a future Iraq that is stable and in which civil society prevails.
There are rumors that Washington likes to see the post of Iraqi president once again be given to the Kurds, what do you think of this?
The President of Iraq is an important position. The Kurds have been an important force in moving Iraq towards a civil society. The Kurds should surely contribute to any future decision about the next President of Iraq.
There are rumors that the U.S is thinking about building a military base in Kurdistan after their withdrawal from Iraq. Do you think this is possible?
The role of the United States in the Middle East in the future has been significantly affected by the actions of the previous Bush Administration. It is unlikely that the United States will seek a military base. Nevertheless, the United States has previously promised the Iraqi Kurds that assistance against Saddam was only a phone call away. While the United States is preparing to withdraw it forces from Iraq, future military assistance will be tied to common goals and mutual benefits.
Kurdish political parties will participate with separate lists in the Iraqi election. Do you think this will have a negative effect on their achievements?
The issue of separate lists will be part of the unfolding political process in Iraq. Many such political questions remain unanswered.
Recently Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran has improved their relations and the business relationship is very strong. Do you think this relationship will have a positive effect on Iraq’s future?
Yes, Iraq's future will benefit from positive relationships with all of its neighbors. Iran and Turkey can both contribute significantly to stability in Iraq with future business relationships with Iraqi Kurdistan and with other parts of Iraq. Do you think Washington will be concerned about this relationship with Iran?
Although some US politicians are divided on relations between Iran and Iraq, it is important that the Obama Administration encourage positive business relationships between Iraq and its neighbors. This would Iran can each promote stability in Iraq. Positive business relationships between Iraq and its neighbors should be encouraged. I believe this would be in line with the "principled pragmatism" of the Obama Administration.
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