The Kurds are America’s best and last friends in Iraq. Instead of obstructing Kurdistan’s independence, the United States should take the lead in a coordinated declaration of independence.

David Phillips: The trajectory of events in Iraq will result in the country’s fragmentation and the emergence of the world’s newest nation -- “Iraqi Kurdistan.”


Gulan: KRG has threatened SOMO customers and warned them of taking legal actions against buyers of Iraqi Oil as under article 112, KRG is entitled of 17% of overall Iraqi oil Sales. In case Iraqi federal government doesn’t provide the Kurdish share from the budget, KRG has the right to take this action and get its share from the buyers. Meanwhile Kurdish president has put the same condition for getting only 17% from the oil that Kurdistan sells through Turkey. How do you see the equation please? Don’t you agree that this step of KRG is very fair since it’s been for 7 months the salaries of Kurdish families have been cut from Baghdad?

Philips: Baghdad suspended its commitments under Article 112 in January 2014. In fact, Baghdad always refused to distribute the full 17 percent to the KRG. Iraq’s Federal Court concluded that the KRG has a right to sell its oil. The KRG needs the revenue from oil sales to support its civil service and defend Iraqi Kurdistan against ISIS.

Gulan: After Maliki’s accusing Erbil for hosting operation chamber for Da’ash, Al-Qaeda, and Baath, the Kurdistan regional presidential spokesman responded, and as a reaction the Kurdish Ministers will not go back to Baghdad, and there will be no Kurdish participation in Baghdad unless agreements are made in advance. So, how do you interpret these Maliki’s steps as he is driving the country towards the current crisis and collapse of Iraq?

Philips: Maliki is more interested in holding onto power than reconciliation. He is a desperate man who has lost his balance and reason. His accusations are baseless. Maliki might think he’s gaining support from Shiites by attacking Iraqi Kurdistan, but he’s actually accelerating the disintegration of Iraq. Maliki has no one to blame but himself for disunity in Iraq. He is also responsible for Iraqi army’s failure to defend the country.

Gulan: despite being a chaotic and unstable country at the security level, the situation in Iraq has becomes chaotic politically, where none of the political components of the country get along with each other and they don’t trust each other. In your opinion, to what extent is this going to?

Philips: Iraq was a failing state. Now Iraq has no state. Maliki is an agent of Iran. ISIS controls a third of Iraq’s territory. Sunni members of parliament cannot go home, or they’d be killed. The Governor of Nineveh Province is a refugee in Iraqi Kurdistan. The trajectory of events in Iraq will result in the country’s fragmentation and the emergence of the world’s newest nation -- “Iraqi Kurdistan.”

Gulan: Obviously, Iraqi parliament failed in nominating a prime minister, a president, and a speaker of the parliament, and these have been postponed to the middle of August. Meanwhile, John Kerry, the U.S. foreign secretary and Ayatollah Al-Sistani, the Shiite Marja’ (religious reference), have asked to fulfill the issue of shaping the government within the first session of Parliament meeting. So it seems that nothing has an impact on the direction of events in Iraq. In your view, to what extent will the United States re-consider the situation in Iraq? Is there any hope for Iraq?

Gulan: The Obama administration thinks that the country’s problems can be solved by establishing a government of national unity. Its talking points are 10 years old. Washington needs to recognize the new reality in Iraq. Instead of placating its enemies, Washington should be working with its friends. The Kurds are America’s best and last friends in Iraq. Instead of obstructing Kurdistan’s independence, the United States should take the lead in a coordinated declaration of independence.

Gulan: ISIS militants declared an Islamic state in Mosul, which is a terrorist state that doesn’t believe in borders, it considers itself as the state for all Muslims. Some experts mention that, what Bin-Laden couldn’t achieve, Abubakir Baghdadi has fulfilled. So, how to deal with this terrorist Islamic state?

Philips: The peshmerga is only group that capable of confronting and ultimately destroying ISIS. The Peoples Protection Forces of the PYD in Syria have also proven affective against ISIS. The U.S. should cooperate with the PYD and provide security assistance. The West has few friends in Syria. It should work with the PYD to stabilize the situation in Rojava as a launch point for stability and expanding pro-Western influence.

Gulan: The only stable and quiet place remaining in Iraq is Kurdistan Region, which used to be part of Iraq but currently it has no borders left with Iraq, it shares borders in the south with Islamic State, and Baghdad has applied all possible economic sanctions on Kurdistan region by cutting the Kurdish share in the budget, this has been ongoing for the last 7 months. This indicates that again Kurdistan region is not part of Iraq even in terms of economy. That is why Kurdish president is making preparations for referendum towards independency. The question in here is that; while nothing named Iraq has remained in reality, do you think Kurdistan region has another option rather than declaring independency?

Philips: No, independence is only way forward. The KRG should deepen its strategic partnership with Ankara. Turkey benefits from Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence. Iraqi Kurdistan serves as a security buffer between Turkey and ISIS. Independence would enhance Turkey’s commercial and energy interests. It can also be part of a grand bargain between Turkey and the Kurds which includes greater political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey and an arrangement to decommission the PKK with amnesty for its senior commanders.

Gulan: Obviously, no country in the world, including United States, is ready to send troops in order to defeat ISIS in Iraq and to end the Islamic state. Iraqi army is currently disintegrated and militias have power even in Baghdad, the only military force that has power to fight ISIS is Peshmarga forces of Kurdistan region. To what extent are U.S. and NATO member countries ready to assist Peshmarga forces for protecting Kurdistan region from ISIS threats?

Philips: Since Baghdad rejected a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Washington should consider a SOFA with the KRG. A small U.S. contingent could help train peshmerga, provide valuable intelligence, and deter attacks by ISIS. It would also send a signal to Iran that the United States is still relevant in the region.

Gulan: America has lost Iraq and this is the fact, do you think it can win Kurdistan?

Philips: I have a different view. For sure, the U.S. made mistakes. But Iraqis lost Iraq. There is no need for the United States to win Kurdistan. It has already won the hearts and minds of Kurds. The American people and Iraqi Kurds share a deep bond based on values and common interests.