Rep. Duncan Hunter urges President Trump to support Kurdistan referendum results

“As you know, Iraqi Kurdistan is one of the area’s most dependable US allies and a critical partner in the fight against [the Islamic State (IS)].”

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) – Rep. Duncan Hunter is a California Republican and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, Hunter joined the US Marine Corps. Two years later, under the command of then Maj. Gen. Jim Mattis (now Secretary of Defense), Hunter participated in the liberation of Iraq as the 1st Marine Division, and alongside the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, drove north from Kuwait to Baghdad in 28 days, toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime.

In 2008, the young officer became the first combat veteran of either the Iraq or Afghan conflicts to serve in the US Congress, succeeding his father who had long represented California’s 50th District.

Shortly after the Sep. 25 Kurdistan independence referendum, Hunter wrote Donald Trump, urging the US President to support the results of the plebiscite.

“The people voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence,” Hunter noted. “As you know, Iraqi Kurdistan is one of the area’s most dependable US allies and a critical partner in the fight against [the Islamic State (IS)].”

“Peshmerga Forces have courageously supported US Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003,” he wrote, “and have continued to be our stalwart and capable partners in fighting [IS] across Iraq today.”

“Whenever the United States has helped the Kurds—in 1991, after 2003 and in 2014—they have thanked America and used it as a hand up, not a hand out.”

Hunter reminded Trump of the values that are shared between the people of the Kurdistan Region and Americans.

“They strongly support a secular form of democratic government, an independent media and they have a vibrant civil society that embraces tolerance and diversity in a region where this is rare.”

“The outcome of the vote is clear,” the Congressman explained. “Iraqi Kurds want, and will be moving towards self-governance.”

“They will continue to be a loyal, dependable US ally,” but “they will need US. support, now more than ever.”

“The Turkish, Iranian, and Iraqi governments,” Hunter cautioned, have vowed to block Kurdish independence.

“I strongly urge you and your administration to support the result of the referendum in favor of independence.” his letter concludes, “and work with the Iraqi Kurdistan government and the Iraqi government to ensure a defined implementation of the referendum’s result.”

 

Editing by G.H. Renaud