The Kurdistan Region: Strategic US ally in a tough neighborhood

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) - The Washington Times, in partnership with Kurdistan 24, is hosting a conference in Washington DC on Friday to explore and discuss the most important issues related to the upcoming referendum on Kurdish independence.

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Retired US Army General Jay Garner, the US should increase military support for the the Kurdistan Region.

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Retired US Army General Ernie Audino, Kurdistan Region will polish its ‘imperfect’ democracy over time as it will take time, stating that following the US independence, it took 30 years of talks to have a constitution.

“Iranian combat power have been deployed in three areas southern Kurdistan Region," Audino said.

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Ronald Griffith, Retired US Army General, Turkey and other countries should understand that Kurdistan referendum is not a threat and should support the self-determination of people of Kurdistan.

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The Governor of Kikruk, Najmadin Karim, said that majority of people in the Kurdistan Region are united in supporting independence referendum and expressed the readiness of Kirkuk for the referendum scheduled to be held on September 25.

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Masrour Barzani, Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, in his speech said "When Iraq was created, it was supposed to be a country for us all equally," stating that "our share in Iraq until 1991, was subject to mistreatment, deportation, imprisonment, destruction of villages and genocide," Barzani.

"It is not us seeking succession, it is them [Iraq] who have pushed us to look for a brighter future for our people," Barzani stated,

"There is never the right time [for #Kurdistan independence], unless we make it right,” he added.

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Vian Dakhil, Kurdish Ezidi MP: "In Iraq, we are not allowed to become judges, prohibited by law, but there are Ezidi judges in Kurdistan." 
"I want to live in a country that respects my rights as Ezidi religious group, not treating me as second, third class citizen," she stated. 
We are hopeful that within an independent Kurdistan, rights of components, religious groups will be protected, Dakhil added.

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"Between 2003 and 2014, Kurdistan Region enjoyed golden decade, its economy, society flourished and it was opened to the world." Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG Representative in Washington. 
After 2014, Kurdistan was hit by several shocks, fight against ISIS, Iraq cut off budget, oil prices fall and flood of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons took refuge in the Region, Rahman said.

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Brendan O'Leary, Professor at University of Pennsylvania said that "the Iraqi Constitution does not specify that Iraq is indivisible and neither has it prohibited succession."

Only transitional provisions implemented in Iraqi Constitution that consolidate power to the Shia-majority in Baghdad, O'Leary stated.