Pro-Kurdish Senator replaces John McCain as Armed Services Committee Chair

WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan 24) – Sen. James Inhofe (R, Oklahoma) has been formally named as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, following the death of its previous chairman, Sen. John McCain (R., Arizona.)

McCain had been away from Washington for much of the past year, battling brain cancer, before he passed away on August 25, and Inhofe served as the committee’s acting chairman in his absence.

On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R, Kentucky), formally announced that Inhofe would be the new chairman of the extremely important committee.

Inhofe, who has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee for over twenty years—since 1995—has been a long-time supporter of the Kurds. 

After the Islamic State (IS) overran Mosul and threatened the Kurdistan Region, along with the rest of Iraq, in the summer of 2014, Inhofe called on the Obama administration to back the Kurds militarily.

President Barack Obama only belatedly recognized the IS threat, having dismissed it as the “JV (junior varsity) team” earlier that year. But Obama was quite wrong, and he reluctantly ordered the start of US airstrikes against the terrorist organization on August 8.

On the same day, Inhofe issued a statement, characterizing what he called the “tactical strikes,” as “long overdue.”

Inhofe called on Obama to provide “a clear and compelling strategy for Iraq and the broader region.”

“I believe a vital component of any strategy must involve direct assistance to the Kurds, who have proven to be a steadfast partner of the United States,” the Senator explained.

“They have shown themselves willing and able to fight against [IS], but are finding themselves outgunned and need more support,” he added.

“I’ve met with President Barzani on several occasions and trust his judgment in this crisis.” We need to provide the Kurds with “air support, intelligence, and equipment,” Inhofe affirmed.

Nine months later, Masoud Barzani, then President of the Kurdistan Region, visited Washington, and the two men met once more.

Following their May 6 meeting, Inhofe issued a statement, explaining that Barzani had thanked the US “for its continued support, both with equipment and supplies, as well as air support.”

Barzani asked for “additional assistance” to deal with the refugee crisis, Inhofe explained, adding that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had “provided sanctuary to over a million refugees.”

“I urge my colleagues and our allies to support the Kurds and their armed forces,” Inhofe stated, providing important political backing in Washington for the Kurdistan Region.

And a year and a half later, when Iraqi forces attacked Kirkuk, Inhofe was quick to condemn the assault.

The Senator told Kurdistan 24 he was concerned about reports “that Iranian militants are spurring the hostilities and that the Iraqi military is using US-provided military equipment in their campaign against the Kurdish region”—two key issues which the Trump administration never really addressed.

“I’ve been consistently supportive of [the Kurdistan Region],” Inhofe continued. “They have been a critical partner in our fight against [IS] and a stabilizing influence that promotes our shared democratic values in the region.”

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month and which Inhofe helped shepherd through Congress, is named after John McCain.

The KRG Representation in Washington welcomed the Act, which “recognizes the sacrifices and role of the Peshmerga forces.”

The Act includes a statement, reflecting the sense of Congress, “The United States should continue to provide operational sustainment, as appropriate, to the Ministry of Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq so that the Peshmerga forces can more effectively partner with the Iraqi Security Forces,” the US, and other Coalition members in the fight against IS.

Kurds will surely miss their long-time friend, John McCain, but they should also know that another friend of the Kurdish people, Sen. Inhofe, has assumed McCain’s position as chairman of this important Senate committee.

Editing by Nadia Riva