By Amar C. Bakshi, CNN
On Monday morning I'll be interviewing the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, Barham Salih, in CNN's Washington, DC studio. I'd love to relay some of your questions. Let me know what you want me to ask below.
As way of very brief background, the Kurdish people are the largest ethnic group without a state. After World War I, when great powers carved up the Middle East, the Kurds, riven by internal strife at the time, did not get a seat at the table. In turn, they did not get a state on the map.
Numbering around 30 million today, the Kurds are spread between Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran. Their aspirations for statehood have been channeled into a remarkable experiment in oil-rich Northern Iraq, where they administer their own regional government that has proven relatively peaceful and vibrant.
With the U.S. withdrawing from Iraq, the Arab revolts and the rise of Turkey, this is a pivotal moment in the region. The Kurdish people, in many ways, are at the center of it all.
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Mr. prime Minister, do you believe there could be mutual benefit in talks proposing a semi-autonomous Kurdish state? England's release of northern Ireland is not hurting, England, the northern counties, nor Ireland.
Turkey used chemical weapons against Kurdish fighters on 22.0ct 2011 but the US is still transferring 'super cobra' helicopters to Turkey, after Senate approval 12th Nov2011! Will Mr Salih use his influence to put pressure on the US administration to stop these sales until Turkey is investigated and complies with international law on rules of war?
Prime Minister,
What have you done to deal with the endemic corruption in the KRG since taking office?
What did Peter Galbreath do to merit a 100 million dollar commission for oil rights in the Kurdish Iraq?
In your dealings with Mr. Maliki;
Oil & Gas Law – it is something that was promised by him in the last term in office, and again when he was re-elected. The people of iraq and the western world see this as a personal failure of his that he has failed to bring in to law an oil and gas law that the people of iraq badly need in place to secure their and their next generation future.
Does he accept that he has failed to deliver on this.
Prime Minister,
Attacks on journalists and critics are as high and violate, what is being done, other than talk and rhetoric, to tackle this important issue?
I witnessed one such violation myself: a car stopped by me and a Kurdish journalist, few masked men came out, attacked the journalist, kicked and punched him severely, took his camera and notebook, said things in Kurdish (threatening and cursing) and left. Just like that.
Bakshi,
It is not "Kurdish" Regional Government, it is Kurdistan Regional Government, there is a difference.
Dear Mr Saleh,
I see that you competed your studies in the uk and gratuated from a British university. I myself, a Kurd, have travelled back to the beautiful country of Kurdistan many times and I have seen no major change. The streets of Sulemanyah, the hub of literacy and great poets is in the same horrible horrible state as it was the day I left for a better life. Saddams brutal regime now has been over run and Kurdistan is growing. Where is the money going ? All these oil contracts, all the money that is coming into the country, where is it going ? There still isn't a proper 24 hr electricity system and let's no talk about the roads. Do you remember all those people who died for a better Kurdistan ? All those men and women who took up arms against the brutal regime, all the children that died ? Have you forgotten about this ? I'm saddened too see corrupt MPS stealing from the country so that they can drive there new super cars and build there new villas.
The situation In Kurdistan has gone badly wrong
Thanks for all these suggested questions! I'll be sure to raise them tomorrow morning. Keep them coming. – Amar
Managing Editor of the Global Public Square
The UK Daily Telegraph today reports that Turkey is under investigation for an alleged chemical attack on Kurdish fighters in Kazan Valley Hakkari. In light of this would you call on the US Government to suspend it's imminent transfer of 'super cobra' helicopters to Turkey?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/8872807/Turkey-investigated-over-chemical-weapons-claim.html Today's Daily Telegraph Report on alleged chemical weapons attack on Kurds!
Mr. Prime Minister, don't you agree with me that the Kurds in both Eastern Turkey and Northern Iraq both need and deserve their independence after so many years of being severely oppressed by both countries? And what about the inhumain attacks by chemical weapons on the Kurds used by the Turks? As history has it, the Turks have always been rather barbarious and they themselves provoked Pope Urban II to call the First Crusade against them in 1095 AD.
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
In the middle of a cold day, you are resting in your own warm and comfortable house. Suddenly one of your neighbors is running to your house chasing your kids and your family members, trying to hurt them. What would your first reaction be?
Mr. Prime Minister,
Wouldn't be vital to south Kurdistan (the so called north Iraq) to have an American military base in KRG area, after the withdrawal of the US troops ?
Mr. Prime Minister,
I have a couple of questions. What is happening with the Erbil agreement and it's implementation? What is left o take Iraq out of Chapter VII?
Mr. Prime Minister,
The Kurds in North Kurdistan are refusing bowing their heads to the Turkish killings and oppression. Is it not time to KRG to show support for their people in North Kurdistan and close the revolving door for the Turkish army into South Kurdistan?
The overwhelming majority of the Arab population of the world supports the right of Palestinians to a state of their own but only an underwhelming minority thinks the Kurds should enjoy the same right… What accounts for such discrepancy? If you could name one panacea to disabuse the Arabs of their bigotted prejudices, what would that be?
The Kurds of Iraq became the accidental beneficiaries of America’s war in Iraq. Now that America’s military is leaving Iraq, have you started having some sleepless nights? If Arab Iraq declares an all out war on the Kurdish Kurdistan, what will come of it?
Gandhi once noted, “The goal is not to bring your enemy to his knees but to his senses.” What accounts for Turkey’s insistence that PKK go down on its knees? Saddam tried the same with Iraqi-Kurds and eventually paid with his head. Given that America is not about to topple the Erdogan government in Ankara, what would you recommend to the Turkish Kurds in terms of bringing the Turkish PM to his senses?
Mr. Prime Minister, I have done many researches about South Kurdistan which is now called Kurdistan Region in Iraq, also I visited Kurdistan a lot. I am amazed about you government and how amazingly the Kurds proved to the wold that you are not less than European and American people.
My question is, with your rapidly developing economy, strong government and your brave people that strongly believe in the Kurdish case, why still Kurdistan didn't declared its interdependency? Why UN is not supporting your case? Why the Iraqi leaders are not happy about your excellent participation? Why Kirkuk is not returned to Kurdistan however all historical facts prove that it is a Kurdish city?
Dear Prime Minster
As you know Turkey is buying Super Cobras to invade Kurds again. You as the prime minster wield more influence in Washington than any other Kurdish leader. If you ask your friends Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John McCain (R-AZ), both of whom serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, to put a hold on the sale, provision of the Super Cobras to Turkey would be suspended immediately. Despite being in New York and Washington this week, however, you have not requested that any senators put a hold on transfer of a military platform that will be used against the territory you were selected to represent! Why don’t you block the arms bale to Turkey? All Kurdish people, especially students and intellectuals know you CAN do that, and are waiting to see what you will do. Kurdish nation would never forgive you if Turkey succeeds in buying those arms for killing the nation you are supposed to represent!
Why don’t you or Barzani block the Super Cubra sale to Turkey?
Dear Mr. Prime Minister
Kurdistan exists on the map just as an ethnic region. How long do you think it will take until Kurdistan joins the rest of the world at the U.N.?
Mr Salih ,
Do you see the recognition of the Kurdish Production sharing oil contracts as a key goal for future prosperity In the Kurdish region?
Considering the hosting of voting centers outside Kurdistan for elections; What impact does the Kurdish diaspora have on the results? Do you think it (the votes of the diaspora) is an accurate representation of the needs of the people of the Kurdish people still living there?
Were you consider as terrorists when you and Barzani were fighting against Saddam Husain during the liberation Iraqi Kurdistan.
Why is that?
When will Mr Priminster thing that an independent KRG is viable? when there is no one to oppose it?THis is the right time because the iranian regime can not do anything since its under pressure, the iraqi army is weak and the turks are not supports by ISreal like the past and PKK is still active; if this is not the right time, when is it the right time? Without taking risks, you will never gain anything because you deserve nothing. THIS is the moment, KRG and kurds should GRAP it by the neck, and do this before IRAN is attacked, OTHERWISE it will be too late after iranian regime change!
Thanks all for the questions. The interview went off well this morning, thanks to your questions. I'll be posting the transcript and video of the interview, along with an article, shortly. I really appreciate your input. – Amar
Mr. Prime Minister,
HRW descibed your government practices towards journalists and human right activists no different from those of Sadam regime..what u have to say to this?
HOW CAN WE ATTACK IRAN- part 1 of 10 parts.
I USE USA FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN INCREASE THE JETS FIGHTERS IN THAT SIDE.
2- KEEP SOME GOOD FORCE IN IRAQ AND KUWAIT TO DEAL WITH THE SHIIA THUGS WHO WILL SUPPORT IRAN FORM the Iraqi evil government side.
3- keep tanks and jets in Kuwait
4- improve the bases in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and uae
5- ask Qatar to not help or involve with Iran
6- increase USA sea base and naval strength in Bahrain
7-prepare the submarines in the red sea, Mideastern sea, and the Arabian sea
8- close down the straight of hermoze and increase inspections on Iranians boat and ships
9- keep forces in Turkmenistan north of Iran ,and the turkey borders.
10-keep economic bloc-aid
11- attack with multi nations France, Germany, Italy, holand, and UK ,use every thing you got to finish the mission
12-help with money and arms the resistant ( KURDS, ARABESTAN, LOURS, TURKS, BAHA'I, PERSIANS, BELOOSH, SUNNIS , CHRISTENS , ASSYRIANS GROUP AND MUJAHEDIN KHLAQ FIGHTERS ) use every means of propaganda TV, radios, news and secret short wave radios to teach the masses what to do and where to get weapon and money and how to attack the enemy and destroy the enemy war machine and infrastructures,
13- use virus to attack Iran computers and army computers, destroy their satellites, command and controls, nooks sites,
and attack QUM as the mullahs will hide at their shrines and use it to make fatwas .
14- freeze all Iran assets, stop them from immigrations or coming here as most are using USA and Canada to send money to Hezbollah and Iraqi thugs, stop Ahmad AL jalabi and arrest him as he is one of Iran spies
15-help Dr ayad alawi to take over Iraq as he won the election but Iran put AL maleki instead, Al maleki pretend he is with USA but he is a lire,
16 control the Iran Iraqi boarder and Syria Iraq border by using drones so no shiia can cross to Iran from Iraq and Syria
17- Iraqi kurds can help from north Iraq, the Sunni can help from west Iraq and the resistant can attack from inside Iran
18-Israel can take care of Hezbollah and leash hell if those terrorists Hezbollah attack Israel , that's why we must get red of Syrian regimes now to cut Iran arms before attacking Iran
I will write part 2 in detail on how we can do it .
The interview went very well. I will be posting the interview and transcript within the next 2 days. – Amar
Managing Editor, CNN.com/GPS
Dear Amar Bakshi, in your interview with the PM of Kurdistan you labeled the PKK as a terrorist organization. What would you call the Turkish state that has killed more than 50 thousand Kurds most of whom were civilians? What about the recent brutal chemical attack on the PKK fighters? Do you think what you do is a good journalism. I highly doubt that.
Do the Kurds feel disenfranchised by the Western powers, as the Kurdish plight has been given little attention in the wake of geo-political turmoil in the region? In concert with the last question, do you feel that Turkey has been given a free pass by the United States and allies to suppress Kurdish aspirations of statehood in order to maintain in good standing with Turkey, ultimately to counter balance Iran's ever-so expanding influence?
Questions for Kurdish PM
1) Why have the Kurds failed to achieve independence despite decades of struggle, mainly in 1975, 1991, and 2003? I beg to differ with your consciously distorted view that Kurdish citizens are content with the status quo. PM, you are fabricating baseless statements to merely maintain your position and soar your popularity at the expense of your people. If one in earnest inquires about any Kurdish citizen views on whether they wish to remain part of a united Iraq or live in an independent Kurdistan, the response would absolutely be the second. PM, you should express and convey the true aspirations of the nation you are representing to the US administration irrespective of its outcomes, and work for turning those dreams into realities. That is called leadership. If we are failing over and over it is chiefly because a leader like“ Gandi” has not yet come into existence in Iraqi Kurdistan.
2) Could you account for the 4 Billion missing public dollars from National Budget over the course 2 years of your administration? We have not heard a true, logical explanation on your part as of now. How, where, when were those funds expended? Just an “I do not know” quip is not sufficient.
3) Why the plight of minority and women rights has rapidly deteriorated in Iraqi Kurdistan. You pledged instant implementation of reforms?
4) How can Turkey and Iran launch frequent cross-border incursions into Iraqi Kurdistan territory if there is not a prior coordination (conspiracy) in place? What motives justify the killing of 7 members of a Kurdish family in recent aerial strikes by Turkish forces?
5) Espousing the notion of ousting dictatorship and eliminating dictatorship era. PM, if you are so pro-democracy, then how come Iraqi Kurdistan has been run for decades by the same rulers ( Talabani and Barzani? Will they agree to step down peacefully following the completion of their due terms, and offer other qualified citizens an equal opportunity, as well?
6) Corruption, mismanagement and waste has reached an unprecedented level in Iraqi Kurdistan. Is it possible for a non-partisan commission to launch a probe into yours and all members of your cabinet and parliament personal account numbers? Where have they earned tens of millions of US dollars in such a laconic period of time?
Kurds were largely supportive of the U.S. intervention in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein, but the US
was not supportive of Kurdish demands. She has totally turned a blind eye to the HR violations taking place in Turkey against an oppressed nation resisting ethnic-cleansings and constant denial of its rights. The US democratization and liberation strategies must apply to all peoples of the world. There will soon be an overpowering revolution arising in Iraqi Kurdistan that will eliminate the ongoing corruption once and forever and Kurds will ultimately be able to gain their absolute independence from Iraq. Like every other deserving nation, it is our legitimate right and whether endorsed by global hypocritical superpowers or neighboring inimical regimes, no one can stand in its way to cease it since there is no power greater than the will of masses.