[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 91 (Thursday, May 29, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE KURDS DESERVE BETTER
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HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, in my service on the
Foreign Affairs Committee, I have had the opportunity to meet talented
citizens of the Kurdish Region of Iraq including visiting it's vibrant
capital of Erbil, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world,
of 8,000 years.
With historic changes for democracy being achieved, new President
Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria, the new government of Lebanon, and President
Donald Trump's extraordinary success confirming our alliance with
dynamic Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, there is
opportunity to appreciate the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as it resists
Tehran's subversion of Baghdad.
I include in the Record an excellent analysis of opportunity which
was presented by the great American patriot, former Secretary of State,
Mike Pompeo, on May 20, 2025. ``The Kurds Deserve Better'' op-ed in the
New York Post:
The Kurds Deserve Better
They've proven themselves to be one of America's most
reliable partners in the Middle East--but the Kurdish people
still have no real homeland of their own. As Masrour Barzani,
the prime minister of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan
Regional Government, visits Washington this week, these
friends deserve better. Other regional actors offer
rhetorical friendship, but the Kurds demonstrate theirs
through action and sacrifice.
What's more, they provide a critical bulwark against
Iranian influence in a region that has been thoroughly
penetrated by the Islamic Republic--including in Iraq, which
has become an Iranian cat's-paw. Kurdish ambitions for
greater autonomy are not only righteous, they align with
America's own critical interests. As Secretary of State and
CIA director in President Trump's first term, I witnessed
their unwavering commitment to our shared objectives
firsthand.
Kurdish fighters have consistently battled America's worst
enemies--jihadist groups like ISIS, al Qaeda and others--
sparing American blood and treasure. Unlike many other
partners in the region, the Kurds never engaged in anti-
American terrorism, never cost American lives and never
wavered in their friendship. Their loyalty has delivered
exceptional returns on a modest investment, compared to the
trillions spent in other Middle Eastern conflicts.
The Kurdish regions possess substantial natural resources,
positioning them for economic self-sufficiency. The KRG alone
contains an estimated 45 billion barrels of oil--roughly a
third of Iraq's total reserves--plus significant natural gas
fields.
Kurdish territories also contain valuable mineral deposits,
largely untapped due to political constraints. The KRG has
demonstrated effective governance despite Baghdad's
restrictions, building a functioning economy and attracting
international investment. Given economic freedom, Kurdistan
would rapidly develop into a self-sufficient partner that
strengthens America's strategic position without draining our
resources.
In my diplomatic engagement throughout the Middle East,
I've seen what makes the Kurds exceptional: In a region
dominated by authoritarianism and extremism, Kurdish-governed
areas stand out as islands of relative tolerance and
pluralism. Kurdish communities have rejected the anti-
American and antisemitic ideologies that poison much of the
region. And like Americans, they yearn for self-determination
and representative government; they have no wish to become a
vassal state of an American adversary.
For too long, the United States has neglected the strategic
potential that would be unlocked by supporting Kurdistan--out
of fear of regional repercussions and, in some cases, sheer
inertia. At this critical juncture in America's engagement in
the Middle East, we should incorporate the Kurds into our
regional strategy.
First, America must forcefully counter regional efforts to
undermine Kurdish self-governance. When Iran's Revolutionary
Guards launch missiles at Kurdish sites, as they did last
year, Washington should respond with consequences. No
regional power should be able to operate with impunity
against our partners. To successfully project American power,
the US must establish and enforce red lines that protect our
allies from systematic abuse.
We must also keep Kurdish regions from being economically
strangled as punishment for their autonomy. Baghdad has
repeatedly withheld funds and blocked oil exports--tactics
encouraged by Tehran to force Kurdish submission.
Washington should leverage its substantial influence with
the Iraqi government to lift export blocks. This will both
allow the Kurds to thrive and increase the global oil supply,
strengthening energy security.
America should respect the legitimacy of the 2017 Kurdish
independence referendum, in which 93% of Iraqi Kurds chose
independence. Instead of honoring this democratic process,
Baghdad (with Iran's backing) sent tanks and militias to
punish the Kurds and impose a blockade. At that time, the
United States chose to place Iraq's artificial stability over
Kurdish aspirations--a mistake we should now rectify.
Recognizing the referendum's validity by supporting Kurdish
autonomy means respecting the democratic will of a people who
have earned the right to determine their future.
Finally, the United States should work with the Kurds
toward a peaceful, negotiated pathway to greater autonomy and
independence. This long-term objective must be pursued
through diplomatic channels to avoid triggering new
conflicts, but it's a goal worth pursuing to advance American
interests in the region. America should encourage Baghdad and
Erbil to establish a legal framework for greater Kurdish
sovereignty that addresses both Kurdish aspirations and Iraqi
concerns.
Similarly, we should engage Turkey--which contains its own
large Kurdish population--by emphasizing the strategic
benefits of a more independent Kurdistan and an end to their
perpetual insurgency.
In my years of service, I've learned that America is
strongest when we stand firmly with those who share our
values and consistently advance our interests. Prime Minister
Barzani should receive a strong welcome in the United States
as we explore ways to jointly advance peace and prosperity.
Mike Pompeo served as director of the Central Intelligence
Agency, 2017-18, and Secretary of State, 2018-21.
https://nypost.com/2025/05/20/opinion/kurds-deserve-better-
how-us-can-support-an-allys-freedom/.
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