The Kurds are an awesome example of the kind of people, culture, and bad-assery the middle east needs supported. What are your thoughts?

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:30:03 -0400

The Kurds have done very well with not much aside from fierce wills and determination. They need to be armed to the teeth and given as much support as possible, and the Iraqis need to be made to understand that the Kurds are fighting for and with them and pushed to integrate their fighting forces with better communication and collaborating maneuvers.

Thoughts?

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/05/30/kurdish-fighters-in-syria-on-the-march-against-isis.html

Kurdish Fighters in Syria on the March Against ISIS

In contrast to the Iraqi army's failures, Kurdish fighters in Syria are on the march against the Islamic State group.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 2 at 2015 12:33 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:33:38 -0400

They need to wipe out ISIS and be given their own country.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Bly made Jun 2 at 2015 7:31 AM

SPC Jeffrey Bly — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 07:31:17 -0400

Sorry MSgt for my ignorance, but why were they trying to kill U.S. Troops at that time? It seems they would actually be a good ally and great asset. Please correct me if I'm misinformed.

Response by CW2 John Brookins made Jun 3 at 2015 2:01 PM

CW2 John Brookins — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:01:32 -0400

Having worked with the Kurds in northern Iraq, I would support them completely. They are the only people in the area that are relatively trustworthy and will fight.

MSgt Milulski does seem to be referring to the PKK which was originally a communist organization and at its height of power controlled areas of southern Turkey and Syria. In recent years it’s tried move always from hard line Marxist ideology.

They should not be confused however with Iraqi Kurds who are primarily PUK and KDP. (See PKK, PUK, KDP)

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 2:39 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:39:06 -0400

Slippery slope... Today's allies are tomorrows assailants. Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.

Response by MAJ Pat Rimron made Jun 3 at 2015 4:01 PM

MAJ Pat Rimron — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 16:01:52 -0400

The Kurds are the ONLY group in the Middle East (outside of Israel) that deserve our support. Not only should we arm them but we should wholeheartedly support a Kurdish state....

Response by SGT Josh Suchoski made Jun 3 at 2015 4:46 PM

SGT Josh Suchoski — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 16:46:05 -0400

I worked with and got to train some of the Peshmerga on a DIB sight outside of Mosul. The Pesh are hard working and they were diligent with the training we gave them. The Iraqi Army was lazy in comparison. I have great respect for this small army. With the right resources, there is no doubt in my mind that they could crush ISIS.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Jun 4 at 2015 3:00 PM

SSgt Michael Cox — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:00:58 -0400

when the war kicked off i was in Irbal and these guys were are guards protecting us while we maintained our Pavelows and the crews flew combat missions non-stop. they should get our full support right now

Response by SGT Lawrence Corser made Jun 9 at 2015 12:09 PM

SGT Lawrence Corser — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:09:47 -0400

I think so. We have been protecting them for a while now, even had operations just to protect them, so we should support them as the main body effort to whip isis if we can. now I know Iran is pushing the shia mujh into the fray even with them being the same dudes we as a coalition were fighting like x years ago. either way lets just hope isis gets whipped.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jun 11 at 2015 1:55 AM

SSG John Jensen — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 01:55:04 -0400

look up the area of traditional Kurdistan - if we could negotiate an independent Kurdistan out of Iraq, we would have an ally, if we could negotiate for Turkey to give up a little slice of their southern border(not all of traditional Kurdistan) and for Syria to give up a little slice of their eastern border(not all of traditional Kurdistan), we would have a serious ally for all time

Response by MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. made Jun 12 at 2015 5:24 PM

MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 17:24:54 -0400

Ancient tribal warfare -- Turkey shunning a Kurdish Nation -- they fight for survival, and if they are our ally, will they somehow be granted an independent state?

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jun 14 at 2015 3:09 PM

SSG John Jensen — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 15:09:49 -0400

joeyl.com - blog - guerrilla fighters of Kurdistan
portrait photographer's journey to do portraits of the Kurds
wonderful article and photos

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2015 9:25 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 21:25:37 -0400

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-kurds-are-pushing-deeper-into-an-isis-stronghold-on-the-syriaturkey-border-2015-6

New news on the Kurds being badass.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jun 16 at 2015 3:15 PM

SSG John Jensen — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 15:15:43 -0400

rt.com - shows - documentary
Her War: Women vs ISIS
documentary of the women who join the YPG to defend Kurdistan - interviews, showing their basic, and lives in training

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 16 at 2015 3:44 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 15:44:09 -0400

I am impressed with the way the Kurds fought off ISIS in Kobani, and securing safe passage lanes for their refugees with a few hundred fighters. Now they have several thousand fighters and are the most reliable anti-ISIS fighters in the ME. However, I feel they are too small to take on the whole of ISIS at one time.