Kurdish peshmerga forces sit on top of a tank on the outskirts of Kirkuk on 18 April. Photograph: Reuters
U.S. News and World Report/Al-Monitor: Defense Bill Recognizes Iraq's Kurdish, Sunni Militias as a 'Country'
The draft House bill carves out 25 percent of anti-Islamic State funding for the peshmerga and Sunni tribes.
Republican war-policy writers are demanding that the United States recognize Kurdish and Sunni militias as their own “country” amid growing concerns about Iran’s influence over Baghdad.
The House Armed Services Committee on April 27 released an annual Defense bill that authorizes $715 million in aid to Iraqi forces fighting the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS). The bill, which is scheduled to be debated and voted on in the committee on April 29, carves out at least 25% of that aid for the peshmerga, the Sunni tribal militias and a yet-to-be-established Iraqi Sunni National Guard.
The bill “would require that the Kurdish peshmerga, the Sunni tribal security forces with a national security mission, and the Iraqi Sunni National Guard be deemed a country,” according to a bill summary. Doing so “would allow these security forces to directly receive assistance from the United States.”
Update #1: Republicans propose directly funding Iraqi militias in war against Isis -- The Guardian
Update #2: 'US funding of Sunni militia groups would further partition Iraq' -- RT
WNU Editor: The Iraqi military/government is not happy with the possibility that these militias may be armed directly by the U.S. .... Iraqi Defence Minister: Only Iraqi Government Can Arm Forces (Basnas). The Shiites are also not happy that non-Shiite militias may now receive direct U.S. support .... Iraqi Shiite cleric threatens US interests over provision in bipartisan Congress spending bill (AP) .... more here.
Update #3: The U.K. will continue supporting the Kurds .... UK to continue to support Peshmerga fighters (Al Bawaba).
and they still dont help the ypg on syria
ReplyDeleteI have no clue as to why Congress is still playing with the idea of arming the Syrian rebels over the Kurds. If you arm the Kurds, the main argument against arming the Syrian rebels (Weapons ending up in the wrong hards) doesn't even apply to the Kurds. They are more than willing to not only keep ISIS at bay in Syria and Iraq, but given the proper tech, they can actually bring the fight to ISIS. I know the Govt is big and what not, but there are certain basic things policy makers just need to understand if they are going to play around in this region. Oh does the Iraqi government dislike arming the Kurds? They are in no position to render an opinion on the matter. Sykes-Picot really boned the Kurds and they have always largely functioned autonomously anyway.
ReplyDeleteWell said Matthew.
ReplyDelete