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A KURDISH STATE - The Kurds are a historic and important people in the Middle East. It is a great pity that they do not have their own state. It is time that this injustice be corrected. According to some estimates, there are “between 25 and 35 million Kurds inhabiting a mountainous region straddling the borders” of Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Armenia—living in the mountains.
It is significant that The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published this crucial letter (Dec. 25, 2024 / in print Dec. 26), with such a powerful and eloquent title, that the editors of the almighty newspaper chose. A title that perfectly combines, the fate of the Kurds, with the important anniversary of the founding of America in 1776 (a Kurdish state for America’s 250th birthday!). There is now hope, which is probably a certainty, that something will change for the Kurds in the near future.
The letter follows below as it was published:
A Kurdish State for America’s 250th Birthday.
Keep the flame of liberty alive.
I agree with Thomas Kaplan and Bernard-Henri Lévy’s op-ed “Assad’s Fall Is a Chance to Back the Kurds” (Dec. 17, 2024), which highlights the invaluable role the Kurds have played in the fight against ISIS.
Their commitment to democratic principles, religious tolerance and protection of minorities also makes them a vital ally in the region.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad presents an unprecedented opportunity for the U.S. to help establish a Kurdish state, which would honor the Kurds’ sacrifices and strengthen U.S. interests in the Middle East.
I would suggest further reasons a Kurdish state is crucial. First, it would counterbalance the growing influence of Turkey and Iran in the region.
Second, a Kurdish state would also provide a stable, democratic partner (like Israel and Greece) in a region rife with autocratic regimes.
Third, with the Kurds’ history of protecting minorities, such a state would offer a model of coexistence that could foster broader regional stability.
Now is the time for America to act decisively in support of the Kurds.
In 2026, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. Support for a free Kurdistan can be one of the many achievements of our great nation, in line with the legacy of the Founding Fathers and the idea of liberty they championed.
(Dimitris Eleas is a New York-based political scientist, researcher, writer, and activist. His e-mail is: [email protected]. This letter was originally published in the Wall Street Journal.)
