West should support Peshmerga to truly defeat ISIS: French academic
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Gerard Chaliand, a renowned French author and geopolitical expert, argued that the Peshmerga need continued support because ISIS ideology is not defeated and the Kurdistan Region is a safer place than most major Western nations.
"The future of Iraqi Kurdistan is safe because nobody wants its end, neither Turkey nor Iran, of course not the US, not Europe," said Chaliand on the sidelines of a conference at the French Institute in Erbil.
He spoke on Islamic terrorism in Iraq and Syria and the future of the Kurdistan Region at a conference on Thursday.
"France is very keen; our friendship is very practical, concrete. If we speak about the future of Kurds in general, the only future which is bright 100 percent is here [in Kurdistan]," he said.
France has 300-400 troops stationed in the Kurdistan Region to train Peshmerga.
"The real problem in this region is what happened in Rojava," Chaliand, a professor of Guerilla Warfare at the University of Kurdistan-Hewler (UKH) said.
French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to continue the fight against extremists in the Middle East regardless of the United States’ role in the international anti-ISIS coalition.
"France trains Peshmerga and we're going to keep training Peshmerga," Chaliand added. "But we are not going to stay in Syria if the Americans leave because we are not in a position to solve any kind of problem on those grounds."
Last month, US President Donald Trump ordered an immediate, complete withdrawal of some 2,000 US forces stationed in northern Syria where they have been fighting alongside local partners who are predominately Kurdish.
Chaliand has lived in Kurdistan on and off for nearly 20 years. He argues that US President Donald Trump's announced pullout of forces in Syria will cause problems for the Kurds.
"People in Rojava have to find a way to survive and probably, that way I suppose is to have better relations with the regime of Damascus with the help of the Russians if America withdrawals," he said.
Chaliand added it would be wise to keep a military presence in Iraq and Syria.
"But Mr. Trump does what he wants. He has lost Mr. [James] Mattis who was a very wise general," he said, referring to the outgoing secretary of defense. He added Trump does "a lot of things to please his own electorate above all."
Chaliand called Trump’s actions sometimes “unwise” for a world leader.
Regarding ISIS in Iraq, he said that they have been militarily beaten, and although there are remnants of the terror group, he believes there will be no major future threats of terrorism.
"They can act here and there but nothing very significant," he said. "The ideology is not dead so they have a future but not here."
Chaliand lauded Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani for restoring political relations with regional neighbors.
"The situation of Iraqi Kurdistan is excellent, a lot better than it was a year ago. The mistakes have been repaired. I think the future is rather bright," he said.
He also added that Islamic terrorism is low in the Kurdistan Region.
"In the last 15 years we've had three big attempts of terrorist actions [in Kurdistan]," he explained. "It's safe at all levels, including security and theft."
Compared with Western countries, "This is a safe place. I say this to my friends in Europe," Chaliand added.
"It's safer than Europe…”
"The future of Iraqi Kurdistan is safe because nobody wants its end, neither Turkey nor Iran, of course not the US, not Europe," said Chaliand on the sidelines of a conference at the French Institute in Erbil.
He spoke on Islamic terrorism in Iraq and Syria and the future of the Kurdistan Region at a conference on Thursday.
"France is very keen; our friendship is very practical, concrete. If we speak about the future of Kurds in general, the only future which is bright 100 percent is here [in Kurdistan]," he said.
France has 300-400 troops stationed in the Kurdistan Region to train Peshmerga.
"The real problem in this region is what happened in Rojava," Chaliand, a professor of Guerilla Warfare at the University of Kurdistan-Hewler (UKH) said.
French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to continue the fight against extremists in the Middle East regardless of the United States’ role in the international anti-ISIS coalition.
"France trains Peshmerga and we're going to keep training Peshmerga," Chaliand added. "But we are not going to stay in Syria if the Americans leave because we are not in a position to solve any kind of problem on those grounds."
Last month, US President Donald Trump ordered an immediate, complete withdrawal of some 2,000 US forces stationed in northern Syria where they have been fighting alongside local partners who are predominately Kurdish.
Chaliand has lived in Kurdistan on and off for nearly 20 years. He argues that US President Donald Trump's announced pullout of forces in Syria will cause problems for the Kurds.
"People in Rojava have to find a way to survive and probably, that way I suppose is to have better relations with the regime of Damascus with the help of the Russians if America withdrawals," he said.
Chaliand added it would be wise to keep a military presence in Iraq and Syria.
"But Mr. Trump does what he wants. He has lost Mr. [James] Mattis who was a very wise general," he said, referring to the outgoing secretary of defense. He added Trump does "a lot of things to please his own electorate above all."
Chaliand called Trump’s actions sometimes “unwise” for a world leader.
Regarding ISIS in Iraq, he said that they have been militarily beaten, and although there are remnants of the terror group, he believes there will be no major future threats of terrorism.
"They can act here and there but nothing very significant," he said. "The ideology is not dead so they have a future but not here."
Chaliand lauded Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani for restoring political relations with regional neighbors.
"The situation of Iraqi Kurdistan is excellent, a lot better than it was a year ago. The mistakes have been repaired. I think the future is rather bright," he said.
He also added that Islamic terrorism is low in the Kurdistan Region.
"In the last 15 years we've had three big attempts of terrorist actions [in Kurdistan]," he explained. "It's safe at all levels, including security and theft."
Compared with Western countries, "This is a safe place. I say this to my friends in Europe," Chaliand added.
"It's safer than Europe…”