Prompt Cast
The History and Betrayal of the Kurds: A Complex Relationship with the United States
TLDR Despite facing oppression from oppressive regimes in the Middle East, the Kurds have viewed the United States as a better ally due to their shared history and the US's role in stabilizing the region. However, the Kurds have also experienced betrayal from the US, leading to years of oppression and persecution under Saddam Hussein.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The episode explores the history and relationship between the Kurds and the United States, and questions the responsibility of the US towards the Kurds.
04:39
The Kurds, who inhabit a region spanning Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq, have a strong sense of identity and unity based on their shared history and land, even though they have never had their own recognized country.
09:38
The Kurds were inspired by Woodrow Wilson's 14 points of self-determination and believed that they would finally have their own homeland, but they were outmaneuvered by the Treaty of Lusanne and betrayed by the Western powers who created repressive regimes instead of granting them their own country.
14:07
The Kurds were betrayed by the US in 1975 when they were abandoned after the Shah of Iran made peace with Iraq, leading to 15 years of oppression and persecution under Saddam Hussein.
19:03
During the Iran-Iraq war, the Kurds were targeted by Saddam Hussein, leading to systematic killings of Kurds in the north of Iraq using chemical weapons, such as in the town of Halabja where 5,000 people were killed and many others were permanently injured.
24:34
During the Gulf War, the Kurds in Iraq rose up against Saddam Hussein's regime, but when they reached the city of Kirkuk, they realized they did not have American support and were subsequently slaughtered by Baghdad, leading to millions of Kurds ending up in the mountains with nothing.
29:35
The United States imposed a no-fly zone over northern Iraq and set up a safe haven for Kurdish refugees, leading to the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq.
34:38
The US owes the Kurds a lot, especially in the last 10 or 15 years, as they have been true allies on the ground in Iraq and Syria, fighting against ISIS and helping to stabilize the region.
39:11
Despite knowing that the US is primarily driven by its own interests, the Kurds still view the US as a better ally compared to the oppressive regimes they face in the Middle East.
Categories:
History
Society & Culture
