‘The other Iraq’

The gratitude experienced in Kurdistan surpasses that of other countries, a former Army lieutenant general said Tuesday.
Jay Garner, the former director of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Post-War Iraq, spoke to a crowd of more than 300 about the region of Kurdistan and its view of the U.S.
“You’ll never go anywhere in this world where you’ll feel more love than in Kurdistan,” Garner said, noting the gratitude the Kurds have shown the U.S. since its assistance in removing Saddam Hussein from the region during the Gulf War.
Garner has visited Kurdistan, a multi-national region mostly concentrated in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, eight times in the last year and a half. He spoke about the changing economic, political and social dynamics in the region.
He said not a single U.S. soldier has been killed in the region since 1991, proof of Kurdistan’s “98 percent pro-American” support. The Kurdish forces fought alongside Americans in the 2003 Iraq invasion and suffered more casualties than anyone, Garner said.
He called Kurdistan “the other Iraq,” because it is far more progressive than its southeastern neighbor. Kurds largely support states’ rights over Baghdad’s centralized government, and the region conducted free elections in 1992 — 12 years before Iraq did so.
Kurdistan is also ahead economically, educationally and socially, Garner said.
“Everywhere you look in Kurdistan, something new is being built,” he said. He said the region has become a gateway for international business thanks to incentives provisioned under a 2006 Kurdish National Assembly investment law.
“It’s amazing the amount of growth that is going on,” Garner said. New schools, police academies, housing and hospitals are cropping up everywhere, especially in larger cities, he said, and with seven universities, illiteracy is almost nonexistent.
With 25 percent of its Congress seats held by women, the Kurds have embraced ethnic minorities and women in equal measure under a bipartisan government that reflects the demographics of the region.
“Our Congress could learn a hell of a lot from the Kurds,” Garner said.
There are problems, though, Garner said. Kurdistan is “dangerously close” to a war over disputed Iraqi territory, and political tensions with Turkey continue to result in violence. There is also a struggle for Kurdish autonomy and animosity over the role of Iraq in Kurdish affairs, particularly regarding the control of Kurdistan’s oil reserves.
As unofficial allies with Kurdistan already, Garner said the U.S. should capitalize on the opportunity to officially ally with the region, which is oil-rich and has a strategically important geographic location.
The lecture was part of The Kurdish Political Studies Initiative hosted by the UCF Global Perspectives Office and had more than 300 Learning Institute for the Elderly,  members in attendance. LIFE generally hosts a spring and fall series in conjunction with Global Perspectives, LIFE board member Doug Garner said.
LIFE is an educational program for retirement-age Central Floridians that meets each Tuesday on campus for presentations. The group of 473 members operates on the UCF academic calendar.
Mark Freeman, public affairs coordinator for Global Perspectives, said Lt. Gen. Garner has special relationship with many Kurds, many of whom see him as a hero.

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11 comments

Lina-Germany

Sat Mar 7 2009 11:40

thanks Mr Garner
yes kurdistan is different , Kurdistan is similar to European country in democracy and human right and so on (in small size off course) they need more support because now they have more enemies

Dara Yara

Mon Mar 2 2009 18:01

J Garner always been regarded by kurds as a hero. His courage, honesty,loyality,integrity and high values are been appreciated by his fellow kurdish men.
I have worked with Jay and I know how a wonderfull fellow he is.
We love u Jay , Long live kurdistan America frienship.
Dara Yara
Kurdistan

Irony

Mon Mar 2 2009 15:21

U.S. invaded Iraq to get rid of Hussein. Now Hussein became president in the U.S!
This is what we in Swedish call: "Ödets ironi"!

Kurd from Khanaqin

Mon Mar 2 2009 04:39

Religion (Islam) is the biggest culprit in the Iraqi drama. Islam is not a Kurdish religion and its founder Muhammed was not Kurdish. Islam is a religion which has been forced on the Kurds by Arab occupiers. Centuries of Arab-Muslim occupation, has put some tracks in the Kurdish society, although fundamentalist tendencies are rare there. It is important that the Kurds free themselves entirely from this nasty alien religion, and instead embrace the modern western standards and life vision, to become part of the modern world. Trends in Kurdistan today are pointing in the right direction ...

dario

Sun Mar 1 2009 03:59

Kurdistan can play a vital roll in protecting US interest in the region. US should give more importance to Kurds, so far US have been marginalising kurds and putting pressure on them thought helping iraqi central government and backing Turkey inconditionally. US should treat Kudish issue the same way as it treats Plestine issue..US believe that plestinians should have their own state but always stand against Kurdish state..perhaps because Kurds are not killing civilians like hamas!!!

dp7b3

Sat Feb 28 2009 12:49

ok but i know that he was gven many bussiness by kurdish leaders

kosret---kurdistan

Baran Zeytun

Sat Feb 28 2009 08:02

The American Soldiers who have lost their life in Iraq should'nt have gone for nothing.!
Everbody know that if one american citizen goes in Kurdistan has big respect because of American soldiers who have lost their life for liberation of Iraq people from Saddam's Terorr..

karim Argushi

Sat Feb 28 2009 03:21

I hope usa will take kurds interests and worries into consideration and we never see what happened in 1975 when Usa stabbed the kurds in the back.

G Müller

Fri Feb 27 2009 21:55

Kurdistan´s situation is similar in many respects to Israel´s. The Kurds are surrounded by murderous enemies from all sides, who want to destroy them. They can not possibly manage without Superpower support. policymakers in the United States must think long term on the importance of an independent and democratic Kurdistan for the future of the Middle East. Long-term support is vitally important to the Kurds' struggle for freedom, peace and democracy to succeed, and to all the enormous sacrifices that have been made so far should not go in vain.

Worried Swede

Fri Feb 27 2009 20:33

May U.S. show gratitude for the Kurds' friendly attitude and help them build their own independent nation.
Personally, I am worried that the old saying: " The world's reward is ingratitude" will once again come true.

Aram Azez

Thu Feb 26 2009 23:43

I hope all the US politicians and the American public understand the Kurdish issue, and their support for the US , as Garner does.

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