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We the people ask the federal government to Take or explain a position on an issue or policy:

Support Kurdish Independence

Created by J.S. on July 23, 2014

For over a century, the Kurdish people have been repeatedly tortured, gassed, and brutally repressed in every country they live in. Denied an independent state of their own, the Kurds have suffered innumerable injustices at the hands of the people ruling them, including but not limited to a horrific genocide at the hands of Saddam Hussein in the late 80s. Recently, the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, announced his support for an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq. The Kurds, already given self-autonomy in part of Iraq, have proven themselves more than able to run a country and are currently fighting against the malicious terrorist group, ISIL. As such, the Obama Administration should support Kurdish Independence for the betterment of the region and the world.

Foreign Policy

Response to Petition

A Response to Your Petition on Support for Kurdish Independence

Thank you for signing on to a We the People petition on support for Kurdish independence.

As Americans, we share a historic relationship with the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and remain steadfast in our support of the Kurdish people. Not only is it a long-standing relationship, but a vital one for our national security, as Kurds have and will continue to play an important role in the fight against ISIL terrorists, whose brutality has created a significant humanitarian crisis in the region.

That's why, under President Obama, the U.S. is continuing our close security cooperation with the Peshmerga forces, as an important part of our broader cooperation with the Iraqi security forces, and our efforts to assist the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government as it seeks to manage that crisis.

The President is committed to the united, federal, and democratic Iraq that is defined in the Iraqi constitution. Our partnership under the U.S.-Iraqi Strategic Framework Agreement will continue to support the efforts of Iraq's political leaders to unify the country and, as part of this commitment, we have encouraged all sides to strengthen their partnerships and to work together to fight against their common enemy.

The President continues to stress the importance of progress in Baghdad-Erbil relations, including on an important agreement on oil export and revenue. As he has made clear, the United States will pursue all avenues that help to build cooperation across all communities and toward a more unified and prosperous Iraq.


Follow @WeThePeople on Twitter all day long for a series of Q+As with various Administration officials on the petition responses we released today.

Tell us what you think about this response and We the People.

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