While the recent bombings in northern Iraq by the USA military have been publicised as a ‘humanitarian’ gesture, the reality is that they are primarily to protect USA assets in Erbil, including a CIA base, safeguard US oil companies, and prop up the Iraqi government. Meanwhile, most of the on the ground fighting has been done by a coalition of Kurdish forces. The new situation in Iraq has brought together quite different Kurdish political organisations, from conservative to radical, and it is unknown how this new situation will develop.
While the recent bombings in northern Iraq by the USA military have been publicised as a ‘humanitarian’ gesture, the reality is that they are primarily to protect USA assets in Erbil, including a CIA base, safeguard US oil companies, and prop up the Iraqi government. Meanwhile, most of the on the ground fighting has been done by a coalition of Kurdish forces. The new situation in Iraq has brought together quite different Kurdish political organisations, from conservative to radical, and it is unknown how this new situation will develop.
