Dr. Robert Jervis who earned his BA from Oberlin College in 1962 and his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in 1968, stated the Kurds’ ally admire the Kurds but they view them instrumentally.

How the U.S looks at Kurds in the Middle East? Are Kurds tools for maintaining American interests?

Unfortunately for the Kurds, although those individuals who work with them generally like and admire them, the US government views the Kurds instrumentally. This means that official support flows when and only when the leaders think this is in the US national interest.

Why Washington does not support Kurds' independence, especially in Iraq?

The US believes--probably correctly--that Kurdish independence would antagonize all the neighbors and sow the seeds for future conflict. The sad fate of the Kurds is that because they live in 4 countries, 4 countries that disagree on many things agree that an independent Kurdish state, even if it were carved out of only one country (i.e., Iraq), would be a threat to all of them. A high degree of autonomy may be the best that can be expected.

Kurds and Baghdad have problems which are not solved after two decades. Can Americans help these problems resolved?

I think the US has tried, but there seems to be little overlap between the Kurdish minimum demands and what the Iraq central government will permit. The US is likely to continue to seek a solution and be willing to give some incentives to both sides. But perhaps the best that can be expected is a continuation of the current situation, which gives the Kurds much autonomy despite the lack of guarantees for the future.

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