The political fortunes of the Kurds have ebbed and flowed over the decades. After a good run since achieving semi-autonomy in northern Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War, shifting Middle Eastern alliances and inconsistent, if not incomprehensible, U.S. foreign policy are again working against the interests of the Kurdish people in the region. Greater strategic cooperation between Turkey and Iran, traditional rivals in the Mideast power game, has already translated into increased military attacks on the neighboring regions of Iraq known to harbor Kurdish militias from these two countries. This newfound cooperation could also lead to an armed force in northeast Syria to keep Kurds there from achieving Iraqi-like autonomy following their recent civil war gains. This outcome would be especially likely if the U.S. removes all of its troops from the area as President Donald Trump said he would in 2018 after claiming the Islamic State had been […]