The Kurds show the way

Believers in democracy and human rights in America, Europe and throughout the Middle East should give the Kurds a standing ovation and applaud the recent oil- and revenue-sharing agreement between the Kurds and the new Iraqi government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, which is a major improvement over the previous Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki.

{mosads}In the war against the mass-murdering terrorists of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the world owes a debt of gratitude, and maximum support, to the Kurds and their courageous fighters who battle bravely in Kobani and throughout the war that must be won. The Peshmerga fighters battle with honor and resolve and the political and economic agreements with the new Iraqi government are highly positive and important, though more work needs to be done to improve relations with Sunnis.

Some things are more important than others, and the leadership and goodwill from Kurds and the improvement of relations with Iraq are profound and positive events that bode well for the future and demonstrate, again, the need for maximum U.S. and European support for the worthy and valiant fight the Kurds are waging for a better life for their own people and for others in the region.

Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who was then chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. degree in international financial law from the London School of Economics. Contact him at brentbbi@webtv.net.