This is an important point that often gets lost in the oversimplified or, at times, prejudiced debate on the Kurds’ relationship with the U.S. Yes, the Kurds have received a few blows throughout the history of their relationship with the U.S., but whatever gains Kurds have achieved have also come because of their relationship with the U.S. (and the West more broadly). And here is what essentially drives the U.S. relationship with the Kurds: the regional states and elites ruling them in the name of Arab, Turkish, and Iranian (actually ethnic Persian) nationalism have been too inflexible to make genuine concessions that would satisfy Kurdish political demands for dignified living conditions on their historical land. Hence, they have essentially pushed Kurds to seek partnerships and alliances elsewhere (particularly with the U.S. and the West) to break this historical state and cycle of oppression and injustice. The creation of modern “nation-states” in the region and the granting of power and sovereignty to certain ethnic communities over others has largely been the outcome of Western designs or these communities partnering with the West. The continuation of this arrangement is also an outcome of the intersection of the interests of global powers and regional states dominated by these ethnicities. The abysmal treatment of Kurds (and other groups) by dominant regional ethnic communities and their elites and states fundamentally justifies and legitimates Kurds seeking relations with powers from beyond the region to overcome the curse they have been placed under, at least since WWI. Unfortunately, most states are the product of massive violence, sustained by it, and will only be rearranged domestically or broken apart by violence. One would wish that were not true and that space for meaningful and genuine coexistence and tolerance could be carved out in these states, but so far that is not really happening on a scale that would bring about fundamental change. Without understanding this crucial insight, analysts looking at the region and Kurdish behavior will not be able to grasp the underlying dynamics and drivers behind it. Hence, they will end up reducing a highly complex and nuanced story to silly takes on the CIA doing this or Mossad doing that, producing caricatured understandings of the region that portray Kurds as some sort of mercenary security company waiting to be hired by the West for the next adventure in the region. That misses the mark by a mile. I understand that journalists forced by their media organizations to parachute into every conflict on the planet several times a year may not be able to specialize in these histories or understand them in a profound sense. But they can at least try to give space and airtime to people who do understand and can explain this complex story.

I’ll look at the report in more detail but misuse of Arin Mirkan’s death requires immediate response: When ISIS attacked Kobani in 2014, Arin chose to blow herself up amidst ISIS fighters, rather than be taken captive by. That’s bravery. That’s why there’s a statue.

Huge if true. Fully aligns with what the Kurdish administration has asked for.

I attended the ceremony in which the #PKK burnt weapons. During the ceremony, pictures were forbidden but afterwards I interviewed four guerrillas in de group, incl co-leader Besê Hozat. Plus, pics with burned arms (1 M249, 1 sniper rifle, 1 RPG, 27 Kalasjnikovs).

Fantastic second day of the #LSEkurdishConference. Loads of fascinating presentations and engaging discussions.

New book out soon!!!

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with the chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, late Wednesday in Erbil, where they discussed political stability and the future of Syria's Kurds. rudaw.net/english/middleeast…

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with SDF Commander General Mazloum Abdi yesterday to discuss Syria’s latest developments, SDF ties with Syrian Kurdish parties and the Syrian government, and efforts to counter ISIS threats. Source: @KurdistanRegion

Greater emphasis on evaluating ‘how’ CVE and TVTP programmes work can help overcome the challenges facing efforts to understand ‘what works.’ 📝 by @CSTPV 's James Lewis & Dr Sarah Marsden 🔗 crestresearch.ac.uk/comment/…

📢 Dr. Argomaniz's book on Basque Civil Resistance is out now, published by OUP! 📖 @OUPAcademic

#Turkey detains lawyers who defend political prisoners. Very meta.

🚨 New book release! 'Resisting Terror' by CSTPV's Javier Argomaniz explores the power of civil action against terrorism in Basque Country A vital read for understanding non-violent resistance. Learn more: tinyurl.com/kvr93sk7 @StAndrewsIR

NEW PUBLICATION🎉 Happy to finally get a copy of my chapter with @SaschaDueerkop on #SportsDiplomacy in Contested Territories in the Handbook on Public Diplomacy edited by Sean Aday. e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handboo…

Great to see this issue of CSR out today, co-edited by @CSTPV's Dr Sarah Marsden featuring a wealth of expert perspectives on evaluation in counterterrorism and counter extremism

Need distracting from what's going on in Washington? Keep an eye on what's going on in the long running #PKK -Turkey conflict which seems to be entering a new phase.

PKK has declared a ceasefire w/ 🇹🇷after a decade of conflict in response to Ocalan’s call. Key question: Will Turkey end attacks against the SDF in Syria? | PKK: Önder Apo'nun çağrısına uyacağız, ateşkes ilan ediyoruz firatnews.com/kurdIstan/pkk-…

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has declared it will implement a ceasefire with Turkiye, heeding a call from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to disarm, Kurdish media reports aje.io/8u687b

PKK leader Ocalan's call to lay down arms and dissolve itself is certainly a significant moment. We'll have to wait and see where this goes next. I'd recommend following and reading work of @fgeerdink and @AlizaMarcus as excellent sources to help understand PKK and recent events

Yesterday, a Turkish drone strike killed two journalists, @nazimodastan and Cihan Bilgin, in the southern Kobane countryside. Both had been reporting from the Manbij frontlines during the Turkish-backed SNA's offensive. Journalists in NES are targets of Turkish attacks:

As more information on Talab A. and the attack in #Magdebourg comes out today, several points are worth noting. Motive: There is still no clear ideological motivation for this attack. What originally had all the hallmarks of a jihadist attacker now suggests this individual /1