Kurdistan: Iraq’s Unknown Dictatorship, with Kamal Chomani

The Game of Thrones politics of Kurdistan is fascinating and neglected, involving family and tribal dictators, international intrigue from the likes of Turkey, Iran and Israel, and the elusive PKK. Rania Khalek spoke with Kamal Chomani, a political analyst from Iraqi Kurdistan. They discussed the nuances of the political parties that make up the leadership in Iraqi Kurdistan, their relationship to the Iraqi government and its neighbors, the plight of the Yazidis, the Kurdish issue in other parts of the Middle East and more. You can listen to every episode of Rania Khalek Dispatches anywhere you get podcasts. Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3za9DRK Apple: https://apple.co/3zeYpeW TIME CODES: 0:00 Intro 2:03 What is the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)? 7:10 Family dictatorship: Barzani’s KDP in Erbil vs Talabani’s PUK in Sulaimaniya 13:44 Repression and arrests of activists and journalists 15:03 Are there opposition movements to the regimes in Iraqi Kurdistan? 23:31 Is there free media in the Kurdistan region? 37:08 What is the main cause of tension between Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan and the central government in Baghdad? 43:20 Expectations for Iraq’s upcoming elections 48:35 What is the KRG’s reaction to the US ending its combat role in Iraq? 53:38 The KRG’s betrayal of the Yazidis and ongoing repression of their right to return home 1:01:54 PKK and PMF cooperation in Sinjar 1:06:27 Rania’s electricity goes out (again) 1:07:54 Is the YPG’s Mazloum Kobani the most popular leader among Kurds today? 1:12:29 The PKK’s alliance with the US in Syria 1:21:00 Why does Turkey have 30 military bases in northern Iraq? 1:27:14 Is there a solution for Iraq that creates greater unity and integration? 1:30:10 Kurds have grievances in Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Syria. Do they dream of unity? What are practical solutions for the Kurdish issue? 1:36:30 Where to follow Kamal’s work » Become a patron:   / breakthroughnews   -------------------------------- » Like us on Facebook:   / btnewsroom   » Tweet us on Twitter:   / btnewsroom   » Follow us on Instagram:   / btnewsroom   At Breakthrough News we believe in the power of independent media. Five mega-corporations dominate the media landscape — controlling 90% of what we read, watch and listen to. They control the news cycle, to which social media and even most “alternative” media is forced to respond. We are breaking through that cycle. We tell the untold stories of resistance from poor and working-class communities — because out of these stories we will construct a different narrative of the world, as it is and in real time. People’s movements in every corner of the globe are changing history and shifting consciousness. But these movements barely receive any coverage from the corporate media. They need visibility. They need amplification. They need a media arm to break through. We can be that media arm, but only with your help. Become a Patron and join us on the front lines in the battle of ideas. Subscribe and follow us!    / breakthroughnews   @BTNewsroom #kurdistan #Iraq #Iraqi #Kurdish #BreakThroughNews #BTnews #socialistnews #socialist #raniakhalek #eugenepuryear