You can hardly blame Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), for playing the pied piper. Yet while talk of independence for Kurds is not exactly a new subject, it is one that is being neatly stitched into the delicate patchwork of Washington DC’s Middle East small talk. The US president meets Mr Barzani at the White House on Tuesday.
Mr Barzani believes he is getting a lousy deal on three fronts: firstly, the KRG has little to show for giving ISIL a bloody nose in a number of key battles. Baghdad has also reneged on its oil agreements, so Erbil’s coffers are running low, and there is little for the Kurds to be cheerful about in the Iran nuclear deal.
The problem for the Kurds is that they have yet to decide with whom to align themselves with regionally: Iran (unlikely), Iraq (possibly) or Turkey (likely) and whether to cosy up to the US.
For the US, the Kurds are doing the fighting in both Syria and Iraq and are critical for battlefield victories. For the moment, at least. But if the three Kurdish regions form a political entity and strike for independence, this could upset the geopolitical apple cart, given that Iraq and Syria will be shattered and Turkey would also be thrown into turmoil.
None of those scenarios bodes well for the remainder of the Obama administration.
For the US president, his counterpart in Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, plays a central but divisive role. Last summer, Mr Erdogan refused to help the Kurds to fight ISIL, but then also allowed them a corridor for their own fighters.
Mr Erdogan is now championing the cause for a buffer zone in Syria, a notion tacitly linked to sending in his own troops, under a plan sketched out by his own experts and those of two Gulf countries.
Meanwhile, Bashar Al Assad has successfully distracted the Kurds. Just recently, his regime flirted with Kurdish leaders in the semi-autonomous north eastern province, offering them freedom of sorts, although he stopped short of offering full independence.
In return, one can only presume that the payback would be help for Mr Al Assad on the battlefield elsewhere, against a new generation of “moderate” fighters who are being trained in Syria by the Turkish army and US elite forces.
The offer by Mr Al Assad could be deemed as well-timed. It came just weeks before the parliamentary elections in Turkey, where much hope is placed on the Kurds winning a minimum number of seats, which will give them unprecedented political leverage.
Opposition leaders in Turkey contend that equality rather than independence is the real deal that the Kurds seek.
However, if post-election squabbling ensues and Mr Erdogan reacts to their wins in the election, this would marginalise them once again. No one in the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party wants to think about going back to the old days of fighting for an independent country.
On Tuesday, while Mr Barzani courts Mr Obama and presents the idea of “self determination” – a euphemism designed to cover a multitude of sins – he may reveal that Mr Erdogan, and not the US president, holds the key.
Martin Jay is the English language editor of An Nahar in Lebanon
On Twitter: @MartinRJay
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Fixtures
Wednesday
4.15pm: Japan v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: UAE v Italy (Group A)
6.45pm: Russia v Mexico (Group B)
8pm: Iran v Egypt (Group B)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
South Africa's T20 squad
Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.
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Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Results
2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.
4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.