'Your people are more important than oil': US senators to Kurdish leader

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region— People in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria are more important than oil, US senators told the representative of the Kurdish-led authorities in Northern Syria Ilham Ahmed in Washington DC. The two sides discussed a no-fly zone for Kurdish areas, sanctions against Turkey, and a reversal of Trump’s abrupt withdrawal in the Monday meeting.

Ilham Ahmed, the representative of the Syrian Democratic Council, which oversees Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria, asserted the claims of the Kurdish-led authorities, that Turkey is carrying out an “ethnic cleansing” campaign against the Kurds in Syria through its invasion.

“The abrupt US withdrawal honestly hurt us a lot. It has exposed the security of our areas to a very destructive war that has destroyed everything in our areas,” Ilham Ahmed, the representative of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) that oversees Kurdish-controlled areas in eastern and northern Syria, said in a joint press conference with US senators in Washington D.C.

Turkey’s “Peace Spring” invasion of Kurdish-controlled parts of Syria, with the aim of expelling Kurdish forces Turkey considers a “national security threat” and resettling up to three million Syrian refugees in the area, started its land invasion phase on October 9.

The invasion has so far displaced 300,000 people and killed more than 200 civilians.

US-Turkey ceasefire signed last Thursday is set to expire later tonight , and threatens to send the Kurdish-controlled region back into turmoil.

Ahmed stated that the ceasefire doesn’t set clear limitations to Turkey, who has repeatedly violated the ceasefire since it began.

“We only accepted the ceasefire to protect civilians. However, that does not mean the acceptance of Turkey’s presence in our areas. Turkish presence means occupation, and it is unacceptable to our people,” added Ahmed.

“That is why we request that there be a no-fly zone [in our areas], the end of Turkish occupation, and for there to be a multi-national force on the border to protect from the Turkish attack and preserve international order.”

She appealed to the US government to prevent further atrocities being committed against the Kurdish people.

“We also request that our people be saved from ethnic cleansing. That is what the United States and its officials have continuously promised us.”

Ahmed called on the US to “keep its words and promises”, calling on American support for helping them preserve stability in their region as a “second ISIS has emerged”.

“The factions Turkey has brought in, which it has named the Free National Army, are actually Daesh,” Ahmed, using the Arabic acronym of ISIS, said.

The Turkish-backed groups tax people, and “empty” areas of their original inhabitants, added Ahmed.

“This is the new face of Daesh.”

The Kurdish leader provided senators with reports containing the names of killed civilians and their injuries, including the execution of Kurdish female politician Hevrin Khalaf.

“What we hope from the United States of America is for it to revert its decisions, and save the region’s people from genocide,” added Ilham.

The Kurds were praised by senators present at the meeting for being "steadfast", calling for sanctions against Turkey, the rescinding of a US invitation to Turkish Presiden Erdogan to visit the White House, and to establish a no-fly zone.

Senator Richard Blumenthal on the other hand said that the “American people” still consider themselves allied with the Kurdish-led forces in Syria.

“What I feel from hearing your story is horror and shame,” Blumenthal added, expressing fear that ethnic cleansing and genocide could take place.

“We have vowed never again. Yet, we will be complicit if we fail to act,” warned Blumenthal.

“We care more about the people, than about the oil,” Blumenthal, in a snub to President Trump who has more than once said that they have “secured” the oil, said, labeling it a “cruel distraction” from the death and crisis taking place in Syria.

“Our first priority is to protect people against a brutal ethnic cleansing. That is got to be our top priority,” Democratic Chris Van Hollen said.

“If as part of that we can help Syrian Kurds and others in the region, others in that part of Syria, better develop their oilfields, source of revenue for the people in that part of Syria, that is fine,” added the US senator.

Democratic Senator Hollen reiterated support for the Kurds, adding that they want to keep “an adequate number” of US troops in the area to support the fight against ISIS. Hollen added that it is “important to maintain air control” and pressure Turkey through sanctions.

Hollen posited that they are “pushing hard” with a sanctions bill against Turkey. The bill would put “tough” sanctions against Turkey “immediately after passage“ that will only be lifted after Turkey stops its operation in the area.

The sanctions target top officials, starting from the Turkish President, a complete ban of military sales to Turkey, any sales of weaponry by anyone to Turkey, and sanctions against the recently indicted state-bank Halkbank.

The sanctions will also target anyone selling energy products to Turkey’s military, including petroleum.

“These are very hard-hitting sanctions as you know. The Turkish economy right now is very weak,” added Hollen, who claimed that Turkey is “most worried” about US sanctions. “Which is why we have to move forward [with the sanctions],” added Hollen.

“I am optimistic the administration is beginning to make some adjustments that may end the bloodshed sooner rather than later,” Senator Lindsey Graham said.

Amid the chaos, US President Donald Trump has been adamant that the ceasefire is going well, telling media that the US hasn’t made a deal “to protect the Kurds forever”.

In an interview with CNBC on Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted that America has "fully lived up" to the commitments Trump has made to the Syrian Kurds.

Pompeo, however, framed those commitments strictly within the fight against ISIS, which he claimed continued both in Western Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the world.

"Where we see American interests at stake, or fundamental norms around the world that need to be enforced, we use all the powers we have," Secretary Pompeo said, answering what it took for the US to use military action in the Middle East.

"We prefer peace to war, but in the event that kinetic action or military action is needed, you should know that President Trump is fully prepared to undertake that action," added Pompeo.