Getting to know you...

I had a great meeting with the Minister last night, I think I am truly lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to work for him and for the Kurdistan Regional Government at such a critical time in their history. The Minister is a hard worker and has risen from the working class to a Ministerial position, a very hard thing to do in a society based on name and tribe, and he has neither. He is absolutely dedicated to the cause of the Kurds and sharing their story with the world. I hope that I can be a benefit to his goals.

For those that don't, know, here's a little bit o' history on the Kurds, they are the largest ethnic group in the world without a state and have been persecuted for generations. Most notably, under the Saddam regime, with the destruction of 4,500 villages and the gassing of Halabja, where over 5,000 civilians were killed. The fact that they have a functioning, democratic, progressive society now is a testament to their fortitude and strength in character. It has been mentioned many times that Iraqi Kurdistan can be a model for the rest of Iraq and that is absolutely true, if only the rest of Iraq (well really the gov't) could accept that. But they see the Kurds as uncivilized mountain people and to follow THEIR example would be a huge hit to their pride and honor...

I'm sure you'll hear me talk alot about pride and honor in the next year+ because its what makes the Middle East go round!

There are amazing things going on in the Middle East, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan, that you never hear about b/c the media is as prone to lobbying as politics... and those that don't want these stories to be heard, make sure the world doesn't know about the gem of the Middle East!

p.s. Kurds LOVE Americans because they realize that without our help in setting up the Northern no fly zone, Saddam would have continued to obliterate their society. They are forever grateful to us and admire our form of government and society!

Well I didn't mean for the post to turn into a lecture, oops!