The Republican               Springfield , Massachusetts

Ex-envoy says U.S. errs in ignoring Kurds' region

Friday, November 19, 2004

By MARY ELLEN O'SHEA

moshea@repub.com

SPRINGFIELD - As war wages on across much of Iraq , the Kurdish region to the north is peaceful and safe - and largely ignored by the United States in what one retired ambassador believes may be a mistake.

Mark G. Hambley of Springfield, retired United Nations ambassador to Lebanon and the State of Qatar, shared his experiences yesterday of his last 18 months spent touring the 14,000-square mile area that easily can be called the most peaceful in the country.

"It's a place where families can linger in cafes at night, where alcohol is sold openly, where shopkeepers don't even shutter their doors at night. That's how safe they feel," said Hambley.

Hambley, who was part of a team on a fact-finding mission for the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development, spoke courtesy of the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts.

The hour-long luncheon talk was held downtown at Sovereign Bank and attracted nearly 100 guests.

Hambley said the difference between the Kurdish-dominated region, home to 3.5 million people, and the war-torn areas around Baghdad is drastic.

There are no kidnappings, no car-bombings and no American-led attacks to root out insurgents. In fact, in cities like Kirkuk , Irbil , Mosul , Suleimaniya and even Halapja - where Saddam Hussein killed 5,000 people in a three-day chemical attack in March 1988 - government runs smoothly, markets are thriving and security is solid.

In fact, residents of the northern area are happy with the so-called Transitional Administrative Law and would like to see it remain in force even after the January elections.

Kurds in the north, and in contiguous areas in Turkey and Iran , overwhelmingly support ceding from Iraq and forming their own country, but Hambley believes that is unlikely.

Hambley said the United States may be too preoccupied with areas where insurgents have a stronghold to make the most of the situation in the north.

"Rather than showcasing the Kurdish area as a success story, we are waiting for Iraq to take over," he said. "There is no consular office, no financial help coming from us. We could also support more English language programs. Right now, they are learning English from the French."

Ignoring the peaceful part of Iraq , in the long run, could prove a big mistake.

"One has to wonder whether the United States will inadvertently allow the Kurdish area to descent into the chaos that has gripped the rest of the country," he said.

World Affairs Council Administrator Cynthia D. Melcher said the group has focused heavily on the Mideast this year in response to community interest, which has increased with each event.