The U.S. and Masrour Barzani Belong in the Hall of Shame

Serwan Zangana | Exclusive to iKurd.net

The U.S and Masrour Barzani are on the list of infamy

The U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and Kurdistan is indeed a concern for the Kurds and a threat to their status in the region. But it is not a surprise move from the U.S., as the Kurds have a dark history with American politicians as they have been abandoning them in the past.

The Kurds described themselves as the major U.S. ally, but the American politicians have a different perspective, except the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who consistently described the Kurds as the strongest ally, and in early 2026, he introduced “Save the Kurds Act” legislation to stop Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa’s army from further hostility against the Kurds in Syria.

Generally, the American political community does not perceive the Kurds as a permanent ally as the U.S. foreign policy has repeatedly created crises for the Kurds, and with the U.S. being inconsistent in supporting the Kurds, it is a bittersweet relationship between the two.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by the name Abu Mohammed al-Golani, during a bilateral meeting alongside the NATO leaders summit at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. Photo: SANA

The U.S. strategy in the region no longer requires an alliance with the Kurds. President Donald Trump has turned away from the Kurds as he embraced the radical Muslim formed in the new Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Trump has realized that the Kurds are not able to assist him in his strategy as he is focusing on controlling the oil paths and cracking down on Iran to eliminate its power and influence in the region.

As there is an ambiguity in the U.S-Iran negotiation, the situation overall serves the U.S. interests, regardless of the immense American tax dollars spent on the war. The Republican Party’s double standard has been revealed as they preach to stop the federal waste but are being silent on Trump’s spending!

Conversely, the Democratic Party is standing against Trump’s strategy and opposing the U.S-Iran conflict. But in fact, it is just another Democrat’s political hypocrisy to manipulate the voters as they aim at controlling the House and the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections in November.

Now, as the looming end of the U.S. withdrawal is becoming a reality, the Kurds again will be left for the mercy of the powerful countries’ region. The regional government of Kurdistan is paralyzed from defending the region as it is lacking unity, strong and moral leaders, and is not equipped with weapons to counter explosive drones.

“Now, to be left alone without any, let’s say, appropriate defensive system, it’s shameful.” Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, stated in an interview with the Financial Times.

It is unfortunate to see the weakness of the Kurdistan Government, which is indeed led by weak leaders.

Barzani is placing the blame on not being allowed to purchase adequate weapons required to use against the drones and missiles that are launched toward Kurdistan. “When we are prevented from purchasing adequate weapons that are needed against these incoming missiles and drones…we are deliberately becoming vulnerable, becoming weaker.”

The failure and the weakness of the regional government led by Barzani’s family can be traced back over three decades. The corruption and the political conflict between the Kurdish politicians, and the Barzani’s unwillingness to give the opportunities to the competent Kurdish figures in the region to enter and run the government contributed to its fragility.

Angry Iraqi Kurds gesture and threw stones at U.S military convoy as they withdrawing from Syrian Kurdistan, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, October 21, 2019. Photo: Screengrab/Video SM/via iKurd.net.

Obviously, the U.S. focus is shifted away from the Kurds as President Trump has not been a solid supporter of the Kurds; instead, he rather embraces the powerful governments of the region, which are wider paths for the American interests. Apparently, the U.S. will not continue to support a weak government without return.

This is a common practice by the U.S, which is abandoning the weak ally regardless of the consequences. For example, the American politicians have realized that the Afghan Government led by Ashraf Ghani has reached its weakness and was incapable of serving the American interests. And thus, in 2021, the U.S. carried out a complete departure from Afghanistan.

And according to General Asadullah Kohistani, the U.S. military left Bagram Air Base without notifying the Afghans.

However, the U.S. foreign policy has turned its page over, and because the Kurds are not satisfying the Trump administration, therefore, the U.S. is defunding the Peshmerga. Barzani is pathetically pleading for support, “We are allies of the United States, and we are proud allies of the United States.” Barzani stated.

As he is realizing that without the U.S., not only his lavish lifestyle, the entire region will suffer severe damage. The Barzani’s family is totally guilty, and seemingly the Trump administration disregards the role of Barzani and the Kurdish leaders of the Kurdistan region.

In fact, in January 2026, Trump expressed his disappointment at the Kurdish leaders as they allegedly kept the U.S. weapons that were sent to the Kurdish opposition groups in Iran.

“I disagreed with the decision. I was saying ‘no, I don’t believe they’ll deliver them. I think they kept them for themselves. I think it’s a disgrace. But I’ll remember that, Kurds. I’ll remember that.” President Trump stated.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in the Oval Office of the White House, July 14, 2026, in Washington. Photo: AP

The U.S. negotiated the withdrawal with Iraq as the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in an interview, told the reporters that with the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, discussed the timeline, and the U.S. will not extend its presence in Iraq. Apparently, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, has gained popularity in the Trump’s administration as Trump described him as a “fantastic man.”

The U.S. State Department believes that the Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga have proven “increased capabilities.”

In fact, neither the Iraqi military nor the Peshmerga has the capabilities to stand against the adversaries. The Kurdish leaders, including Barzani, are afraid of waking up from their sweet dreams and seeing the nightmares, which are losing the power and the wealth that they have built off of Kurdistan’s natural resources and revenues.

As the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Barzani is the example of the failure, strategically, politically, and, of course, militarily. In fact, Barzani is correct: it is shameful for the U.S. to leave the Kurds alone, but it is even more shameful for him to hold substantial balances in his foreign bank accounts.

Serwan Zangana, a contributing writer for iKurd.net, lives in Virginia, U.S. He serves as a correction officer.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.