Support Kurdish forces

Bravo to Charles Krauthammer for his June 20 column suggesting that we rethink our current mired-down strategy in Syria and Iraq. Rather than continuing to politically support the Iraqi government and military, whose enthusiasm for fighting ISIS is shaky at best, he advocates direct and immediate support of Kurdish forces. This would be a huge improvement over the current practice of sending weaponry to Baghdad, from whence a tiny amount trickles down to the Kurds.

On both the Syrian and Iraqi fronts, Kurdish men and women have consistently demonstrated the will and ability to fight effectively. As potential allies, they stand out as well because of their generally humane treatment of prisoners of war and refugees. Because of their desire for an independent Kurdish nation, they are unpopular with bordering countries such as Turkey, which lobbies internationally against them.

Regardless, the Kurdish diaspora is far and away the best Middle Eastern candidate for a meaningful alliance with the United States. The mystery is why it is taking our government, seeking legitimate partners in the struggle against ISIS and Bashar al-Assad, so long to acknowledge this reality and to act on it.

David Fietz

Springdale, Wash.