Masrour Barzani: Ground forces are needed to defeat enemy

The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region and Head of Security Council, Masrour Barzani speaks to Norway's TV2 United States and its allies France Britain and Russia are bombing Isis in Syria and Iraq. Is it working?

M.B: It is helping the ground forces, we’ve always said that airstrikes will not defeat the enemy underground. They can destroy some places or target some individuals but in order to defeat the enemy you definitely need ground forces. So it is helpful. If you have effective ground forces on the ground then it is helpful, yes.

Is Isis weaker today then a year ago?

M.B: I cannot say it is weaker perhaps in some ways you can say that. They may have lost their conventional fighting capabilities in some areas but they are also trying to use different methods to cope with the new situation, and as long as they hold territory they are able to recruit people and raise funds. They can also get arms either by capturing from the Iraqi, or Syrian forces. They are still able to be threatening, to not only to the region, but also to the world. So I would not say that they are weaker; I think they may have been weaker in some areas but definitely not to the extent where we would feel comfortable.

Are they getting new recruits every week every month?

M.B: They are controlling a large area and they are ruling over 1 million people. All of the individuals that live under their control are subject to the rules and many times we have seen that they are recruiting people as young as 12, 13. Yes they are recruiting people.

Every politician in the west say their goal is to destroy Isis. Is it possible to destroy Isis?

M.B: It is possible, very much. It depends on the commitment and engagement of the international community, and the coalition forces, if they really want to destroy Isis in a way to completely eradicate them quickly then there must be more engagement.   I believe they can be destroyed; it is just a matter of time.

What do you mean by more commitment more engagement?

M.B: This is an enemy, like I said, that are controlling large areas. Here, in Kurdistan, for instance, we have pushed them back, we have a liberated a lot of areas from them. But there are other areas where they can use as sanctuary. So there must be some ground forces so they can go after them, to fight them, so it depends on how quickly the west wants to destroy Isis. If they want to do it quickly then there is a need for efficient and effective ground forces to go after them. If they are waiting for the local forces to be ready to do this job then it will take a longer time.

Are you now saying you want foreign ground troops in Syria and Iraq?

M.B: I am not saying we want them [foriegn forces]. I am just telling you the facts that if the world wants to get rid of IS quickly, there is a need for an effective ground Force. Unfortunately, in the region, we don't see that ground force except for what we have in Kurdistan. We have some limitations that we cannot move beyond.

So far, the only ground force that has been successful has been the YPG in Syria, the Peshmerga in Iraq, the Kurdish forces. Why?

M.B: Determination, believing in the cause, and Kurds are good fighters they want to protect their people and their land. I think the main reason why the Kurds are so successful is because of how much they believe in their cause and how much they want to fight terrorism.

Isis is in control of Mosul in Iraq which is the second largest city and Raqqa in Syria. Is it possible to go in and take Mosul and Raqqa?

M.B: Yes it is possible. But it depends on the forces that are going to go into the cities as liberators. We all know that there are some historical problems and sensitivities and the forces that are going in as liberators must be welcomed by the local population. We as the Kurds are ready, and in place to move and take part in liberating Mosul. Of course, we cannot do it alone, (without the Iraqi forces) we are waiting for them to be ready ‏to come together to liberate Mosul, the same goes with Raqqa and I believe that the forces that are going to liberate Raqqa must be the ones that are accepted by the local communities and are welcomed.

Who is in charge of Isis?

M.B: Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi

He's the top guy?

M.B: He is the top guy, but he does have lieutenants that are giving him advice and providing him with advisors support that he needs. Of course some of them are former military Iraqi officers and some of them are coming from different parts of the world; for instance in Chechnya, and some have military backgrounds. So, everybody brings in some sort of expertise and collectively they are coming together to set up their own tactics, their own strategies and their own plans.

Which roles are the former generals, the former colonels of Saddam Hussein's army, intelligence, which role do they have in Isis?

M.B: Various roles. Some of them are top military leaders, advisors, they are helping them with intelligence, with guidance, and some of them have local connections with the population. So, on different levels, actually, some people have formally joined Isis. They become full members of Isis.

But could Isis have succeeded if I can use that word like they have without generals from the Saddam Hussein?

M.B: Every individual bring some sort of different expertise, so the less people they have the less successful they will be, of course. This collective effort by everybody has made Isis more dangerous.

If the west is not putting boots on the ground, if you allow Isis to continue, what will they do then? Will they try to attack Saudi Arabia? Jordan?

M.B: They reject everything out of their circle. Now it is the matter of planning. Isis may have their own priorities of where to attack first. I do believe that Isis will be defeated. No question about that we are just talking about when. And, I repeat again, that if the world wants to destroy Isis quickly there is a need for more serious engagement by all sides. If you leave it to the local forces it will take a longer time and Isis will be able to threaten not only the region, but also the rest of the world: the West, far East and wherever you may imagine. That really depends on the commitments of all the forces that have an interest in defeating and eradicating Isis. But, I do believe that Isis has no future. The longer they stay the more threatening they will become.

Thank you very much

M.B: Thank you

Transcribed by the KDP FRO Communications Department.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfPGAugASRY&list=PLoQUEO_h9WhsQqDlRkuWWz1CrEcd874nQ