Former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously referred to 'known unknowns' and 'unknown unknowns' in politics. As the situation in Iraq evolved into several civil wars between various groups, the US and its allies found themselves in the latter territory of 'unknown unknowns'. However, the situation in Iraq was less complex than what is going on in Syria. An interesting development has been the effect of the conflict on the Kurds in Syria.
Historically the Kurds faced repression from the Syrian regime. Kurds were denied Syrian citizenship in 1962 but this was changed in 2011 and they can now obtain Syrian citizenship. It is estimated that about 9 per cent of the population, around 2 million people, are Kurdish in Syria. Kurds were prevented from using their own language and Kurdish protests and celebration of their new year (Newroz) were suppressed by the Syrian military.
The regime held the Kurds under control with large number of troops being stationed in the Kurdish area. Kurds are mainly in the north western area adjoining Iraq. However the current conflict has created opportunities for them.
The intensity of the conflict in Syria meant that the regime has moved the military from the Kurdish areas to the fighting in Damascus and Aleppo. A consequence has been the Kurds are left to run their own area in a way similar to the Kurds in northern Iraq in 1992 after the no-fly zone was created.
Initially the Kurds in Iraq fought among themselves, but eventually a united Kurdish front was presented. That resulted in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), established after 2003 and now well entrenched. Kurdish is the main language in the KRG area of Iraq. The president of Iraq is a Kurd, and the new Iraqi passports have Kurdish, Arabic and English script. In the Kurdish parts of Syria, the Kurds are only just starting to set up control.
The growth of Kurdish autonomy has long been a desire of the Kurds, who are spread through Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. It is estimated there are around 20 million who identify as Kurdish and this would make the Kurds the largest nationality without an independent