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     Kurdish Military Leader Supports Sunnis in Quest to Oust Islamic State

   by Sebastian Meyer

   Kurdish counterterrorism forces, or Diji Terror, are some of the best
   trained and equipped in the fight against the Islamic State. They were
   set up by the U.S. military in 2002 to battle extremists in the
   mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan.

   Today, they battle IS -- or ISIL, as it is also known --in broad
   daylight and in daring nighttime raids.

   Lahor Talabani, who leads this force, believes in the importance of
   knowing your enemy well.

   "There's a difference between the locals and the foreign fighters," he
   said. "Some of the locals actually picked up weapons and joined ISIL
   because they had no choice. Their territory was taken over by ISIL by
   force. Some of them ended up joining ISIL. ... The locals are not
   willing to die. They are in the ranks of ISIL and they give up easily,
   and we have a lot detainees who are locals. When they know that this is
   the end, they give up. They don't go all the way."

   Understanding the needs and psychology of the local population is one
   of Talabani's strategies.

   Though he's a Kurd, Talabani understands the importance of working with
   Iraq's Sunni population.

   "Side by side of the military actions that we're taking, there needs to
   be some sort of political process," he said. "There needs to be some
   sort of reassurance for the Sunnis, also, that they will be involved in
   the future of Iraq."

   When the Iraqi military launched Operation Conquest on March 24 to
   retake Mosul, many -- including Talabani -- said they doubted the
   army's readiness to retake the city. It's not just about military
   capacity, he warned, it's also about sectarianism.

   "Whatever force is going to take Mosul should be a Sunni-blessed
   force," he said. "Don't forget that defeating ISIL cannot only be done
   by pushing in this front in Mosul. We need to take away this
   grass-roots support that's already there in Mosul, from the tribal
   leaders to ISIL."

   The operation to liberate the city of Mosul is expected to take up to a
   year, but it could take much longer to push the extremists out of the
   entire country.

   Elite forces like Diji Terror, backed by coalition airstrikes, have
   made significant headway against the militants. But Iraqis themselves
   know that it will take more than military might to defeat Islamic
   State.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/kurdish-military-leader-supports-unni
   s-quest-oust-islamic-state/3268940.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kurdish-military-leader-supports-unnis-quest-oust-islamic-state/3268940.html