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By Surkew Mohammed
Reactions continue to pour following Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria. The US Consulate-General in Erbil posted an ordinary message on its Facebook page, despite it being tainted with criticism, claiming that the US president Donald Trump "has sold Syrian Kurds". The commentators ask when the turn would be for the Iraqi Kurds to suffer the same fate.
On the eve of Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria, where Kurds might be the ones most at a disadvantage, the US Consulate-General in Erbil posted photos of their staff visiting the sign of "I love Kurdistan" in Erbil.
The consulate wrote in both English and Kurdish, "Iraqi Kurdistan Region is full of history, traditions, cultural treasures, and some exceptionally talented people! The United States is thankful for its strong and enduring relationship with the Kurdish people."
As if they were on the lookout for an opportunity to react, many Kurds leapt on the post.
Someone under the name of Hiwa Hamarashid commented, "You've always betrayed Kurds for your own economic interest. Only Russia and Iran know you well."
Abdulla Muhammad said, "To sir, General-Consul of the US: You have sold the Syrian Kurdistan [Kurdish areas in Syria] to be able to sell weapons to Erdogan, when is the turn of the Kurdistan of Iraq? Trump is a pathetic and misguided person."
Many echoed the longstanding sentiment among the Kurds, "Only the mountains are our friends."
The US Consulate-General in Erbil posted this message on their own Facebook page
The withdrawal may very well prove dangerous for Kurds in Syria, as Turkey has repeatedly shown interest in attacking them. A pro-Erdogan former parliamentarian of Turkey, Aykan Erdmeir, called the withdrawal "a great gift" for the Turkish president, saying the timing "is the best" for the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He said Erdogan will use this withdrawal to boost his own image for the upcoming election in Turkey.
Several protests were thrown against the decision, some even asking to oust the US in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
The US Consulate-General in Erbil visited the logo "I love Kurdistan" in Erbil
Abdulla Muhammad commented that if it were for him, he would "kick out not only American people, but their goods and companies" from the region. He claimed that Russia and Iran defied the world to protect their ally, Syrian president Bashar al-Asad, while the Americans could not shoulder the task.
However, some other commentators criticized Kurds themselves, saying they do not learn from history. Safeen Pirdawoud is one of them, "The American policy is not for humanity, liberty and democracy. Unfortunately, Kurds mistakenly took America to be their friend."
Alan Barzinji said Trump sold Syrian Kurds "with a single phone call".
Some warned that whenever the US does not need a people anymore, it sells them. Responding to the post, Ako Abubakir said, "Neither love it nor sell it."
The consulate did not respond to the critical comments.
Around two thousand American military advisors and fighters are in Syria, mostly with the pro-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) in Der al-Zoor province.
SDF is often labelled as the most potent ground force against the extremist group in Syria, pushing back the group from their areas with the help of the international coalition.
With the withdrawal, the US changed the balance in the last minute, moving towards Turkish interest slightly.
The US and Kurdish forces in Syria (YPG) in a joint patrol near the Turkish border, 2 November 2018. Photo: Voice of America
Kurds are concerned, saying the decision means a devastating attack from Turkey. A teacher from Kobani spoke to the American Fox News channel, saying he was shocked and thought the US would help them reach peace, not to leave them to Turkish forces and its allied militias. He considered the withdrawal as "a great betrayal" against the Kurds.
He said now all Kurds who have one worked with the Americans are targeted by four forces, from Turkey, from Syrian regime, from the opposition forces, and even from KRG, as their politics are not in line with them.
The sentiment is shared by some Kurdish fighters as well. A Kurdish fighter in Syria spoke to the American Fox News, "Everyone is angry and concerned and fearful. This is a historic mistake. We wanted to be part of the American [project], we are now surrounded by enemies and even the ISIS is not over."