Iraqi Defense Minister Juma Inad Storms Out Of Baghdad Panel On Iraqi Security After Justifying Turkish Attacks On PKK Targets Within Iraq

Iraqi Defense Minister Juma Inad stormed out of a panel on Iraqi security at the Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue Forum. The panel was aired on Al-Ahd TV (Iraq) on August 30, 2021. Inad discussed Turkey's bombing of PKK targets within Iraqi borders. He said that under normal circumstances, Iraq would have expelled the PKK "had our capabilities been complete and our situation normal..." He went on to say that the PKK should fight Turkey from within the Turkish borders and added that even though PJAK (Kurdistan Free Life Party) occasionally attacks Iran as well, Iran's involvement in Iraq is "not as significant as that of the Turks." When a journalist asked Inad about "some countries," that "exploit the weaknesses of others," Inad asked him not to provoke him and dropped his microphone. The journalist responded, saying that he was asking on behalf of Peshmerga Secretary-General Jabar Yawar and that these are questions that "preoccupy the minds of others." Following this, Inad stormed off the stage.

Juma Inad: "The PKK is not an Iraqi organization. It is a Turkish organization that entered Iraq, exploiting Iraqi territory. Had our capabilities been complete and our situation normal, rather than the current situation where we have many complex problems, and we are dealing with the remnants of ISIS, we would have expelled the PKK first of all. Instead of clashing with the Turks and having a problem with a neighboring country, we would have expelled the PKK from our territory. Let them fight… I am not against them. I am not saying that they do not have a cause.

"However, they should not come to fight from our land. They should go and fight in south-east Turkey. By the way, it is not just the issue of [attacking] Turkey that should be dealt with. It is also Iran – they are shelled sometimes by the PJAK [Kurdistan Free Life Party], but the [Iranian] involvement is not as significant as that of the Turks.

[...]

Journalist: "But minister, some countries [like Turkey] exploit the weaknesses of others, in the interest of their own national security…"

Inad: "My dear sir, we brought the Americans in an toppled the [Saddam] regime, and it got us to where we are at now. Now we want to deal with it. How can we deal with it?"

Journalist: "Thank you…"

Inad: "Don’t provoke me."

Journalist: "I am not provoking you, but… I am not provoking you. These are question posed by [Peshmerga Sec.-Gen.,] Jabar Yawar. This is an open dialogue. There are no 'red lines.' I asked you questions that preoccupy the minds of others. I wish you could respect the questions and be forthcoming."

Inad: "Thank you."

Journalist: "No, minister…"

Inad: "The session is over…"

Journalist: "Mr. Juma Inad, please respect the other guests and this center."