The John Adams Society

Christopher T. Wolff

Chairman

Jason D. Hoffman

Secretary

G. Larry Colson Jr.

Chief Whip

Marina Wolff

Chancellor

APRIL 2017

“Yet the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics forced us to rethink our policy there.”

- Ronald Reagan

SELF DETERMINATION of peoples is considered to be one of the noblest ideals held by most conservatives. Yet sometimes assistance is required to actualize those ideals. After all, would the United States have become a nation at all without the assistance of France during our revolution? How then can we sit idly by as a more than twenty million Kurdish people are trapped without a home to call their own? They are not migrants who moved somewhere else and refused to adapt, but rather they are victims of borders based upon League of Nations mandates. In fact, in 1920 the Treaty of Sevres had promised to recognize a territory of Kurdistan. However, by 1923 plans in Europe had changed; Turkey and Iraq were formalized and the Kurds were left out in the cold. It is high time we right the wrongs of days past.

Furthermore, we have a much more immediate reason to support the establishment of Kurdistan. Quite simply, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. We have found no more reliable partners in fighting ISIS than the Kurds. We should reward our friends just as heartily as we punish those who seek to harm us. We can rest assured that ISIS will find no quarter in a Kurdish state. Having a secure area in the region would free up our military to focus on other more problematic areas. 

ON THE OTHER HAND, we as Americans have little tangible to gain and much to lose by backing a Kurdish nation. We already enjoy Kurdish support in fighting against ISIS. Supporting a new nation is sure to anger other regional powers; especially our allies Turkey and Iraq who view territory in what would be Kurdistan as their own. Imagine our predicament should Kurdistan go to war with our NATO partner Turkey!

THE CHAIRMAN, anxious that his Encyclopedia Britannica collection may soon be out of date, has called a debate to settle to topic:

RESOLVED: Recognize Kurdistan!.

The Debate will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue, in Saint Paul. The Chancellor will preside over drinks beginning at seven o’clock p.m. The debate will begin at half past seven. There is no dress code, however gentlemen who wish to speak must wear a tie; ladies are encourage to adhere to a similar sartorial standard. For those gentlemen arriving sans tie yet wishing to discourse on the resolution, the Purveyor of Ties will keep on hand several remarkable selections. Questions regarding debate caucus procedures of about the John Adams Society itself may be directed to the Chairman at (651) 494-9008 or the Secretary at (651) 245-6991.