Last night, Quidad Talabani, son of the current Iraqi president and representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government to the United States, discussed the current political, social and economic progress being made in Iraq despite problems such as oil, internal conflicts and disputes with neighboring countries.
Talabani said he hoped the United States will continue to aid Iraq and that Iraq would eventually be able to sustain a democratic government.
Alex Hannagan, president of the University's Students Defending Democracy,explained the importance of Talabani's talk, stating he had an immediate understanding of Iraq's situation.
Talabani "knows the stuff that is really going on," Hannagan said. "[He is] Kurdish, so he has a different perspective than the Sunnis or Shiites."
During his speech, Talabani explained that some media coverage stresses the problems rather than the progress of Iraq.
"There are bad things happening in [Iraq], and those things should be reported," Talabani said. "What isn't being reported are the successes."
One example of progress in Iraq includes the improvement of the quality of life in Kurdistan, he said.
Talabani also discussed the issues of oil in Iraq citing the need for "sound" natural resource strategies to help solve the development and economic issues of oil distribution.
In addition, Talabani discussed the need for support from Iraq's neighboring countries.
"It's getting our neighbors to understand that it is in their [economic and political] interest to support us," he said.
Talabani said American impatience with the war in Iraq could lead to consequences for Iraq.
"It's not to say that we can't solve or stabilize the country," Talabani said. "It's going to take a very long time ... if we try to move this thing too quickly, it may all fall down on us."
Talabani said he hopes Iraq will become an independent nation-state.
"There is going to become a time when Iraqi people stand up on our own feet and make decisions for ourselves," he said.
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