The article addresses the difficulties the United States has encountered in its military operations in Iran, emphasizing that the anticipated swift overthrow of the Iranian government has not transpired. Instead, the US has come to recognize that achieving regime change may necessitate a full ground invasion, which raises the question of who would undertake such an operation. The piece suggests that American officials are seeking out potential allies and forces that could be mobilized for this objective.

Particularly, the article highlights the Kurds, an ethnic group spread across Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, who have long sought independence and often found themselves manipulated by external powers. The Kurds have historically been promised statehood in return for military assistance, only to be abandoned once they were no longer deemed useful. This history of betrayal complicates their potential involvement in a US-led invasion of Iran.

With the Iraqi Kurds having established a semblance of autonomy after the Iraq War and possessing a capable militia, the Peshmerga, they are positioned uniquely to play a significant role. However, the article questions the viability and willingness of these Kurdish groups to engage in a conflict with Iran on behalf of the US, given their past experiences and the complexities of the regional power dynamics.