Jalal Talabani’s Journey from a Leader and Opposition Figure to Head of State in Iraq
Dr. Karim Zedan Khalaf*
President Jalal Talabani stands as a distinguished political figure on the Iraqi, Arab, and international stages. Hailing from Sulaimaniyah, he dedicated himself to the liberation of his Iraqi compatriots, never forgetting the values of his hometown. Proudly identifying as a son of the mountains, he emerged as a resilient advocate for the causes of freedom, justice, and democracy.
Born in 1933, coinciding with the death of Faisal I and the succession of Ghazi, he lived through an era marked by three kings and seven presidents, including himself, who governed Iraq. Notably, the last president, Talabani, possessed unique characteristics that set him apart from his predecessors.
Jalal Talabani was born in Kalkan village near Dukan Lake in Iraqi Kurdistan. He completed his primary and secondary education in Koysinjaq, followed by secondary education in Erbil and Kirkuk cities.
Engaging in the Iraqi and Kurdish national struggle at a young age, he dedicated himself to securing national rights for Kurds and fostering democracy for all Iraqi people, encompassing various nationalities and beliefs. Regarded by some as a proponent of pluralism and democracy in Kurdistan and Iraq, Talabani, along with a group of students, clandestinely established the Kurdistan Students Union in 1953 at the age of 20. This pioneering effort earned him recognition for being at the forefront of organizing such an association among students.
His early political activism led him to join the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and by 1951, he had already become a member of the central committee. Talabani's election at such a young age marked a historic moment in the party, underscoring his remarkable maturity and social consciousness.
Upon completing his secondary education, he aspired to pursue studies in Medicine. However, his political activities led Iraqi security authorities to obstruct this desire. In 1953, he managed to enroll in Law College in Baghdad but was forced into hiding in 1956. Unfortunately, due to the events surrounding the July 14, 1958 revolution, he couldn't complete his education at that time.
Resuming his studies in Law College later, he concurrently worked as a journalist and editor for both the Khabat and Kurdistan newspapers, which were the mouthpieces of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Graduating from the College of Law in 1959, he was subsequently called for military service in the Iraqi army. Commissioned as a reserve officer, he served in artillery units until eventually becoming the leader of a tanks battalion.
After the events of July 14, 1958, he joined the Kurdistan Students Union delegation to the Soviet Union, where he had the opportunity to meet Mullah Mustafa Barzani. With the announcement of the Kurdish revolution in September 1961, Talabani, then a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, was entrusted with the command of the Sulaimaniyah and Kirkuk fronts. He played a pivotal role in leading the resistance in the areas of Mawat, Chami Rezan, and Qaradagh, actively participating in some of the most perilous struggles alongside the Peshmarga forces. Consequently, he endeared himself to the people, winning their affection and approval.
In February 1963, Talabani assumed the role of a representative for Barzani, leading a Kurdish delegation to Baghdad for discussions with the leaders of the Baath revolution. Subsequently, he journeyed to Cairo to seek Arab support, engaging in discussions with the late President Jamal Abdel Nasser. Additionally, he visited Algeria, where he met with President Ahmad Ben Bella.
After the Koysinjaq congress of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in 1963, Mam Jalal led the party delegation in negotiations with the Baghdad regime to secure autonomy. In the face of attempted attacks by Iraqi forces on the Kurdistan region, Talabani bravely traveled to Baghdad amid challenging circumstances. In 1970, following the agreement of March 11, 1970, the Kurdistan Revolutionary Party (Jalalist), led by Mr. Jalal Talabani, convened a meeting in Kalar town, granting the Kurdish people autonomy and acknowledging the existence of two nations in Iraq.
Subsequently, Talabani served as the representative of the Kurdish liberation movement, initially in Beirut for a specific period and later in Cairo during the events leading to the failure on March 6, 1975, and the collapse of the Kurdish revolution led by Mullah Mustafa Barzani.
In 1967 he participated in the Arab socialist conference in Algeria and presented many lectures about Kurds and socialism and Arab unity which met approval by the audiences.
In early 1975, he visited Egypt and conducted a series of discussions with officials, persuading them to support the United Arab Seminar in playing an intermediary role between the Kurdish revolution and the Iraqi government during the congress. However, despite these efforts, the Algiers Agreement suppressed the revolution by cutting off all means of assistance. Hence, Mam Jalal embarked on a journey to exert influence on Iraq's neighboring countries, including the Soviet Union, with the aim of halting the ongoing Arabization campaigns in different areas of Kurdistan. Concurrently, he initiated contact with Kurdish parties, organizations, and independent figures both within and outside Kurdistan. These efforts culminated in the formation of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, comprising the Kurdistan Toilers Society, Kurdistan Socialist Movement, and the General Line. Within a short span of time, he successfully deployed primary armed contingents to various fronts in Kurdistan, coordinating with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and other parties to reignite the Kurdish revolution. This strategic maneuver effectively undermined the goals outlined in the Algiers Agreement.
After spending four years in the Peshmarga strongholds, Mam Jalal embarked on a journey to garner support for the revolution from various countries worldwide. Throughout his travels, he successfully formed the broadest Iraqi opposition front, known as the National Front. Additionally, he secured further military assistance from revolutionary groups in Palestine and Libya. However, the Islamic Republic intercepted these aids, preventing them from reaching Kurdistan.
He collaborated with other Kurdish leaders to plan an effective popular uprising that swept Baathist institutions from Kurdistan. He embarked on numerous trips both within and outside Kurdistan, where he engaged with influential figures who held sway in decision-making centers within their respective countries.
He earned the trust of senior officials in numerous states and engaged in official receptions with heads of regional states and world presidents. Regarding his relations with the United States during the seventies and eighties, Talabani remarked, "Their stance was fair towards both the Iraqi government and the Kurds." Additionally, Talabani maintained robust relations with France, particularly with the French Communist Party and the late President François Mitterrand. However, when it came to his party's relations with Israel, Talabani firmly opposed conducting any meetings with Israeli officials. Regarding his stance on meetings between Israelis and Kurds, he expressed, "I believe that cooperation between Israel and the Kurdish movement is a significant mistake."
Regarding the collapse of the Baath regime in 2003, Talabani recounted, "In April 2002, Masud Barzani and I were invited to the United States, where we met with a high-level American delegation, including representatives from the American administration. Subsequently, we participated in facilitating the uprising of Iraqis. We aided in establishing communication between them and certain leaders from the Iraqi army, and conveyed the United States' willingness to cooperate under the condition that Iraq transition to a federal democratic system. Furthermore, we provided assistance in the liberation of Kirkuk, Khanaqin, and other areas."
After the fall of Saddam's regime in 2003, Jalal Talabani was elected as a member of the Governing Council. By 2004, he assumed leadership of the council. Following the establishment of the State Administration Law and the declaration of Iraq as a federal state, which had long been anticipated by Talabani, he was elected in April 2005 by the Iraqi National Assembly as the first President of the Republic of Iraq.
Abdul Rahman Darwesh, a lecturer of Political Science at Soran University, elucidated that Jalal Talabani endeavored to implement various ideas, leaving a lasting imprint on Kurdistan and Iraqi political spheres. What distinguishes the late Talabani from other presidents is his multifaceted engagement beyond politics; he maintained a keen focus on journalism and writing. Over the course of his life, he penned hundreds of essays and political analyses in various languages, contributing significantly to newspapers.
He also stands out from others by his proficiency in the major languages spoken by Iraqis, as well as other foreign languages. Moreover, he was recognized as a journalist, writer, and intellectual capable of influencing the intellectual elite in Iraq.
Also, what set him apart was his sense of humor and his ability to create a positive atmosphere in various meetings he attended. President Jalal Talabani possessed wisdom and insight, consistently rejecting separatism as he viewed it as a calamity for Kurds rather than a solution to their problems. He firmly believed that the Kurdish issue wasn't solely a Kurdish problem, but also an issue for the Arab community. He articulated this not only from a standpoint of coordination but also from a realistic and political perspective. While the Kurdish issue is inherently a concern for Kurds, its resolution necessitates the involvement of Arabs who share the region, history, and destiny with them.