My friend from Slemani is voting yes. He told me that he hopes Iran won't shell Kurdistan Region today or tomorrow. But if they do, he will not regret his Yes vote. He is not very worried about Turkey. When Iran attacks, he hopes for the help of the West. He, and most others I speak to, highly appreciate the West and wish to be similar to countries like Germany and the United States. Actually he hopes for Rojhelat to be freed more than any other part of Kurdistan. I (even though I am not currently there and dont know what it is like) adviced him to buy a lot of food and survival materiel now. You never know.

We spoke about his dead family members and all the Peshmerga martyrs who died fighting IS. Especially about the motives to join Peshmerga for those who are dead now. Most if not all joined for the dream that was and is Kurdistan. Perhaps not a realistic dream and perhaps they were too hopeful that it would be something good. After all Barzani isn't too democratic a leader. Some call him Kurdistan's own Saddam, Kurdistan's Sultan and Kurdistan's Erdogan.

People in Kurdistan today (and possibly elsewhere tomorrow) do not vote Yes because they don't want Iraq to prosper, they do not vote yes because they want a Barzani dictatoship. People will vote yes because they, unlike many in the world, do have a clue about the history (which offers a good prediction of the possible future as well) of being in Iraq. To them it has been a failed project. A failed state. They will vote yes because of their dead, tortured or lost family members and friends. This is what their experience of "Iraq" exists of. Whether the crimes were committed by the hands of Saddam Hussein, Shia extremists or the Islamic State.

Whatever the vote will be and whatever country puts Kurdistan under embargo... I accept the results (not implying that I matter, it is just the way I see it. Referenda are a democratic instrument for the people to voice their opinion. I will also accept the no vote, and I suggest the same to others)