Retired Lt . Gen. Mark Hertling spent 16 months in Northern Iraq . The Kurdish region is not immune from tribal loyalties : The Talabanis make up one major political party ( the PUK ) ; the Barzanis make up the other ( the KDP ) . He says he learned about the great social , geographic diversity of the region . With airstrikes , Coalition Forces may help but wo n't gain control over ISIS . Iraq : Only the Iraqi , Kurd security forces have the potential to defeat ISIS .
Retired Lt . Gen. Mark Hertling spent 16 months in Northern Iraq . He says he learned about the great social , geographic diversity of the region . With airstrikes , Coalition Forces may help but wo n't gain control over ISIS . Iraq : Only the Iraqi , Kurd security forces have the potential to defeat ISIS .