After viewing all 3 ads, I'm wondering if you approached CNN or the Networks here or even Affiliates, with the first ad and not the other 2, if you might not have better luck. The first ad is really more a public service type announcement. The other 2 are more commercial ads for investing. Would the Kurds agree to go with just the "Thank you" ad. They'd still make tons of good will.
And refusing to run that first ad really would be a story in itself that ought to be revealed to the public. "CNN refuses to allow Kurds to publicly thank America"
It was the first ad ("Thank You America" and "Thank You Great Britain") that CNN Headline News, CNN International and BBC have all thus far rejected. :(