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| Iraq | |
| Iraqi Kurdish region to take charge of own security | |
| 2007-05-29 | |
"This week, the responsibility for security in the Kurdistan region will be officially transferred from multinational forces to the peshmerga affiliated with the regional government," said Jabar Yawar, a Kurdish military spokesman. Yawar said the decision was made during a meeting held in Baghdad between Kurdish regional president Massud Barzani, Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki, and senior US military leaders. The US military confirmed the handover in an invitation to the event sent out to local media. "The Kurdish Regional Government will hold a transfer of security ceremony, to highlight the return of the entire region from the coalition force to the government of Iraq," the invitation says. The US statement said "the Kurdistan Regional Government was deemed ready to assume security responsibility in the region." While turning regional security responsibility over to mainly Kurdish forces, the agreement requires them to coordinate with Iraqi state and US-led forces, according to Kurdish officials. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 The Kurdish zone is the most economically, socially, and politically stable section of Iraq; so much so, that Iraqi Sunnis and Shiites have been migrating north to look for jobs. The Peshmerga was not disarmed after the defeat of Saddam, and they had received a good deal of training from Special Forces in the lead up to the 3 week war against Saddam. Because of the money flow in Kurdistan, the Kurds have been able to buy literal tons of heavy weapons from the arms black market in Iraq : about the only items they have problems getting are spares for the tanks and APCs that they have taken over. However, the Peshmerga that have been integrated into the Iraqi Army have taken equipment south to Baghdad for the surge, and that equipment is being rebuilt by the Coalition so that the IA units will have mechanized infantry with armor support. So now the Peshmerga have the equivalent of 1 armored brigade and 1 mechanized brigade - both of which are to be returned to Kurdistan at the end of the surge. Also, from what I have read, the Peshmerga have been buying large quantities of anti-tank weapondry from the black market, and have RPGs down to the fire team level, along with dedicated anti-units having been trained. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-05-29 15:15 |
| #1 I strongly suspect that the Kurds have only been given a fraction of the equipment, organization and training given to the Iraqi army. Success and peace may in the long run leave them weaker than Iraq, which has been tempered in violence. Were I an adviser to the Kurd leadership, I would strongly suggest settling differences with Turkey, forming a deep relationship with Israel, being armed to the teeth, and finally to be ready to quickly occupy and defend Iranian Kurdistan, if the opportunity presents itself. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-05-29 10:26 |