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Iraq
Is A War Brewing Between Iraqi Kurdistan And Iran?
2017-10-16
[Red State] While we often refer to "the Kurds" there is really no such thing. The Kurds, in the best tradition of that area of the world, are divided into competing, and sometimes hostile, factions. This is a brief overview:

Two weeks ago, the KRG/KDP conducted a referendum on independence from Iraq. Even though everyone and their brother opposed the referendum, according to the KDP head, Masoud Barzani, independence won.

As an aside, the KDP is sort of hostile to the Kurds who make up the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces who are fighting ISIS in Syria.

The Iraqi Kurds were not supposed to seek independence as Baghdad and Tehran thought there was a deal for regional autonomy. In retaliation, Baghdad cut off air travel to Kurdistan. But the Kurds have not moved decisively towards independence and many observers think the referendum was a bargaining chip to wring concessions out of a hard-pressed Iraqi government.

Now a string of tweets to paint the rest of the picture:
Posted by:Besoeker

#2  Kurds should invite other Kurds from surrounding nations to enter Kurdistan. They could use the extra manpower and it might get Iran and Turkey to loosen up if they felt they weren't going to lose chunks of their own nations to Kurdistan.

The Kurds can play the old once mine always mine Islamic game later when they are solid and their neighbors are not.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2017-10-16 11:53  

#1  Gotta hope so.
Apparently the Kurds are the only ones in the region with any backbone.
Posted by: Skidmark   2017-10-16 10:01  

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