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| Central Asia | |
| Turks consider autonomy for the Kurds | |
| 2004-05-24 | |
| This proved my surprise meter is still working. Turkish politicians, both ethnic Turks and Kurds, are openly discussing the idea of granting the Kurdish majority in parts of eastern Turkey autonomy and recognition of their Kurdish cultural identity. This would go against decades of Turkish policy, but would recognize Kurdish fears of bad treatment at the hands of Arabs and Iranians, and the benefits of staying part of Turkey, and under Turkish protection. This concept is particularly attractive to some five million Kurds in Iraq (over three million), Iran (about a million) and Syria. By serving as the "big brother" to the Kurds, Turkey would reduce the anti-Turk violence among its own twelve million Kurds and secure it’s billion dollar a year in business with the Kurds of northern Iraq.
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| Posted by:Phil B |
| #15 dcreeper defends murat--will wonders never cease . . . |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2004-05-25 1:38:44 AM |
| #14 Patriot? Maybe, but in that regard Murat's his own worst enemy. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-05-24 5:04:15 PM |
| #13 Lucky, you not usually noted for your cruelty. ;=) |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-05-24 3:26:22 PM |
| #12 I think Murat prolly got laid off. The Germans are hell bent on getting their eastern cousins off the dole and into the factories. So that leaves selling rugs again hey Murat? |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-05-24 2:52:19 PM |
| #11 I've got no problem with that . His anti-American, gleeful posts regarding our war dead make me pissed, and his illogical nonsense is pure trollery. Free Kurdistan! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-24 12:21:35 PM |
| #10 so to recap Dan's logic on murat "Hey look he's angry! lets poke 'em with a pointy stick and see if that makes him less angry!" feh |
| Posted by: dcreeper 2004-05-24 12:18:52 PM |
| #9 The balance for Turkey is to give the Kurds enough independence to keep them happy without creating a Quebec style pain-in-the-butt. If they pull it off Turkish companies could have an inside route into iraqi/kurd oil and rebuilding as well as staving off Kuridsh indendence and the resulting border problems. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-05-24 11:36:20 AM |
| #8 murat - does the idea of actual rights for the kurds perterb you? you try and deflect by taking ignorant stabs at Bush - your a dumbass! Ptah - Murats posts are more idiotic than they used to be. He is a true troll now and deserves everything thrown at him. And Murat does not achnowledge issues in Turkey - his post on this thread is proof of that. |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-05-24 10:47:35 AM |
| #7 Ease up on Murat, people. He's a patriot, which puts his heart on something outside of himself. In my book, that's light years beyond a certain individual who has recently left us in a huff. The problem with Murat, which all patriots regardless of nationality must beware of, is that he tends to be hot headed rather than cooly calculating, shooting from the heart instead of the head, concentrating on protecting the reputation of the nation instead of the nation itself. A true patriot does not blind himself to national weaknesses, but acknowledges them and fixes them, resulting in a longer term strenthening of his nation's position, leading to a better reputation eventually. National reputation is important, but is a mere opinion that is subject to human passions and prejudices. National strength is more important, being of true substance and worth that protects the patriot and his fellow citizens. Let your heart motivate you, but your head guide you. With some work and clear thinking, Murat could be as valuable a contributor as Bulldog and TGA, whose presence here amplifies the value of Rantburg. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-05-24 10:08:02 AM |
| #6 Is Murat ever not hot under the collar? (Apologies, Murat, but is it heartburn, or what? Maybe you should be getting a few more of those figs down you.) |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-05-24 9:06:27 AM |
| #5 Interesting that Murat gets hot under the collar about the Turks doing something smart and in their best interests. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-05-24 8:51:26 AM |
| #4 The same way we in the UK view Turkish entry to the EU - one big fat joke. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-05-24 8:28:47 AM |
| #3 How is the nose of Bush doing? Heard that it got strapped between de spoke of his bike, poor Pinokio. |
| Posted by: Murat 2004-05-24 8:28:04 AM |
| #2 Turks consider autonomy for the Kurds Good joke, the article is full of BS. |
| Posted by: Murat 2004-05-24 8:24:35 AM |
| #1 Whoops! No heading at the link and I forgot to add one. Try - Turks consider autonomy for the Kurds |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-05-24 3:24:32 AM |