Article

2003-03-04 Iraq

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Posted by Steve White 2003-03-04 11:07 am|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Well,the Turk's have made thier decision.
They have cut themselves out of any say in what happens in Kurdistan and any forthcoming U.S.aid.
Hope the Priesident doesn't screw the Kurds.(agin)

Posted by raptor 3/4/2003 6:41:00 AM|| 3/4/2003 6:41:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Murat - it would be impossible for you to hurt my feelings.

Posted by becky 3/4/2003 8:22:44 AM|| 3/4/2003 8:22:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Everybody wants to protect Arab-palestinians and Iraq babies. Nobody wants to protect Kurds.

Posted by Anon 2003-03-04 00:36:32|| 2003-03-04 00:36:32|| Front Page Top

#4 Well, the Kurds are not alone. The Lebanese. They've been occupied for Syria for ages, and no one cares. The Kashmiris have to put up with Indians and Pakistanis shelling each other, and religious nutters on both sides.

At least the Tibetans have Richard Gere.

Posted by Jeremy 2003-03-04 01:40:20|| 2003-03-04 01:40:20|| Front Page Top

#5 If I were the Kurds, I'd be nervous. Everyone talks as if the Turks are nervous nellies just trying to do the right thing. But I think their actions have seemed consistently predatory and self-interested. Don't get me wrong, I don't wish the Turks any ill will. But those oil fields are worth buckets of money - enough to make a weak economy strong and I haven't seen any indications that the Turks intend to be chivalrous in this regard. In fact, all the warning indicators have bright flashing lights going whooo whooo whooo. Everyone trys to wish them away saying, Oh...they would never do that. Hmmmm.

Posted by becky 2003-03-04 05:04:58|| 2003-03-04 05:04:58|| Front Page Top

#6 Well,the Turk's have made thier decision.
They have cut themselves out of any say in what happens in Kurdistan and any forthcoming U.S.aid.
Hope the Priesident doesn't screw the Kurds.(agin)

Posted by raptor 2003-03-04 06:41:00|| 2003-03-04 06:41:00|| Front Page Top

#7 I agree w. most of the sentiment expressed here. In response to Becky's post, I think the most disturbing news item I've seen thus far is that the new Turkish government was vetting treaties from the time of the Ottoman Empire to see if any still applied. They're looking for territorial claims to those oil fields you mentioned.

Posted by mjh 2003-03-04 07:17:19|| 2003-03-04 07:17:19|| Front Page Top

#8 I agree. A while back, Instapundit had a link (most likely a link to Rantburg) about how Iraq was going to be divided up btwn ethnic and ancient lines of Turkey/Jordan/"Republic of Kurdistan"/Iran/Shia's etc. It actually was a good idea - but we probably chucked it because we wanted so badly to have the Turks allow US troops in. The Turks gave up that big bargaining chip and screwed us in the process. I think it's time to go back and find a nice little solution that allows the Turks money from the oil wells AND a Republic of Kurdistan. I'm willing to bet it CAN be done. If the Kurds in Turkey get ideas - then they can migrate to Kurdistan. And if Turkey has an oppressed population of unhappy Kurds, that's really their problem, now isn't it? The money from the oil wells will help them get over it. Best to find a solution that makes everyone happy than to jam an unworkable solution down everyones throats. Bottom line, they didn't give us the front and even if they do it's got trouble written all over it. Back to the drawing boards. Fools rush in.

Posted by becky 2003-03-04 07:36:42|| 2003-03-04 07:36:42|| Front Page Top

#9 How about a U.N. Trust Territory for Kurdistan, like we had for Micronesia?

Turks run it, giving up some territory in Turkey to it. In return, they get to protect the Turk populations around Mosul and Kirkuk, administer the oil fields, and generally steer Kurdistan towards stability and security for both Turks and Kurds.

Posted by Chuck 2003-03-04 07:57:14|| [blog.simmins.org] 2003-03-04 07:57:14|| Front Page Top

#10 becky - I've followed this board for a while now, and you seem the one trying to pose as a Turkey-, Iraq- and middle east expert, don't want to hurt your feelings but so far I have noticed that you are the one knowing the least about the area. It's sometimes quite amusing since you are not the only one lately, even some American journalist popped up as experts. Most of them don't even know the difference of the people, sunni, shia, Kurd, Turk, Iranian, Persian, Arab. Maybe we should call this virtual internet expertise.

Posted by Murat 2003-03-04 08:02:25|| 2003-03-04 08:02:25|| Front Page Top

#11 Y'all have probably seen this by now, but if not, check out this recent interview in Der Spiegel with Ahmad Berwari, the German representative of Iraqi Kurdish opposition group PUK:

http://www.usefulwork.com/shark/archives/000517.html

The money quote is also the headline: "We see the Americans as liberators."

On Sharkansky's blog, linked by Instapundit.

Posted by jrosevear 2003-03-04 08:18:07|| 2003-03-04 08:18:07|| Front Page Top

#12 Murat - it would be impossible for you to hurt my feelings.

Posted by becky 2003-03-04 08:22:44|| 2003-03-04 08:22:44|| Front Page Top

#13 Oh..and by the way, Murat, for the benefit of the other readers I would like to note that I've never claimed to be anything other than a casual observer following the war with no expertise - only interest. Claiming that I fancy myself some sort of expert is just another lie and distortion brought to us courtesy of Murat.

Posted by becky 2003-03-04 08:42:39|| 2003-03-04 08:42:39|| Front Page Top

#14 btw Murat - how's that Stock Market doin'?

Posted by Frank G 2003-03-04 08:51:38|| 2003-03-04 08:51:38|| Front Page Top

#15 There are alot of us that are not experts on Turkey or the Kurds. I read a background article recently in the Asia Times on the Kurds, and the history is so complicated that I am glad that they did not have a quiz at the end. This ethnic stuff gets hot, impassioned, and irrational---quick! Becky is just trying to find some common ground so as to create some kind of a win-win for everyone. That is an admirable thing to do.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2003-03-04 09:44:53|| 2003-03-04 09:44:53|| Front Page Top

#16 I hope one doesn't have to be an expert in everything to comment on this board, otherwise I would never be able to. I think a lot more can be gained by trying to listen to and learn from the others that post here rather than to degrade them, namely Becky, for stating their (her) opinion.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-03-04 10:55:25|| 2003-03-04 10:55:25|| Front Page Top

#17 Murat,

You have succeeded in prompting much discussion of Turkey on this board. That is a good thing and may we all learn a lot.

Also, you could be criticized in much the same way you criticize Becky for your insufficient, assumption-filled, and thinly detailed analysis of the American people/culture/motives. As, I'm sure, could I for my assumptions on many subjects, etc.

How interesting of you to pick on the one poster on this board who has a discernibly female name...

Let's maintain a civil discussion.

Posted by mjh 2003-03-04 13:44:03|| 2003-03-04 13:44:03|| Front Page Top

#18 Remember, Robert Fisk has his job because he's supposed to be an expert on the Islamic world.

Posted by Patrick Phillips 2003-03-04 13:57:43|| 2003-03-04 13:57:43|| Front Page Top

17:09 NightSurfer
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