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2004-06-08 Iraq-Jordan
IWPR: Kurds hint at Independence
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Posted by Super Hose 2004-06-08 03:02|| || Front Page|| [11128 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 This is like protesting a 'strike' call on the corner so the next corner call will be called a 'ball'.
Posted by mhw 2004-06-08 10:45:34 AM||   2004-06-08 10:45:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 A simple but perplexing question-why aren't we more supportive of the Kurds? Of the Shia, Sunni & Kurds, aren't they-
The most reasonable?
The least zealous?
The most grateful, therefore the most willing to build bridges?
Posted by jules 187 2004-06-08 11:00:37 AM||   2004-06-08 11:00:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Iraqi Kurdish leaders have hinted to George Bush that they may push for an independent Kurdistan after Washington denied their community a leading role in Iraq’s newly formed transitional government,“We were ... bitterly disappointed when your special representative advised us that a Kurd could be neither Prime Minister nor President of Iraq,” Barzani and Talabani told the US president. “We were told that these positions must go to a Shiite Arab and Sunni Arab respectively.” ...They also observe that “in contrast to the Arab areas of Iraq, no coalition soldier has been killed in the area controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government”
It's hard to argue with someone who is right.
Posted by RWV 2004-06-08 12:11:35 PM||   2004-06-08 12:11:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Divide and Conquer makes things easier. If we overtly favored the Kurds now the Sunni and Shia might put aside their differences and go against us. We'd have to let the Kurds get brutal if we expected Iraq to stay a single country.

If we don't expect Iraq to stay as a single country lots of things fall into place and an independent Kurdistan can be used to harrass both Iran and Syria (and potentially Turkey but they are our friend).
Posted by Yank 2004-06-08 12:26:27 PM|| [politicaljunky.blogspot.com]  2004-06-08 12:26:27 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 muRAT --all i can hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Posted by Dan 2004-06-08 1:08:27 PM||   2004-06-08 1:08:27 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 If we overtly favored the Kurds now the Sunni and Shia might put aside their differences and go against us
But, but...I thought that the Shiites as well as the Kurds have wanted independence from the get go. That leaves the Sunnis, who cannot be pacified with any perk. Sunnis have been "going against us" from Day 1 and more recently the Sunnis even got the Shiites riled up and united against us.

As I've always said, I think the way Bremer and the WH have treated the Kurds has been shameful. It's rarely that you even hear the good news coming from Kurdistan, and puhlease don't say it's the fault of MSM.

The US takes the calmness and co-operation of the Kurds for granted and seems to work harder for the "hard to get" losers in Sunni/Shiite Iraq.

While it's true that not one GI has been killed in Kurdistan it's not because the Kurds have not had their chances. The US has only 300 troops patrolling Kurdistan, whereas it has over 130,000 troops in Sunni/Shiite Iraq and inspite of this, over 800 GI's have been murdered and mutilated in Sunni/Shiite Iraq. How is it that the Kurds have been able to keep "evil doers" out of their neighborhoods but alas, Sunnis and Shiites have not? Are borders porous only in Sunni/Shiite Iraq?

I think it's shameful that the US does not reward the Kurds for being consistent allies-we sure don't have any problems for rewarding half-hat alies like Egypt and Jordan, to name a few, so what's the problem with the Kurds? Bremer[the WH] isn't even staying neutral-the Kurds are being PENALIZED for being our allies. To be told that a Kurd will not be a PM or Premier is nasty. What's the point of being an ally? It looks like the US rewards "bad boys" who delight in blowing up or maiming and mutilating our GI's.

Also, the Kurd's ancestoral home, which Uncle Saddam violently wrenched from the Kurds is sitting on billions of $ of black gold. Why does Bremer think the Kurds should share the revenues with the Sunnis who tried to snuff them from the face of this earth just a mere 15 years ago?

Turkey may be the silent hand in this game of cards, but if the WH trusts Turkey even one percent after what how Turkey sabotaged our military positioning for the Iraq War, they are stupid. Turkey would screw us again in a heart beat. The current PM used to be considered a Sunni patriot, until he bought a new moderate wardrobe.
Posted by rex 2004-06-08 1:33:10 PM||   2004-06-08 1:33:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 This is par for the course at State: Screw over your real friends in the quest to be accepted and loved by your enemies. Definite sign of psycosis.

Yes, Turkey is our friend, but truth be told, the thought of doing something to piss off Murat IS delicious sounding. Counterproductive, yes, but very tempting.
Posted by Ptah  2004-06-08 1:52:07 PM|| [http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]  2004-06-08 1:52:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Ptah- yes it is tempting to piss of muRAT - but all said Turkey is a friend (even with muRAT) with a long history of mil/pol support..let's remember the vote to allow passage of the 4thID was only a coupld of votes off..but just can't resist pissing off muRAT
Posted by Dan 2004-06-08 2:46:12 PM||   2004-06-08 2:46:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Â¿dónde está el Murat?
Posted by ----------<<<<- 2004-06-08 3:10:10 PM||   2004-06-08 3:10:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 lets see - Iraq has a Kurd as VP, a Kurd as FM, and Kurd as Deputy PM for National Security. and the new PM has worked with the Kurdish groups for years, IIUC. Id say the Kurdish position is strong. Naturally the still want the TAL, or similar guarantees. I think theyll get them, in some form. If they do, theyre better off in a federal Iraq, than independent, and surrounded by wolves, waiting for the moment the US turns its back to pounce.
Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-06-08 3:40:16 PM||   2004-06-08 3:40:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Hey, what's that smell? That sweet, springlike odor of freedom?
Ah, Nationalism is in the air!
Posted by Anonymous5167 2004-06-08 5:07:52 PM||   2004-06-08 5:07:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 The Kurds have been through hell, by Saddam and those they thought they could count on before.

It's time for a Kurdistan (not a Commiestan)and if the Turks do not like it, Syrians, or the Iranians, they can all pound sand.(there is enough of it around)
Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-06-08 8:17:56 PM||   2004-06-08 8:17:56 PM|| Front Page Top

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