Article

2014-06-23 Iraq

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by trailing wife 2014-06-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 Something doesn't add up. Why is Turkey being so nice?

Yes, they are getting Crude from the Kurds and maybe that is all it is; barter.

Posted by Squinty 2014-06-23 00:40|| 2014-06-23 00:40|| Front Page Top

#2 Thinking about it some more, maybe Turkey wants a buffer state?

Posted by Squinty 2014-06-23 00:40|| 2014-06-23 00:40|| Front Page Top

#3 I was wondering the same thing. Initially thought it might be to establish some goodwill with the Kurds in anticipation of accessing the proximal oil reserves, but given the history with Abdullah Ocolan PKK etc, the significant Kurdish populations in Turkey/Iran, I now think the Turkish Government is trying to placate those populations in the event total Kurdish independence is established in Iraq, having regional influence over the others.

Posted by Incredulous 2014-06-23 05:23|| 2014-06-23 05:23|| Front Page Top

#4 A sort of mitigation of damages then Incredulous? I like it.
A junior sized Kurdistan that owes Turkey could work for both.

Posted by Shipman 2014-06-23 05:46|| 2014-06-23 05:46|| Front Page Top

#5 Thanks Shipman. Working theory is as the Sunni Shiite factions wear each other down, and the semi-autonomous Kurdish state (with cohesive military) and backed by oil funding, now in control of Kirkuk (which was theirs before Sadam intervened), will be a key state and regional player very soon.

Posted by Incredulous 2014-06-23 06:30|| 2014-06-23 06:30|| Front Page Top

#6 Recently, Turkish PM Erdogan has begun to use the word "Kurdistan" in his conversation. This is a seachange. He is perfectly aware that the oil card can be played by energy poor Turkey and energy rich Iraqi Kurdistan to the benefit of both.

Posted by Muggsy White8658 2014-06-23 09:11|| 2014-06-23 09:11|| Front Page Top

22:55 SteveS
22:24 Barbara
22:10 USN, Ret.
21:54 tu3031
21:51 Redeck Jim
21:46 SteveS
21:44 SteveS
21:17 Shipman
21:11 Shipman
21:05 Shipman
21:03 Shipman
21:02 Shipman
21:00 Shipman
20:53 Zenobia Floger6220
20:52 JosephMendiola
20:50 JosephMendiola
20:43 JosephMendiola
20:41 JosephMendiola
20:40 KBK
20:35 JosephMendiola
20:25 CrazyFool
20:24 KBK
20:07 Deacon Blues
18:06 Thing From Snowy Mountain