Article

2007-04-21 Iraq

U.S.-Kurds' special relationship at risk over fraying Turkey alliance

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Posted by Alaska Paul 2007-04-21 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 thanks AP,

A few weeks ago on a similar thread about the PKK and Turkey I said, such is statecraft that Sovereign Nations will almost always recognize each others interests before they let semi-autonomous areas trump them, IIRC 99% of the time.

Having said it, I'd like to add that in this instance I hope like hell we choose the Kurd's interests over Turkeys..

Do I trust our State Department to do the right thing visa vi the Kurds? Sadly no. >::(

Posted by Dag Hammarskjöld">Dag Hammarskjöld 2007-04-21 02:34|| 2007-04-21 02:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Big mistake.

We lost the Sunnis from the very first day: we killed Saddam and overthrew Sunni rule. Does anyone imagine that will foster relationship building with the US for at least a generation? And now, we will lose the Kurds-betraying their loyalty, we kill off the one group who we have a chance of building a reliable alliance with, with a reliable base of operation. If we pick traitorous Turkey, we will have by default chosen the Shia as the demographic for the region for years to come, complicating pressure on Iran to abandon nuclear weapons development. Maybe this is Bush's way of picking up where Chirac left off-coming to accept a nuclearized Iran?

Posted by Jules 2007-04-21 07:53|| 2007-04-21 07:53|| Front Page Top

#3 USDS strikes again.

Posted by gromgoru 2007-04-21 08:56|| 2007-04-21 08:56|| Front Page Top

#4 Washington needs Ankara's help with Iran and Iraq,

We haven't and won't get it. No gain for the US there. Stick with the Kurds, base the um.... what's the paratrooper regiment now based in Italy, went into Kurdistan 1st thing in the war? Did well.

Posted by Shipman">Shipman 2007-04-21 10:42|| 2007-04-21 10:42|| Front Page Top

#5 Remind me how much oil Turkey has.

Posted by Perfesser 2007-04-21 10:50|| 2007-04-21 10:50|| Front Page Top

#6 Shipman, I think it's the 173rd Airborne Bde.

Posted by Verlaine 2007-04-21 12:06|| 2007-04-21 12:06|| Front Page Top

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