Radical Islamist action rekindles possibility of Kurdish independence

Augusta Chronicle ^ | Sunday, August 24, 2014 | E. Randall Floyd

[SunkenCiv]

Kurdistan’s long-smoldering dream of a free and independent homeland might soon become a reality, thanks in part to a weakened Iraq brought on by the stunning success of a radical Islamic army known as ISIS.

Kurdish forces took over parts of the largest dam in Iraq less than two weeks after it was captured by the Islamic State extremist group, Kurdish security officials said, as U.S. and Iraqi planes aided their advance.

For decades, the people of this semi-autonomous region bordering the wild and rugged Zagros Mountains have sought to create their own independent state, linking portions of northern Iraq, western Iran, southern Turkey and a sliver of eastern Syria...

[SunkenCiv]

President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan names ally Ahmet Davutoglu as new Turkey PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11049794/President-elect-Recep-Tayyip-Erdogan-names-ally-Ahmet-Davutoglu-as-new-Turkey-PM.html

Turkey’s Davutoglu Named New Premier
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/erdogan-helm-turkey-choose-premier-25064110

Isis surges towards the borders of Turkey as west mulls options
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/23/isis-islamic-state-surges-to-turkish-border

[snip] Turkey’s efforts in this regard have been decidedly problematic. The country currently does not have an ambassador in Syria, Egypt or Israel. Moreover, Ankara’s relations with the Gulf States are strained, owing to the A.K.P.’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood. And diplomatic ties with Iraq are near non-existent after Turkey opted to side with the Kurdistan Regional Government and facilitate the export of Kurdish oil without Baghdad’s approval. [/snip]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/23/opinion/turkeys-failed-foreign-policy.html

[yarddog]

It has been a long time but I think I read that Alexander The Great thought the Kurds were the fiercest people he faced. He did beat them but couldn’t really conquer them.

[Paladin2]

Biden was correct. 3-part apartheid for Iraq.

[EricT.]

The mountains of Northern Iraq are brutal places for an invading force to go and die. They are the Kurds’ best friends and have kept them from being wiped out for centuries.