Kurdish ploy brought early end to looting and violence

The Times ^ | April 12, 2003 | Anthony Loyd

[Amerigomag]

That implies ...

Nope.

This reference was to their place in the "new" Iraq.

[mickie]

Whatever happened to that poster named "Turk something"?
I was sure he'd have something to say on this thread.

[Spirited]

'“Two of them then took me in a car to the hospital with my friends. They gave me new clothes and were very good to us.”'

"A striking contrast to the normal behavior for the region. Maybe there is some hope."

Couldn't expect this kind of humanity out of the Turks with the history of killing 2 million Armenian Christians. And now increasing the number of our casualties by denying us access to Northern Iraq THROUGH the nation for which we have "bribed" (aided) them time and time again. May God forgive our obvious stupidity.

[Lurker]

I think this is President Bush saying "Thanks for all your help" to Turkey.

A de facto Kurdish Canton in the northern third of Iraq is a rather elegant solution to more than one problem don't you think?

Regards, and thanks for another fine post Ivan.

L

[EternalVigilance]

Nothing succeeds like success...

[Antoninus]

Just wait and see who gets the last laugh.

Is that a threat? Are the Turks planning a good old fashioned Kurd-stomping? Might be a bad idea to intervene here, actually. I hear the Greeks are suddenly on better terms with us again and Cyprus is lovely this time of year...

[McGavin999]

a_Turk is a really great guy. He loves his country as we love ours but I expect that being dumped on night after night by people made him decide to take a little break from FR.

Remember that half the parliment voted FOR us. After their people see what was happening they may just change their minds. I understand their fear about the Turkish Kurds, but so far the Iraqi Kurds have proven to be very honorable in this. Their kindness and compassion toward the people who have persecuted them for years should be very encouraging to the Turks.

[mickie]

Yes, I agree with everything you have said.
I pray that there be peace in the world especially now at Eastertime.

[Stopislamnow]

Personally, I think the Kurds deserve thier own country.

Ancient and modern history would dictate that it be the correct thing to do.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Very well said. I agree: I'm sure He would like peace this Easter. It seems to be right in our hands, if we want it bad enough.

[truth_seeker]

"If this group can mature along the way then all in the region are the better for it. If, absent the enviornment of oppression, they fall back to the historic behavior they have exhibited in Turkey, Iran and Iraq then Turk2 may be right."

They were promised a separate country after WWI, but they didn't get it.

The breakup of the USSR, Yugoslavia, Chzechoslovakia seem to signal a possible longer term option, for the region.

It seems their behavior in Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq over the decades falls into the category of "freedom fighters." The US revolted and fought for freedom, so why shouldn't the Kurds be seen in this light?

Why shouldn't they have a separate state, at least the Iraq portion (for now)?

A political plan for Iraq could take shape using a federal model (like post WWII Germany), similar to the US.

The Kurdish state(s) should be granted strong representation, and a high degree of local control, if Iraq remains unified.

[Turk2]

So its 2 million now? Could you explain to me how we managed to kill 700,000 more Armenians than there were in the region? Go read up on some history before you accuse people of having done things they have not done. FYI, it was the Kurds that raided Armenian conviys and killed thousands of innocents during the deportation.

[Freebird Forever]

bttt

[Amerigomag]

Why shouldn't they have a separate state, at least the Iraq portion (for now)?

Can't answer why they shouldn't but can guess why they won't. 1)Our strategic relations with Turkey. 2) No track history of stable governance in moderation. They have no history, for obvious reason, of ability to provide a stable government that protects it's minorities. 3)We don't have the time or money to conduct the unArabization of northern Iraq in the short term.

A political plan for Iraq could take shape using a federal model (like post WWII Germany), similar to the US. The Kurdish state(s) should be granted strong representation, and a high degree of local control, if Iraq remains unified.

Agreed but initially more along the lines of the theoretical model of the old Soviet Union. Local policies were promulgated and implemented by democratic representaion but national policy was guided by a less democratic oligarchy.

No model will be perfect because of the complications created by a "greater Kurdistan" extending into 3 surrounding, soverign nations, because "Iraqi Kurdistan" contained a significant population of other ethnic groups prior to its creation and because Saddam Arabized the populations centers of "Iraqi Kurdistan" after the Iran/Iraq conflict.

[Teacher317]

Say it with me... "Kurdistan"

[snooker]

Last time I looked I saw US SOF sitting on the Kirkuk oil fields.

I think that it had been resolved before the war that the Kurds had a seat at the table, but only if they played ball by our rules.

If you look at the composition of Iraq's population, allowing one group to govern the whole would be a bad mistake. All must be represented from the beginning or total failure will result.

We need to keep focused on what victory really is. A peaceful democratic secular state, stable and prosperous, is the only goal. Rule of 'fair' laws must prevail. If we accomplish that goal, then the world will be a better place.