Clever it is! The problem for the Kurds is that they have made the decision to be a part of the greater Iraq... recognizing that while they may yearn for total independence that they have to put that aside and instead accept their place as part of an Iraq that includes the Sunni's and Shiite's - and hope that the two stop trying to kill one another.
So, instead they've (the Kurds) chosen to tell the world about "The Other Iraq" - the Iraq that isn't part of the Baghdad suicide bombings and IED attacks that the media is so fixated on.
It's really quite ironic... for decades the Kurds have been the bastard child of the region, looked down upon by many of their neighbors.
But it is the Kurds who chose to embrace sustainable economic growth, free and democratic elections, friendly relations towards Israel and worked alongside the United States.
Now the Middle East is in turmoil, rampant with battles over terrorism... the Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq are exchanging murderous attacks against the innocent civilian populations of one another, and it's the Kurds who have their act together.
Sweet justice for those who chose to act most responsibly, I think.
Sweet justice for those who chose to act most responsibly, I think.
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Well said.
Most people would embrace economic growth, democratic elections, etc., if they had the security to make it happen. Fortunately for the Kurds, they were covered by being in the "nofly zone" throughout the 90s, so they were de facto their own country.
It will be hard to get them to consider even a loose federation with Iraq Sunnistan and Shiastan. I'm afraid that there will be war with them either from Turkey (who accuses them of hiding Kurdish terrorists), or a "united" Iraq to the south over the Kirkuk oilfields. So our continued presence may be critical for their survival.