Posted on 12/08/2006 6:18:05 AM PST by Lil Flower
Kurdish Leader Rejects Iraq Report
Published: 12/8/06, 7:25 AM EDT HAMZA HENDAWI
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, a longtime Washington ally, has angrily rejected the Iraq Study Group's recommendations, warning that any delay in deciding the fate of an oil-rich region claimed by the Kurds would have "grave consequences."
Barzani, president of the 15-year-old autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, also faulted the U.S. bipartisan commission for not visiting his region, saying that was a "major shortcoming that adversely influenced the credibility of the assessment."
"We are in no way abiding by this report," Barzani said in an e-mailed statement.
He charged that the report released Wednesday, which was prepared by a commission led by former Republican secretary of state, James A. Baker III, and former Democratic congressman, Lee Hamilton, sought to give too much authority to the central government and Iraq's neighbors by giving them a say in the country's affairs.
Barzani also criticized the report's calls for a far-reaching amnesty to opposition groups and the reinstatement of Saddam Hussein loyalists in their old government jobs as part of national reconciliation efforts. Such calls, he said, rewarded "those who are against the political process and have conducted acts of violence."
Iraq's Kurds and Shiites combine for about 80 percent of Iraq's 26 million population. They suffered the most under Saddam's ousted Sunni-led regime. The Kurds and Shiites are Iraq's strongest proponents of federalism, enshrined in a new constitution adopted last year.
Sunni Arabs, however, see federalism as a prelude to portioning the country into a Kurdish north, a Shiite south, leaving them in a central Iraq bereft of oil and other natural resources. They have also opposed purging members of Saddam's now-ousted Baath party from government jobs and the armed forces, saying this was a roundabout way to punish members of their community.
Iraq's constitution stipulates that the fate of the northern, oil-rich city of Kirkuk be decided in a local referendum by the end of next year. The city is claimed by the Kurds, who want to annex it to their self-rule region. Kirkuk's Arab and Turkomen residents reject the Kurdish claim.
"Given the very dangerous situation in Kirkuk, international arbitration is necessary to avert communal violence," the Iraq Study group said in its report. "A referendum on the future of Kirkuk would be explosive and should be delayed."
Barzani countered: "Any delay in the implementation of this article will have grave consequences and it will in no way be accepted by the people of Kurdistan."
Well that makes all three major groups in Iraq rejecting it so if they wish to prove this group wrong they need to get their act together fast.
I don't blame Barzani a bit. I agree with him. The Kurds are an "inconvenient truth" for the crAPweasels of the media.
Good for him.
Perhaps the real purpose of the ISG report was to make it so wild and crazy, no one would go for it and everyone would focus on the report, and not their own piece of the mess. Israel is scratching their heads over the report along with the Kurds, Sunni, Shi'a, the US military, Britain, everyone.
Everyone except for a few Ivy league academics who have been patting each other on the back for a nine month, "job well done"... they have obfuscated the situation even more.
Kurdish Iraq is looking out for Kurdish Iraq. They oppose this report because it called for decreasing the oil revenues to the region and sending it to the central government - in a bid to strengthen that government over regional interests.
However, I would think that entrenched interests in Iraq being opposed to something might shed light on the necessity for it.
Britain is scratching their heads?
That's cutting and running ;)
I agree, actually. My plan involves a big fence and us on the perimeter. Kill anything going in or coming out, but let them fight it out within..
Tony didn't fly to the US for the hell of it.
"Arm the Kurds to the teeth and have them conquerer as much of Iraq as they can hold. Fence off the rest and let them fight it out. Massively bomb Iran and Syria if they try to interfere."
I went as far as suggesting that they take as much Iran and Syrian land they could hold for their Kurdistan. Then bring home the rebels from Turkish territory in exchange for support.
Problem is, many of the Kurd groups are Communist.
I'm still getting over finding out that Sandra Day was on the committee. Who the hell is she to try to figure out a war and what to do?? This bears similarities to the 9-11 commission. Uh, huh????
Don't you mean Tattaglia?
Did he flat out reject everything in that document? If so, the mainstream media is once again not reporting us the facts.
It is obvious by now that the ISG interviewed mostly those who are getting info, propaganda, and conventional wisdom, from the MSM.
Since all the good guys actually in Iraq are dissing the report as lame and uninformed.
No, Barzini. "Tattaglia's a pimp. He never could've out-fought Santino."
;-)
Given the betrayel by Bush41 following the First Gulf War if I were this man I would be working overtime to arm my people and prepare them for the (likely) betrayel by Bush43 or his successor.
My own dismay over the preciptous and accelerating decay of the United States (especially among its "leadership") could not be greater. It may be that Bush43 will try and hold the line but if a rat is elected president in 2008 (which I think likely) then our allies in the region will very quickly find that they are on their own.
The Kurdish 'dissing' is due mainly because the report calls for decreasing oil revenues to the Kurds.
But then Kurdish Iraq is such a different animal than the rest. That are has had relative autonomy for years prior to the invasion - a long time to establish much of the infrastructure already existing. The ISG's main failing, in regards to the Kurdish area, is in not treating it seperate. It really isn't Iraq anymore....
Now, as far as the Sunnis and the Shiites - well, there are no good guys there. If they show displeasure with it - well, then I am for it.
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