Kurd fighters may add muscle to Baghdad offensive

Reuters ^ | February 9 2007 | Mussab Al-Khairalla

[jmc1969]

When U.S. and Iraqi forces step up an offensive against militants in Baghdad, 4,000 Kurdish soldiers will be there on the frontlines, taking part in their first major operation under Iraq's new army.

Those soldiers, drawn largely from Kurdish Peshmerga militias in the northern autonomous region of Kurdistan, will have to navigate a different language, a largely foreign city and perhaps a hostile population.

But they will bring with them a reputation for discipline and in Iraq's bitterly split Shi'ite and Sunni Arab sectarian divide -- could be seen as neutral, even if some Kurdish soldiers have mixed feelings about their deployment.

"Their professionalism will guarantee a measure of success," said Baghdad resident Ahmed Ubaid, a 38-year-old Sunni.

The peshmergas -- "those who are ready to die" in Kurdish -- gained valuable experience in guerrilla tactics when they fought Saddam Hussein's nationalist army in the 1970s and 80s.

[Joe Boucher]

After years of being slaughtered by both shia and sunni I'm not to sure the Kurds will be Neutral as they patrol the streets of Baghdad. I more think they will shoot to kill a lot faster then American troops are allowed.

[musicman]

"I more think they will shoot to kill a lot faster then American troops are allowed."

You have a good point. They won't have to worry about the US Lame Stream Media everytime they want to pull the trigger and possibly disrupt one of the many terrorists' "weddings"....

[Doogle]

...the Kurds should and should have been used on the Iranian border. No US troops have been killed in Kurdistan by Kurds ( I've heard in the past that they have volunteered to do so...now it's time to allow them)

Doogle

[bboop]

"I more think they will shoot to kill a lot faster then American troops are allowed." -- my thoughts exactly. For this reason I celebrate this news!