Kurds show signs of seceding from Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061006/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_kurds

With violence bloodying Iraq, Kurds in the peaceful north have been showing signs of going their own way, raising their own flag and even hinting they could secede in a dispute over oil wealth — moves that have alarmed Shiites and Sunnis.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Kurdistan on Friday underlined American worries that Kurds may be pushing too hard too soon for autonomy powers at a time of increasing sectarian tensions.

Kurds insist they are only using the autonomous powers given to them by the constitution passed last year that laid down a federal system in Iraq. But many of those powers — particularly the division of oil wealth — remain vague.

Some Shiites are also pressing for their own autonomous region in the south, but even mere talk of federalism — amid a wave of Shiite-Sunni violence that has killed thousands this year — has raised fears of the country falling apart.

"I warn those who back federal regions," a top Sunni Arab cleric, Harith al-Obeidi, said in his prayer sermon Friday in a Baghdad mosque. "They should think about security in Baghdad before claiming that federalism will provide security for the regions. ... Federalism in its current form will lead to the division of Iraq."

[texastoast]

1. Doesn't that make them tersts? n/t

[NOLADEM]

2. I agree with their sentiment, but this is a very bad move

This will bring Turkey into the fold. Turkey WILL NOT allow an independent Kurdish country. Their own country's borders would be thrown into question as their own Kurdish minority would seek to join the new Kurdish country.

The Shiites and Sunnis will finally find an issue to rally together for, which is killing all of the Kurds for stealing their oilfields.

The Kurds should slow down a little. This may still be in the cards, but they need to better organize, wait for the Sunni/Shiite civil war to go CRAZY after the US pulls back, and then, after consulting Turkey to assuage their fears, move slowly forward.

This current course will cost them all they have and more.

They are attempting to fly before crawling.

[msongs]

4. you don't believe in the right to self determination? I say ...

turkey loses nothing by giving up its kurdish territory except for square miles and tons of poverty stricken people.

iraq loses nothing, being a composite state with no natural reason for being as it is, and the sunnis/shiites lose nothing but a lot
of people they hate.

I say to the kurds, go for it.

BUSH wants democracy, let the kurds vote for it and have it.


Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[NOLADEM]

10. I support self determination...I also support not dying

Did not say they shouldn't be independent. Just said they are going too fast, and doing so angers your former countrymen, and since they are the VAST majority of the nation's population, pissing them (and the Turks) does not help your cause, and may well shorten your life.

As far as Turkey, your opinion of their interest in their own Kurdish region is in opposition to the facts. They have put troops on the border with Iraq, and have on occasion operated within the Iraqi border. They have said in clear, definite terms that a declaration of independence by the Kurds would result in an invasion.

You are partially right. The Turkish government does not care about their own Kurds, but they are not willing to get rid of a part of their country out of charity, forfeiting nominal oil reserves in their own Kurdish region, along with some minor minerals, and the value of it as a buffer zone from the craziest neighborhood in the world. They will NOT allow it.

Iran also has a dog in this fight. They have no pretense of being able to defend themselves against any type of invading force, conventional or otherwise. The Kurds should be more careful, or it will be invaded and in short order turned into a lawless crossroads, and the oil locked safely beneath the soil, to the detriment of our pocketbooks.

[acmavm]

3. They do this and it won't be peaceful for long. Kirkuk has some nice

oil fields.

The bush** admin would love to see them go solo. But them whacky Iraqis might just object.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Is that the sound of Turkish tanks rumbling into Northern Iraq?

There is no way the Shias, the Sunis, the Iranians, the Syrians, or the Turks, are going to allow the Kurds to set up an independent Kurdish nation.

[aquart]

6. An inevitable but bloody decision.

This is what they have wanted to do for a very long time.

If they believe the struggle is worth the terrible price, who can stop them?

They want to govern themselves. Where have we heard that before?

[doubleplusgood]

7. conservatism in action: "States Rights"

While I actually support the notion of an independent Kurdistan, this is yet another example of how Republcan policies favoring a weak central government have contributed to the de-stabilization of Iraq.

[last1standing]

8. Didn't Kinda Sleazy just visit there?

Very interesting timing for this. I'm guessing it's yet another brilliant foreign policy move instigated by the "adults" in the white house.

[ECH1969]

9. If the Kurds leave Iraq they will be butchered

by the hundreds of thousands by the Turks, Iranians, Sunnis, and Shia.

If there is one thing that would unite the Sunnis and Shia it would be the Kurds breaking away.

[anotherdrew]

11. "the peaceful north"? where we let turkey and iran shell towns? peaceful?

let them have it

[nealmhughes]

12. The Kurds are in a precarious state in Iraq, they are oppressed in Iran

the Turkish Republic. Dangerous game they have to play, I'd say. An eventual strong Arab Iraq in any shape is a danger to them as well as the Assyrians and Turkomen in the North.

I am reminded of the game that Romania played just before and after the start of both World Wars: having Hungary/Austria/Germany as neighbors on one side with ethnic divisions crossing the border (Transylvania) and Russia on the other...

They tried to play a dangerous game and got burnt as Allies during the War and as afterwards as part of the Axis. The West was so good at drawing lines at Versailles, why didn't they address Kurdistan then, pray tell? They cobbled together the 3 "Arab" areas of Turkey in Mesopotamia and called it Iraq and gave the Hashemites their own little kingdom....compensation for the Sherif of Mekkah getting booted out by ibn Saud, ya know.

Never mind the Mizrahim, the Assyrians, the Turkomen or the Kurds...

[bhikkhu]

13. Effective autonomy was gained in 1991 or so

under US "no fly" rules, and the inability of Saddam to regain any control on the ground. During the Gulf War II the Kurds overran Iraqi military installations from the North, coordinated with our forces pushing from the South. Weapons and so forth (stockpiled against the Kurds) were all incorporated into a well armed and well policed modern Kurdish state. Draw whatever borders you like, but the Kurds have their country, and the means to defend it.