Partition
The Kurds continue to take care of business in the face of increasing collapse in Baghdad. I really hope this works out for them and that they can defend whatever turn out to be their borders when the dust settles. Developments like these show how important it is to keep an eye on local systems for handling the essential functions of civilization, even as we experiment with larger, regional systems of coordination.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
With those oilfields and a couple of pipelines that run into/through Turkey, the Kurds have the means of some national income, too.
Given the way both the Shia and the Sunnis have treated them in the past, the Kurds are better off separated from "Iraq."
Eric Hines
If the Kurd's ally is the US, they'll be homeless pretty soon, just like the Republic of Vietnam.
An independent Kurdistan made out of northern Iraq is NOT going to make Turkey or Iran very happy. Both of them have Kurdish minorities bordering northern Iraq, and the Turkish area at least has had local Kurdish insurgencies striving to separate. If they start using "Kurdistan" as a safe haven you may see Turkey start making noises about invading.
Definitely a continuing concern. I was surprised to read a few weeks ago that Turkey was making friendly noises on the subject, but we'll see in the long run.
If an independent Kurdistan upsets Iran, then the idea can't be all bad.
Regarding Turkey, their upsetness isn't the done deal it used to be. They're making noises about helping the Iraqi Kurds, and if they could get the Kurds within Turkey to affiliate with the new Kurdistan instead of hectoring Turkey, the Turks might go along with it.
Eric Hines
Post a Comment