Turkish incusion a "prelude"?
First time I've seen this anywhere, but it grabbed my attention.
If this happens, you have to wonder how long the Kurdish government can keep its opposition to only statements.
And, in another article on the Turkish incursion, (AP) Turkish jets fly into northern Iraq, we get this unbelievable quote from US Sec Def Robert Gates,
(Same article, Sadr smartly takes up the Kurdish cause.)
Turkish forces used jets and heavy artillery to pound the bases of Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq yesterday, as a prelude to a major assault in the coming days. Turkish news agencies reported more troops moving towards the remote border area.
If this happens, you have to wonder how long the Kurdish government can keep its opposition to only statements.
And, in another article on the Turkish incursion, (AP) Turkish jets fly into northern Iraq, we get this unbelievable quote from US Sec Def Robert Gates,
"After a certain point people become inured to military attacks," he said, "and if you don't blend them with these kinds of nonmilitary initiatives, then at a certain point the military efforts become less and less effective."
(Same article, Sadr smartly takes up the Kurdish cause.)
posted by mikevotes at
7:27 AM
4 Comments:
In three-five years, does the Turkey become more politically, and religiously aligned with Baghdad? Will we see a slow erosion of official Turkish secularism?
In five-ten years, does Kudistan go Kosovo?
I don't have much real knowledge of the region, but I see a trend developing.
By
-epm, at 8:07 AM
No, the Turks will not align with Baghdad. Baghdad will increasingly be Iran's puppet and the Turks will want no part of that.
The only way Kurdistan goes Kosovo is if the US or EU or Russia recognizes and defends their independence, and this far, for a variety of reasons, all the majors want to keep them where they are.
By
mikevotes, at 1:42 PM
I think the Kurds are at last well launched on the road to independence... though it may well come very gradually and take many years. One thing that would make it much easier for them would be if the rest of Iraq descended into chaos and there was no viable central government to resist their pullout.
The Kosovo example does make it a bit tougher for the US and the EU to resist full independence for Kurdistan. A Democratic administration in Washington might find it particularly awkward to oppose this.
By
Anonymous, at 3:07 PM
Oh, they're definitely going to try. They are in a historic window that may not come again for decades.
I think part of the difference with Kosovo is that the Kurds will not be happy until they have at least control if not ownership of the areas of southeast turkey and that small slice of Iran. That's the complication.
By
mikevotes, at 4:03 PM
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