Please don't type in all CAPS, it's the equivalent to YELLING, let alone hard to read, thank you.
With that way, Kurds can protect themselves IF in the future something happened against them.
I'm not sure how this gives the Kurds the strength and power to protect themselves, or from whom it means they can protect themselves. Perhaps in the future I'll be able to figure this out.
well..think of it as the United Kingdom.. The Scots and the Welsh and the Irish all have their own governments and states but they all form the United Kingdom with the capital in England.
In that way, Scots and Welsh and Irish are being protected from any English control and they all contribute to the United Kingdom of Britain.
So, is there some reason that the, I believe it's three, primarily Kurdish nationality governates should have a federation among themselves, consisting of just these three provinces? Or is it enough that they are three of the separate "states" within the collection of eighteen Iraqi governates?
And, if the first, why is this important?
I agree with referendum, if the results of it grant land for Kurdistan, then I will support it. You will have to include all those invloved, which would be only the entire population of Iraq. I hope to see a large demonstration by Kurds soon, it would be a great sign. I feel large displays of peaceful demonstrations are great ways of getting your message across and powerful. I think Gandhi and Martin Luther King of two different faiths both used large demonstrations to fulfill their desires. They did it in steps, each step closer then the one before and reaching a point of great distance. I welcome you in adopting their traits, and put that breath into the movement of the Kurds.
I would really take the step of insuring your rights under Iraq's comming goverment as your first step, but its realy up to you. This time make sure you accept nothing other then freedom to live, freedom to be protected by the Iraqi government. I feel Northern Iraq is now connected enough to the world, by TV, internet ect... that if you take these steps no one can denie you the peace you want to live in, and have the rights you desevre. I would suggest maybe you study some about Martin Luther King and Gandhi, maybe you have, if so maybe exapnd upon it, try to look past their faiths and understand what greatness they brought to mankind. I'm really for these non-violent displays, because they are ways of healing, not ways of war and bloodshed. I wish the Kurds luck in their plight. Stay strong, best wishes.
Lee C.
well we don't need more divisions do we?. We prefer one single Kurdish federal state as it is easier for everyone to adapt. The Scots only have on state called (Scotland) and the Irish have one state (Northern Ireland) and the Welsh have (wales) etc et.
Rich.
Thank u for your great comments. Well as a matter of fact Kurds have realised that they need to solve thier issue peacefully. We can't afford another Halabja or Anfal. There are no sings of a referendum taking place very soon. But there are preparations for the demand of a referendum.
What we aim is, to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish cause. I beleive that a peaceful solution to the Kurdish cause will lead to the sucess of Iraq.
Most of the Iraqi states have failed because they couldn't find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish cause.
I hope that the Americans are capable enough to find this peaceful solution.
regards
Well Kurdo, don't get me wrong, I desire strongly a peaceful solution and freedom and prosperity for you, and I have no ax to grind other than that. However, I do strongly suspect that a federal structure that is not based on an ethnic identity, an 18 "state" federation, is more likely to serve the long term interests of the Kurds and not incidental also the Arab, and the Shia and the Sunni, and everybody. I think the "Kurdish" state within the Iraqi nation is likely a mistake. This is just one fellow's opinion, but we have here 50 states, many different peoples and I believe we have some experience that would be useful in considering this. However, I do not wish to hijack your blog with my theories. If you wish, just say the word, and I will explain it briefly in an e-mail and send it to you.
Just realized that Kurdo don't have an e-mail address up there. Figure that's intentional, and will make it hard for him to "say the word" if he's at all interested in the rest of my unsolicited theory on the subject of federalism for Iraq. So, here's my e-mail.
There maybe close to 1 million Kurds who live in Baghdad and other "non-Kurdish" provinces in Iraq. How do you think these Kurds will vote in a referendum about Kurdish independence?
No guarantees now, the GC is an emergency government and its successor is where things like that will be worked out among the various factions. That is the group which will be charged with coming up with an actual structure of government and law.
Keep track of who is running for office in that government, pick the best (or least objectionable), vote for that person or persons - man or woman. Perhaps talk about who you support, and why. Maybe write to one of the newspapers. Help raise funds. Whatever. It has been a while since there was much politics outside of Ba'ath, but you'll pick it up.
Do you have a link that will explain in some kind of historical context why Kurds should be given there own country/state? I dont know alot about it currently.
I feel its important to get the story out of how Kurds currently relfect on their past. I hope maybe someone will take up this task and goes to Northern Iraq is already there, or the Kurds themselves start making diaries, and writting their stories of what they have been through, its great for healing and the world needs to know. I will contact and research if any current efforts by the media outlets here, or anywhere in the world are taking up this cause.
well we all have big dreams but it all comes down to the details doesnt it? the main,number one reason america wont help kurds with independance is turkey. this is a big thing. for 50 years turkey has been america's ally. america even based some of its nuclear missles in turkey as some point! so the trust between america and turkey is high.also, it is one of the only muslim countries that recognized israel from early on. the turks have said one simple thing to america: no kurdish independance. humans rights and self determination and all that is all well and good. but from america's perspective, why would you trade one strong, reliable friend (turkey) with one weak, untested posible friend (kurdistan)? it seems like a no brainer. the only thing that can change this is the turkish government. even if america supported kurdistan over turkey and was willing to tke the risk, do you think america would fight turks if they tried to invade kurdistan to stamp out its independancece?
I think at some point Turkey needs to make improvements. They still denie the Armenin geneocide. Turkey has been losing support within America for the last 20 years. I feel at somepoint this will effect the government stance of the U.S.A.
Hello,
First of all I do agree with the fact that it was the British empire that screwed the whole region. I am not sure if they did it intentionally, but they did it. If you look at all the problems all over the world, it was caused by the British. First, they brought the Jews from Russia and Europe and put them in Palestine. Then they turned to the Kurds and split them into four or five states. Then they created countries that should not even exist. I mean, why should a country like Qatar with 120,000 people have all the oild wells while a country like Yeman with a much larger population have nothing? This patters was repeated all over the globe.
Why should Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds be all lumped into one country, ie Iraq? If they wanted to give Iraq oil, why didn't they give them Kuwait instead of Mosoul (especially if you consider that many Kuwaitis and Iraqis are from the same families).
[cont]
Nonetheless, the fact remains that we cannot go back in time and cannot change what already happened. I am 100% sure that America and the West will not allow Mosul to be seperated from Iraq. There is a simple reason: oil. If Kurdistan seperated, Iraq would collapse. People would literally starve and die by the millions. There would be a disaster. Look at how many people died in 1990-2000 even with the oil for food program. Imagine what would happen without the oil.
I know you will say this is not just. Well, the fact is, what can we do? We all support kurdish rights and everything, but nothing can be done. It would be impossible to give Kuwait or Qatar to Iraq. In fact, when saddam triued to do this, he was attacked by 31 countries.
So unfortunately, this referendum will never work.
Yeah, to bad Saddam failed when he tried to take Kuwait. I doubt its only the British fault, before the British there were other empires that owned the land, so if; it wasn't the British who set the current boundaries it would have been someone else who did in a way they saw fit.
Kurdo, I want to say how grieved I am about the terrible tragedy that happened today in the suicide bombings. I tuly hope the people behind it are caught quickly and put to death, and that there will be no more such bombings. The evil of these perpetrators is too much for the sane mind to conceive. Also I pray that the survivors will have a quick healing.
I, too, am deeply sorry to hear of this Kurdo.
I am terribly sorry for the events of today. I hope they find and put to justice those who were involved and help the people who took part. Justice must be sevred.
May I offer my condolences also. This was a terrible tragedy. I sincerely hope it does not damage the stability of the Kurdish people and their region.
And I feel sad for the grief of the friends and families who lost their loved ones.
Thank you all for your sympathies.. Terror has hit us all. It doesn't recognise black or white... Muslims or non-Muslims, Christians or Jews, etc etc....
May God bless you all.
Kurdo
kurdo--having faith and being reasonable is admirable. unfortunately, the US government has a long and obnoxious history of disregarding promises and even written treaties with indigenous people who have their own designated lands. Look at the long history of what they did to the Native Americans.
I personally just cannot comprehend what the threat is, to any of the nations where Kurdistan would be if it were marked out with boundaries and given to the Kurds, fair and square. I have a geological map of IRaq showing where the oil and gas deposits are, and there is plenty of it all down the region from the mountains, west. Iraq wouldn't lose oil income by a long shot if the Kurds got their rightful land. And Kurdistan is landlocked! everybody else gets a seacoast and therefore a port to the ocean. Kurdistan would be more like the middle eastern Switzerland than anything else.
maybe the UN would be a better ally to approach. Maybe the EU. Maybe Israel and Switzerland, for places to weave together pressure on the global community to grant Kurdistan nationhood.
could you make us a map in .jpg or .gif format. to show us where the likely boundaries of a Nation of Kurdistan would be drawn, if it were to bring together all the sundered kurdish people, now separated among the neighboring countries? How big would it be? what would it look like? what resources would it have? what would it 'rob' surrounding countries of, that they now covet to keep for themselves?
turkey is really a pathetically naive government. they tried to extort billions out of colin powell last year before they would grant the 4th ID logistics rights thru turkey. powell had to explain to them that nobody gets money like that. in their inexperience, the turks went home and decided to deny the US operating bases to enter IRaq from the north.turkey pretty much screwed themselves last march with their ill considered decision and transparent greed. we did the job without them.
Kurds might push harder to point out to the US that a bona fide reunited nation of Kurdistan, protected by the US military-- since it is already there now, could do more to demonstrate to the middle east and the world what free democracy looks like, than even Iraq can. The turks wouldn't dare take on the US military at the borders. and what of the other surrounding nations? syria? Iran? if the US wants a strategic footprint in the region, from which to spread out and police the area, it's a thought to contemplate.
the reason you can get that guarantee with your TV is because there is an authority higher than the manufacturer, who can call them into court under very real power to jail them and fine them, seize their assetts and force them to comply with standards. the trouble with treaties, promises and the like, is that at present theire is no world court with teeth, stonger than any one nation on eath, who can compel a nation's government the way the courts in a given nation can, a seller of goods.
the UN is not that body at present. all it can do is get representatives of nations into the same hall and get them to talk to each other and to listen. which is better than instantly resorting to war, granted.
But no entity as yet has emerged with the power and force of a world court that is strong enough to compel any nation to obey its judgements the way law enforcement in any town, city, state or nation can.
My thought is, there are no guarantees. Even the US may turn from savior to destroyer, given enough cause.
Only by retaining and defending your government can you ensure that you will not be persecuted. Despite their fearsome power, there are defenses against even the US government. Only by understanding America, instead of swallowing the easy lies and believeable propaganda, can your nation ever hope to stand as its equal.
Free tip: violence, or the threat of it, will not work. Not against America. Against the more immediate opponents you will face, the Arab nations, it is necessary to fight for your survival; but against America, or any of America's allies, it will only result in you being crushed.
Fit your weapons to your opponents.
Commenting by HaloScan
