Iraqi Kurdistan faces threats on two fronts

[hollister]

Iraqi Kurdistan faces threats on two fronts
Thu, 10/18/2007 - 10:26am.
Turkish troops continue massing along Iraqi border, preparing for possible cross-border
assaults on safe havens of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party. The United States, among other countries, has urged Turkey to back off, fearing an attack could destabilize the one
relatively stable region in Iraq.

What is less known is that Iraqi Kurdistan is already under attack from Iran, which is
targeting the Party for Freedom and Life in Kurdistan (PJAK). Members of the party, which calls for a separate Kurd state, have clashed repeatedly with Iranian forces in recent years. The confrontations had been taking place in northwestern Iran, where PJAK forces were attempting to expel Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard from Kurdish area. But last month, Tehran acknowledged it had begun shelling PJAK bases inside Iraq. When asked about the attacks, Gen. Yayha Rahim Safavi, military adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said:

Some of their bases are 10 kilometers deep inside Iraqi territory, so this is part of our
natural right to secure our borders. Of course we issued warnings to the Iraqi government and told it to take them [PJAK members] away from the border and respect its obligations. But unfortunately the Kurdistan region, the northern part of Iraq, did not listen, so we feel entitled to target military bases of PJAK and they have been under our artillery fire.

Now, there are reports that Revolutionary Guard troops are gathering at the Iraqi border,
readying for an assault. So Iraq's Kurds face attacks on two fronts. One attack could destabilize the region. A second could send it spiraling toward all-out war.

President Bush reiterated yesterday that he doesn't want Turkey in Iraq. But oddly, he's
been silent on Iran. Some reports suggest the United States is preparing war plans against
Iran. Could an overt strike by Iran on Iraq be the public justification for the United States to put these plans into action?

[bescheid]

It is understandable to Kurdish wish for {National Identity} but their methods are not exactly a recipe to success with the use of force. The only option they them selves have offered to future the, selves with. Is the old, but successful method of combat use against an organized military force, is implementation of {Irregular Belligerent Forces}{Guerrilla Forces}. And as so it would seem, not a matter of how to win a friend in the country they {Kurds} live in.

At present also, it would so seem as not a good time for American forces to enter or present to The Iranian Government this related threat. For now at present, an Alliance has been formed between that of Turkey and Iran. As in so, also is the very real and present threat of denial use of Turkish military bases to American Armed Forces. If those bases are shut down for use, the American forces are then trapped with out a rear door of demarcation, as also, the supply line will be cut to currant military forces based in Iraq.

With also the above, will go removal of fly over air space to US Military Aircraft {both fighter and airlift command}.

Sooo, now what? Only because of a little people with big ideas, or is freedom only limited to those with the means of demand?

Charles

[pieter]

Charles,

I am in the Middle of the Iraqi-Kurd troubles in my work right now, because the tension between an Iraqi Kurd and a Turk at my radio station is evident. I followed their heated discussions with amumesement (irony). The Turk calls the Kurds in his country Mountain Turks, and the Iraqi Kurd tells the Turk to get out of Turkish Kurdistan. Fortunately their heated debate is with a tongue in the cheek, because the Turk also has contacts with Turkish Kurds, but he is a fierce, secular, Nationalistic Turk, with a Sunni Muslim background. The confrontation now is playful, but I don't know what will happen when the Turkish army will invade Iraq.

The problem of the Kurds is that their Kurdistan is spread over various countries, and the Kurds live in Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Syria and Iraq. The Kurds have traditionally few friends, and were always used strategically by the big powers in the region. They fought for the Turks as missionairies (against the Armenians and against the Greeks in Cyprus),
they fought for Saddam in the bloody eight year Iraqi-Iranian war from 1980-1988, they fought against the Iranians and Syrians in uprisings in Iran and Syria. Everywhere (exept Armenia) they were prosecuted, opressed and massacred by their Turkish, Arab and Persian (Iranian) opressors.

I think it will be a big mistake from Turkey to invade Northern-Iraq, because the Turks will have not only the Turkish Kurd guerilla's of the well trained and equiped PKK against them, but also Iraqi Kurd clans, militia and trained Kurd special forces (who are trained and hardened in active combat against Iraqi insurgents, Al Qaida in Iraq and Sunni and Shia clans and militia's) who fought side by side with the Americans and the Iraqi army in the Arab regions of Iraq. The Kurd forces are the best forces of Iraq, and more reliable than the Sunni- and Shia Arab militairy and police forces. They are more disciplined, better trained, better equipped (because the Iraqi autonomous region is the wealthiest part of Iraq). The Iraqi Kurd militia's were trained by American and Israeli special forces.

I really think the Turks don't want a conflict with the Iraqi *Persmegga's

Pieter

*The Pershmerga, for those who have not closely followed reports on Iraq, are a military force of an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 Kurdish troops. They make up the defensive structure of northern Iraq, or what some call Kurdistan. They also keep a tight security cap on the region, which is said to be the calmest area of that country.

Links:
www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=32593
www.theconservativevoice.com/article/19605.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshmerga
pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=gallery&gallery_id=0&provider_id=352&ptp_photo_id=ptl:afp:xt-mt-320-1214675

[Jaga]

Hello Pieter,

very interesting e-mail. Holland is becoming a melting spot really! I do believe that Kurds have a right to feel Kurds. They live in the mountains, isolated of the other ethnic groups and they have a sense of national identity. Calling them - mountainous Turks, Iraqis etc does not make any sense.

Referring to Turkey, I have a feeling of a certain shadenfreude since it was Iran which allegedly was the worst threat for the peace in Iraq. Now it is clear that this all was just propaganda of neoconservatives and Israel. Now, Turkey, which is considered an ally, is the first country to try to invade....

I understand that Turkey has problems with Kurdish extremists, still. this does not justify invasion of other country or its part.

[kaima]

pieter said:

I think it will be a big mistake from Turkey to invade Northern-Iraq, because the Turks will have not only the Turkish Kurd guerilla's of the well trained and equiped PKK against them, but also Iraqi Kurd clans, militia and trained Kurd special forces

Pieter

Pieter,

Is it not true that Turkey has gone into northern Iraq after the Kurds in teh past? It seems to me they do so every five or ten years, whenever the PKK gets nasty in Turkey they chase them across the border and chase them down if they were too much trouble.

It seems the excitement about it all is a bit artificial this time, though the Kurds are feeling their new political and military power. They should not try to take on the Turks at this time.

For the Americans who say the Turks shouldnot cross the border, we have the great tradition going back to our army chasing Pancho Villa in Mexico, and GWB chases across the world to chase down dictators at will (Saddam), distracting our nation from the war on terror. So Turkey has to do nothing more than follow our example.

Kai

[Jaga]

+++For the Americans who say the Turks shouldnot cross the border, we have the great tradition going back to our army chasing Pancho Villa in Mexico, and GWB chases across the world to chase down dictators at will (Saddam), distracting our nation from the war on terror.+++

Jon Stewart had a point yesterday in his show. He showed the double standard. When Israel went to Syria Bush said that Israel had a right to do so since Syria is harbouring terrorists.
+Countries harboring terrorists are as guilty as terrorists+

Now, Bush is saying that Turkey should not come to Iraq.

The region around Iraq is not quiet. There are bombing in Pakistan and Turkey, still the US wants to make it worse by attacking Iran which is relatively quiet.

[pieter]

Kai,

I can understand the Turks, because they have lost a lot of civilians due to PKK terror and Turkish soldiers, but I can also understand the Kurds, who for a long time were prohibited to use their national Kurd language (or the various Kurd languages), to maintain their ancient Kurd culture and identity. Turkish Kurds were as to say forcibly Turkishificated, forced to use the Turkish language, take Turkish names and etc. Some of the Turkish Kurds are really more Turkish than Kurd, because they live among Turks in the Turkish cities and speak the Turkish language better than the native Kurd lamguage of their grandparents and parents. The domination of Kemalism (Ata Türk's ideology based on the "Six Arrows": (1) Republicanism, (2) Populism, (3) Secularism, (4) Reformism, (5) Nationalism and (6) Statism (or Etatisme)), in which Turkish national unity of Turks of every ethnic background is important, made it difficult for Kurds to be themselves. last years there were reforms in Turkey (against the opinion of the Powerful Army and Nationalist parties), who gave Kurds more freedom (even there were Kurdish programs on Turkish television). In the Netherlands and Turkey Turks and Kurds live side by side, as neighbours, colleages and friends, but there are tensions and there are extremists on both sides. The Turkish army and Nationalists have done a great deal to create the PKK, and the Kurd seperatism and the growing Kurd selfawareness. People who are opressed get a stronger National identity (look at Poland, the Poles got their strong patriotism from the partititions of their country).

Link:
www.allaboutturkey.com/ata_prensip.htm
www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3183
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurd

[bescheid]

Pieter

I do recognize and hold a great of respect in as much to your position. For one, you must by virtue of your position, remain neutral, but then you are a human being, as be of so, also you must abide by your own sympathies.

A very difficult position to remain as so, between the Kurdisch and Turkisch you between....But, the saving grace is your self, and of your professional standing.

Perhaps this that I have to offer in reply, may perhaps be not that you wish to hear. But, it is just from some personal experience whilst in and from the prospective of Syria of Kurdisch minority.

There are two large cities in Syria, one that of {Damascus} the remainder is {Aleppo} near by to boarder of Turkey, also as being most of European. This was my home and work place for of 3 years, but not one that I would have preferred. For the area was of Marshland, and with marshland, is the nasty situations of {Bugs}, and with bugs, there is the situation of disease. Some how with the many various inoculations required before of entering a tropical area, I must have been spared from the notary disease of {Aleppo Hand}, it is a swelling of the top of hand that resembles a very large boil, it is unpleasant and not so very easy of treatment. My own personal feeling is this: the pestilence is caused from one of one million darn flying insects that arise out of the swamp lands.

The Kurdisch people: Yes, there were/is a large population of them in the old walled portion of the city {Aleppo}. For the most part, todays people are modern European, and the office ladies are not different being some where of Kurdisch. Who knows and who cares, they for the most part were, very attractive and efficiency in their work.

But,,,the menial labour Kurdisch were {stand a lone} with their outlandisch bagged pants and work attire. Very much non-conformist with prevailing trend of modern work attire. This only as an observation, for we were required not, to present any interference of the indigenous population in any form or situation.

Whilst as commonly known, yes, the Kurdisch were not allowed to speak in public their own ethnic language, as it was for-bidden by Syrian law. Nor, were any Kurdisch people to gain Syrian citizenship by Syrian law. They were always to be as only resident visitors whilst in Syria. Once to approach the Turkisch boarder from Syria, it is just the usual cross boarder checks that are expected.

In other words, I am not so sure the hype of the situation, for what is neu?

Charles

[pieter]

Charles,

The Kurds are often second hand citizens in the countries where they live as large minorities, and therefor they often did and do not have the means to develop themselves and have the same progression in life like the surrounding Arabs, Iranians and Persians in the countries they live. I have to say that the Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish Kurd populations have more developped Kurds then you described in Syria, but you have the same poor, non-conformist, often tribal or very orthodox-Sunni-Muslim Kurds in those countries. Like in every people you have developped and civilized Kurds and underdevelopped, very poor Kurds of the mountain and rural area's. In the Turkish and Iraqi cities you have and had many Kurds, and many of them studied, had good skilled working class, Middle-class and even high class and scientific and cultural jobs. The Kurds are survivors, stubborn, tough, proud, intelligent and Patriotic people. The intelligent Kurd leaders know that on the long term a political solution with dilpomatic negociations and public protests of the Kurd populations (of students, the people and etc.) is better than this ongoing useless
war in which nor the Turks nor the Kurds are winning. A big problem for the Kurds is their discord, between Turkish Kurds themselves, but also among Iraqi Kurds, and the Kurds of Iran and Syria. You have the Kurds who choose assimilation or who find their Muslim identity and so loyalty to the Arab culture and religion more important. Kurd Islamist organisations like the Turkish Hezbollah killed other (secular) Socialist, Nationalist and Alawite Kurds, these Orthodox Sunni Kurds are comparable with the
other Islamic terror movements like Al Qaida in Iraq, the Salafist group in Algeria (Al Qaida in Northern-Africa) and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Palestinian area's. I know that these groups until now were a bigger threat than the Turkish army or the Iranians, who also attack Iraq every now and then (but the Iranian bombardments never make the press). Imagine how powerful the Kurds would be if the 27 to 37.5 million Kurds in all the countries where they live would unite for the one goal, a United Kurdistan, or Kurd authonomy in the countries they reside. The Kurd problem is created by the colonial powers who could have created a Kurdistan after the fall of the Ottoman empire. If the Kurds would have been united then in one country, nobody would could have beat them then. Today Kurds in all those countries are Seperatists, and feel more Kurd then Arab, Turk, Iranian or Syrian. This problem will remain until Kurd authonomy or the recognition of the Kurd identity as a people, culture and even relgion ( Yazdanism and ) will be established!

You see that I am a little bit Pro-Kurd, but in the same time not anti-other nations or people. War is just not the answer in this case, and I agree witht the Americans and Iraqi's who are against a Turkish militairy operation in Northern-Iraq?

Why, whel because Northern-Iraq is the only proseperous, quiet (peaceful) and "rich" region in Iraq. The Iraqi Kurds are the wealtiest Iraqi's right now and the Northern-Iraqi economy is blosseming. The Real estate market has exploded, they are working on their infrastructure, airfields are being made, Universaties and schools built, the Kurd autonomous authorities are functioning well, the Kurd police is good and the united militairy force of the Kurd front of PUK and DKP is a great supporter and help for the Central-Iraqi government and the American armed forces in Iraq. A Turkish invasion will destroy the ballance in the North of Iraq and deteriorate the situation in the whole of Iraq. If Turkey goes in Iran certainly will attack the Iranian Kurds who found shelter in the North-east of Iraq by their Iraqi Kurd brethern, and Saoudi Arabia will support the Sunni Arab minority, the Iranians will back the Shia militia even more (openly) and the Syrians will back the Iraqi Baath party insurgents (how much the Syrian Baath hated Sadam Hussein afte rhis death the Syrian Baath ofcourse want to have control over the remaining Iraqi Baath elements, and under the Iraqi Baath people there were many people who were not so much Pro-Saddam, but more opportunists. In the Arab tribal clan structure loyalties can change like the wind, history has proven that). Ofcourse other Arab and Muslim coultries will also want their share of influence in Iraq too, so there will be a lot of Secret services and Arab/Muslim country woriers active there (think about
Egypt, the Lebanese Hezbollah and Fatah al Islam, the Algerian Salafists, Palestinians - who are both refugees and fighters in Iraq- Chechens and others!)

Pieter

Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alevi (20% of the Turkish population, both Kurds and Turks)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazdanism

[bescheid]

Pieter

I understand you and do appreciate your post, for it speaks much of your self as a person. For you are a humanitarian in as much as should be. For yourself and the primary most of your country, are very well respected in that of Hollanders.

May also I add of this: Yes, I understand your {pro-Kurdisch stance} this is good, for it inself, indicates your intrinsic kindness and high regard to that of humanity. I would very well gain much to appreciate of this.

I stand to wonder though Pieter, for your contact with Kurdisch people is of both in a social manner and that of professional standing. For at what ever standing, for we are people, and as so, we are subject to that of our own weaknesses. For in a social environment, is a controlled arena of how ever we may wish it to be, that of partially of our own conduct and making in conjunction to the prevailing situation. In other words, we have the ability to create and maintain what ever to a much extent, the environmental situation we may wisch it to be, in a social environment.

For my limited exposure to Kurdsch in Syria was entirely primarily of observation and business contacts within the confines of office to office association. Also that of out side observation in a real life scenario of every day work life.

Whilst my work life assignment in Syria was with very little stress, it was non-the-less under the pleasure of the Syrian Government as being a guest in their country within the out lines of our Embassy in Damascus. Still whilst in their country {Syria} I was as others, at the mercy of first the national laws of conduct of the Syrian Government and subject to that of penalties that would be commensurate with what ever judgment and/or penalties prevalent with judgment finding.

Then there are the laws of every day living and what is tolerant and what is questionable. My mention of the Kurds wearing of ethnic clothing to set them selves apart is very true. For they were not required to do this, for by them selves, or by the national government. They dressed them selves as a slant, to say they are different, for they are Kurds as above all others.

This is ok, very fine, but, let us be real, for they were no more better then my self and by all standards, not so very good for them selves or others of Kurdisch. For they were setting them selves up to be targeting of what ever.

This was the elderly and agriculture set. The young people and those of some and advanced education, were very much in tune so to speak, in the business world. Not different,just efficient in their work. And with this, were with out the difficulty of worry and concern of police arrest.

I will say this: Syria is a very safe and people oriented country. The area of concern that would arise, is to those people interested and active in anti-government activities. Then one most guarantee is this, they will face eventual arrest in a most unpleasant manner.

And yes, there are mores and manners of conduct that are universal.

My many border crossing between Syria and Turkey were for the most part, very casual, but not by accident. For one thing. With my International operates license {vehicle} with my passport {German} and a letter of travel permission {in Arabic} written and signed from the issuing minister of state of Affairs in Damascus. A border crossing was routine. AND using common sense. Never cross {attempt} from Israel to Syria, for you will never make it. But instead, with your pass port stamped in Israel, cross over into Jordan, then into Syria.

The Turkisch border crossing is easy, simply be your self and have within the confines of your wallet, a few attractive naked Israeli ladies photos, then once picking up your viewed papers, simply leave the photos to the turks for later personal inspection. Once this is completed, ever after crossing is very pleasant.

One final noten: It is much easy to travel by motor cycle. Once off the high speed motor way, the road ways are not always very good, some equal and/or less then that of a goat trail. With a motor cycle, it only the occasional platter of goat droppings thrown by the tyres onto the mud guards that is of irritation.

www.aina.org/news/2007101522389.htm

Charles

[pieter]

www.fravahr.org/spip.php?article297