THE BREAK UP OF IRAQ AND KURDISH REBELS
UPDATE : KURD LEADERS THREATENS TO BREAK AWAY FROM IRAQ
While the world's media focuses almost primarily on the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, one of the most important fronts in the new world war has opened up along the border between Iraq and Turkey.
Kurdish seperatists in Northern Iraq are calling for an independent state, taking in vast tracts of Northern Iraq and key territory in Turkey.
Kurds have turned to shocking acts of terrorism in their fight for independence. Curiously, the war for a Kurdish state fits neatly into the NeoCon plans for the break-up of Iraq and ultimate control of the second richest source of oil on the planet. Northern Iraq holds what are believed to be the largest untapped oil deposits left in all of the Middle East.
There has been a variety of academic, stock market and military analysis speculation since the start of the War On Iraq that once an independent Kurdish state is established in Northern Iraq, then an oil pipeline will be built from the (Kurdistan) city of Kirkuk, across Iraq, through Jordan, and ending in Haifa, Israel (or another Israeli city).
Tensions between Turkey and, primarily, the Kurds of Northern Iraq also sees Turkey looking to spend billions on defence in the next few years, including the purchase of some 30 jet fighters from US military industrialists giant Lockheed Martin.
Zaman.com summarises a recent story on the rising war between Turkey and the Kurds in the UK Economist magazine :
The Turkish Foreign Minister has told Kurds that they are basically taking their life in their own hands if they decide to fly the flag of an independent Kurdistan, and the leaders of Iraq are not happy either :The British magazine The Economist, commented on the recent blasts in Turkey’s tourist resorts and called on the international community to unite against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist network.
The magazine recalled a group affiliated with the PKK claimed the responsibility for the explosions, adding: “If, as seems probable, a group with ties to the PKK was responsible, it is time for outsiders, including Americans, Europeans and even the Kurdish authorities in next-door Iraq, where the rump of the PKK has its haven, to club together to squeeze it out of business.”
“Nothing justifies violence deliberately aimed at civilians, which is what Kurdish terrorists perpetrated this week in Turkey, killing and maiming a clutch of foreigners and locals with bombs in buses and other public places across the country.”
The magazine stressed Turkey has not given up its determined stance against the PKK, despite the explosions, underlining the Kurdish problem has not yet been resolved, even though a number of positive economic and political reforms have been realized.
As for the volatility in Iraq, The Economist asserted Turkey might approve of an autonomous Kurdistan in northern Iraq in the near future.
The magazine commented that as the region dragged into ethnic and sectarian conflicts it was hard to assess to what extent the Kurds in Turkey and elsewhere deserved independence.
"If Iraq is willing to accept a flag that is not its own to fly on its own territory, it's over."It is extremely curious that the US and UK NeoCon media have so little to say about the terrorist attacks on tourist resorts in Turkey. Perhaps such brutality is only terrorism when the results do not benefit the long-dreamed of NeoCon fantasy of 'The New Middle East'.
Turkey neighbors Iraq, has its own large and restive Kurdish population and is wary of any separatist moves among Iraqi Kurds, fearing they could encourage Turkey's estimated 14 million Kurds to join their Iraqi counterparts in a fight for an independent state.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a terse statement Sunday saying that only the national flag should be hoisted throughout the country.
The Kurdish region of Iraq has gradually been gaining more autonomy since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, a worrying development to Turks and many Iraqi leaders, especially Sunni Arabs.
If the Kurds were to become independent along with the Shiite majority in the oil-rich south, the Sunnis would be left with almost nothing.
Turkey has been waging a media-silent war with Kurdish independentists since the early 1980s, a war that has claimed the lives of more than 37,000 people, mostly Turks.
Interesting interview here from the Council On Foreign Relations website detailing the apparent tension between Turkey and the US, and what an independent Kurdistan would mean for Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq. Some key quotes :
"Many Turks blame the United States for their national security problems and the larger concern about the emergence of an independent Kurdish State..."Tens of billions of dollars worth of oil and defence contracts feature prominently behind this war for Kurdish independence.
"We understand the Turkish perspective on the situation and they understand the political constraints that we operate under in Iraq, but it has placed us at loggerheads with Turkey. Because we invaded Iraq and we control Iraq, many Turks blame the United States for their national security problems and the larger concern about the emergence of an independent Kurdish State."
BBC : Islamist Consiracy Fears Rage In Turkey
The Independent Republic Of Kurdistan
Turkey Warns US To Take Action On Kurd Independentists As Iranian Military Joins Turkey In Fight Along The Iraq Border
Kurds Warn They Are Prepared To Bring "Hell" To Turkey
Earlier Coverage From This Blog On The Kurds Vs Turkey & Iran War :
Iraq : The Border War With Turkey And Iran
"No Friends But The Mountains" : Turkey And Iran Line Up To Crush Kurdish Uprising
