Iraqi Kurds caught between rebels, foreign forces

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060505/wl_nm/iraq_kurds_dc

RAZAGA, Iraq (Reuters) - Kurdish villagers are fleeing their homes in northern Iraq after shelling and incursions by Iranian forces and a massive build-up of Turkish troops as both militaries move to crush separatist guerrillas.


Government leaders in Iraq's Kurdistan say Iran has attacked Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas in Iraq three times in the past two weeks, and Turkey insists it has the right under military law to carry out cross-border operations if need be.

The PKK, seeking a Kurdish homeland including southeastern Turkey, accuses Ankara and Tehran of mounting coordinated operations against the group and its Iranian wing, PJAK.

About 60 of the 70 families in the village of Razaga, 6 miles) from the Iranian border, fled after almost four hours of shelling on Monday, local people told visiting reporters later in the week. Iran denies hitting targets inside Iraq.

[acmavm]

1. Like the Kurds EVER had a chance at an independent

Kurdistan. That was never ever ever gonna happen.

What I can't understand is why the Kurds ever thought that it would. And that they'd have control of the Kirkuk oil fields. Those ideas just seem to border on delusion. Look at who they're up against. And if the bush** administration ever made them any promises, well then. If they don't understand the neocons by now...

[Chrisduhfur]

2. Are there US forces up there?

Or are they pretty much on their own?

[Warren Stupidity]

4. We have special forces in the area.

National Geographic ran an amazingly good article on what is going on in kurdistan, understated and formatted in their usual travelog type story.
http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0601/sights_n_sounds/index.html

Part of this article included accounts of US special forces operating in the region, and lots of good stuff about just how serious the kurds are about protecting their autonomy and moving towards nation status. Their militias are nominally integrated into the Iraq army but function as descrete units maintaining their organizational and regional identity.

The article indicated that the Kurds were well aware (how could they not be) of the political dynamics of their situation and had little trust in American intentions and in particular of our forces in the region.

[azurnoir]

3. There is alot not being said is Al-Zarqawi still in

Kurdistan? We know he was there. It is of very little surprise that al-Zarqawi was in Kurdistan. But not as the wing-nuts claim to give aid and comfort to Saddam, far more likely (almost certainly) to recruit Kurds for AQ. Does PKK have ties to AQ in Iraq? *co has been less than forthcoming about his relationship with the Kurdish people and daddies role in Saddam's genocide against the them.
This would be born out by a statement a Kurdish friend made to us shortly after the 3/03 invasion he said the general feeling at home (Kirkuk) was that "Saddam and George were sitting on a beach somewhere sipping mint juleps and toasting they're brilliance for pulling this charade off". It should also be noted that about 2weeks after the invasion this family decided to call home they had not had any word from family in Kirkuk. Shortly I mean moments after they hung-up the FBI was at their door and questioned them for hours about any possible contact with AQ (this made no sense to me at the time) the Kurds were supposedly our allies. These people had been here since Gulf War1 on asylum from Saddam, one of the men in family was applying for citizenship, when he went to the INS center to fill out some final paperwork he was arrested and held for 9 months without explanation. It took 5 federal judges saying there was no reason to hold him (5 separate appearances)and several character witnesses for him to be released still with no explanation as to why he was being held. This man returned home to Kurdistan after his release about 18 months ago. NO one has heard from him in about 6 weeks now and are greatly concerned.

I believe that with assistance from the UN the Kurds could have their homeland, but it would take co=operation from a number of parties that more interest in procuring the oil in Kurdistan then in the lives of the Kurdish people.