Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Kurds deny Israeli presence in Iraqi Kurdistan

I just heard a Radio Sawa broadcast in which a spokesman of the Kurdish provincial government in Iraq categorically denied allegations that there is an Israeli presence whatsoever in the Kurdish controlled region. Apparently, the Kurds have come under fire for relying on Israeli military and security experts to build an airforce and train their security forces. The Kurdish spokesman emphasized that there are no Israelis in the Kurdish region, but said that the regional government does not discriminate against members of any religion, be they Christians, Muslims, Jews, or Yazidis. He also voiced his anger at the fact that the Kurds are singled out for alleged ties to Israel, while a number of Arab states (Egypt and Jordan) have Israeli embassies. Finally, responding to renewed talk about the historic links between the late Kurdish KDP leader Mullah Mustafa Barzani, father of the current ruling KDP leader Mas'ud Barzani, the spokesman argued that the late Barzani's action have to be viewed in their context and light of the dire situation of the Kurds at the time.

Previous Kurdish denials can be read on the website of the Kurdistan Regional Government (note the lack of an Iraq suffix in the .org domain). The Kurdish Regional Government's professional website full of English commentary is just one more indication of how much better the Kurds have fared in the new Iraq. As much as they might deny it, the Kurds are building a state and they're going about it the right way.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Finally, responding to renewed talk about the historic links between the late Kurdish KDP leader Mullah Mustafa Barzani, father of the current ruling KDP leader Mas'ud Barzani, the spokesman argued that the late Barzani's action have to be viewed in their context and light of the dire situation of the Kurds at the time."

Why do they have to make excuses as if it's something to be ashamed of?

I hope its true. Please, God, make it true.

J. said...

They're definitely under pressure from Arab political forces in Iraq and outside of it.

Amos said...

I think they're doing exactly the right thing by denying these reports. I am just a bit more skeptical about where these state-building efforts will lead. I hope the US isn't being totally incompetent on this because it is liable to blow up if handled incorrectly (so far, that has been par for the course for this administration). There is no way Turkey will allow a Kurdish state on its doorstep without very serious political and secuirty guarantees - and even then, who knows? The Kurds have to take a very vigilant stand against terrorism, and the US has to reassure Turkey that its borders will not be affected. How exactly can they give that kind of assurance? Will Turkish Kurds be willing to abandon historically Kurdish areas in Turkey for a new independent Kurdistan? For now, de jure independence is not on the table ... only autonomy, which the Kurds have de facto.

Mizgîn said...

Will Turkish Kurds be willing to abandon historically Kurdish areas in Turkey for a new independent Kurdistan?

This will never happen. Bakûrî Kurds will never give up their land, unless you are suggesting the ethnic cleansing (or genocide) of 20 million Kurds who are under Turkish occupation?

Turkey has already forcibly displaced between 3-4 million Bakûrî and destroyed well over 4,000 villages.

The land occupied by Turkey is the largest part of Kurdistan, with the largest Kurdish population in the world. Don't think that we will allow the Barzanîs to walk freely if they sacrifice those 20 million Kurds to the genociders again--just as they did in 1970-71. The Barzanîs will betray Bakûr not out of any love of "democracy" or concern for Kurds under their fascist rule in Başûr, or to secure the "independence" of South Kurdistan, or for "peace," or any other, similar fantasies.

They will do it strictly for self-interest.

Amos said...

Mizgin,

Thanks for your comment. I just want to clarify that I was definitely NOT advocating any form of ethnic cleansing or genocide, God forbid. My comment should have read "Will Turkish Kurds be willing to abandon CLAIMS to historically Kurdish areas in Turkey for a new independent Kurdistan?" Having said that, your response to this question is of course also NO.