I think the question of Kurdistan poses the largest moral dilemma of the war in Iraq. I think the question is larger than "get out and be defeated," or "stay in and defeat the terrorists." The question I think about with Kurdistan is what happens to the people there? I served one year in Kirkuk with the 101st and worked and lived with the Kurds every day. Your average Kurd has an overwhelmingly favorable opinion of the United States. The atrocities that those people suffered under the Sadaam regime were unbelieveable. I have seen the broken bodies of men tortured under Sadaam and the ruins of villages that Sadaam's regime destroyed during the Anfal. The regular people of Kurdistan are desperate for our (the U.S.'s) continued presence in their country.

On the other hand, there is no doubting that the Kurds have their own agenda. They quickly forgot how they were persecuted under Sadaam - in fact they often do the same to the Arabs and Turkomen who they share the city of Kirkuk with. The PUK and KDP aren't exactly the local cub scout chapter. Both parties readily use violence, including murder, to intimidate the local population, whether they be Kurdish, Turkoman, Arab, or otherwise. I am convinced that the best thing that my battalion (and those that served before and after us) prevented in that city is civil war/ethnic cleansing by the Kurds of their weaker Arab and Turkoman neighbors. The Arabs and Turkoman in Kirkuk aren't exactly angels either - suicide car bombs facilitated by the extremist segments of those populations all too frequently target Kurdish market places, police stations, and political pary buildings.

With all of that being said, I believe that we are morally obligated to support the Kurdish people. They are the largest nation of people on earth (approx. 35 million) that have no country to call their own. They are marginalized and discriminated against in every country they live in, whether it be Iran, Turkey, Syria, etc. Although the Kurdish political leadership are not choir boys I have seen the popular reaction to democracy during two elections and it was incredible to behold. Hopefully their free state can be part of a functional Iraq, although I am not so blind to see that as a hazy reality that fades more by the day. If not, then I hope America has the moral fortitude to support them in their search for nationhood.

Here's to saving people like my 'terps,

andrew

Wasn't the idea that the people involved constituted a horribly mistreated minority the reason that Israel became a State? That has been part of a problem that has been going on for DECADES now. Do we really want to do that again? Is it really good for anyone concerned?

You do realize that if the Kurds get their own country, the first thing that will happen is that Turkey will invade and crush it, don't you?

You raise a good point about Israel that I had never considered before. I do not, however, agree that Turkey would come rolling across the border the day after the Kurds gained independence. For one, they would stand to lose a lot from the invasion. Kurdistan is very rugged country that cannot be easily traversed by mechanized or motorized forces. Sadaam was never really able to wield total control over the region even prior to the Persian Gulf War and thus relied on terror tactics like the Anfal and poison gas attacks as well as brokering a ceasefire deal with the KDP to deal with the PUK (the most lingering issue between the two parties.) Also, the PUK and KDP are armed to the teeth with RPG, DsHK, and all types of small arms and artillery. They also have literally decades of experience fighting the Sadaam regime. With that being said, I don't think a Turkish invasion of Kurdistan would be a fait acompli as you imply. The Turks have their own problems with the PKK in their own country.

Additionaly, Turkey would stand to lose quite a bit in the international community. I do believe that their involvement would lead to sanctions by the UN and EU, something that could potentially be devastating to their economy. Also, they would seriously risk the displeasure of the US and other NATO allies, something I don't think they would do. All of this assumes that the US would have no military presence in Kurdistan.

I strongly believe that if the Kurds became a free nation there would be US military presence in the country, at least in the form of SF advisory teams and probably some additonal Spec Ops and Aviation/Fixed Wing assets to provide over the horizon striking capability into the remnants of an Iraqi state where Al-Qaeda operatives would be working, plotting, and living. I seriously doubt that Turkey would risk military confrontation with the United States in such a case.

The Turks are already readying a force. They haven't exactly been quiet about their intention.

While your sentiments re a Kurd nation is admirable you might want to dig a bit deeper into the Barzani/Talabani (Hatfield/McCoy analogy) history....past and present. They are but a more sophisticated incarnation of warlords whose nepotistism knows no bounds it seems. Corruption? There is much written about that as well.

I suppose my point is this thing called "nation building" that you seem to be advocating. You had mentioned the events of ethnic cleansing in Kirkuk. Should the US be a party to such policy? Havent we learned enough about babysitting nation building? And what of the nato doctrine "that an attack on a member is an attack on all members" (paraphrase). Turkey (a nato member) maintains that frequent PKK raids are originating from within Iraq Kurdistan.

You have, in a nutshell, descibed precisely the reason there will not be a free, independent Kurdistan anytime soon. Kurdistan, as a region, encompasses portions of northern Iraq, southern Turkey, northeastern Syria, and western/northwestern Iran. None of these countries is willing to relinquish parts of their territory in order to have an independent Kurdistan. Indeed, Turkey is currently amassing troops along Iraq's northern border, apparently in order to attack Kurdish rebels that have been attacking Turkish outposts as of late.

Do you have a read on how the average Kurd thinks about the PKK?

Do you think the PUK and KDP are actively sheltering PKK guys and helping them logistically?