http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/290920177 RBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United States “does not recognize” Kurdistan’s independence referendum, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced in a statement Friday evening. “The vote and the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq,” read the statement. Tillerson said that aspirations of stability and prosperity in the Kurdistan Region “cannot be advanced through unilateral measures such as this referendum.” He called for calm and for Baghdad to “reject threats or even allusion to possible use of force,” while urging Kurdish leaders to “respect the constitutionally-mandated role of the central government.” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, at the request of the parliament, ordered the deployment of troops to disputed areas following the vote. Iraqi forces have also engaged in military exercises with Turkey near the Turkey-Kurdistan border and on Wednesday, Iraq’s army chief of staff visited Tehran to discuss enhancing military cooperation.
I realize it's been a long standing policy to deny the Kurds a nation of their own. I know Turkey is opposed and has a decent sized Kurdish population, but so what? It seems to me the Kurds have been good guys throughout the middle east conflicts, from the first Gulf War through the occupation of Iraq to wiping ISIS calaphate from the map. Iraq doesn't want to give up the land the Kurds already live on and control? Turkey is afraid a Kurdistan will annex land where Kurds live in that country?
Ouch. Though I think this is much more about Turkey than in maintaining a "unified, federal Iraq". In fact, a geopolitical study would probably say that an Iraq broken into its historical thirds (Kurdistan, Shia South/East, Sunni middle/West) would probably do more for stability than anything else. But Turkey will not go for a Kurdistan on (encroaching into) its borders.
I think Brian's right about Turkey. They're our ally and a member of NATO, so we side step the issue. It seems like an issue of dignity and fair treatment for the people, though.
Oh my! I think this is wrong. I do not understand forcing these people to be part of what they do not want. Yes Turkey is opposed. They are not right either. Irag was cobbled together by the powers of the day with no knowledge but a map. Not much reason to stick with it. I hear California is thinking of pulling out of the US. What will Trump/Tillerson do with that pickle?
Yeah..I believe that Brian has the right of this. Turkey is already trending eastern rather than western with the rise if Islam within their political leadership. Bad time to apply any pressure for them to consider a separate Kurdish state along their border.
