Kurdistan independence related articles & photos

[sheytanElKebir]

I must agree with some of the posters here.

The longer Kurdistan waits, the less likely it is that Kurdistan will take independence. There are many inter-twined factors for this:

1- The more Kurdistan's infrastructure and economy develops, the more people have "something to lose" and will seek to avoid war at any cost

2- The more time passes by, the more Iraq's military rearms (even if without the intention of ever attacking Kurdistan). But the balance of military power will swing massively in Iraq's favour, which weakens Kurdistan's hands when it comes to the "disputed territories".

3- The more people in Kurdistan live the "good life", the more arab, turkmen, christian migrants will move to Kurdistan, and Erbil will transform into a multi-cultural hotpot similar to Baghdad in its heyday.

4- With all the wars going on around the region, Kurdish people (even hardcore Peshmarga veterans will seek to avoid confrontations as much as possible.... the same is true for all the Iraqi military/economic leaders - a war is something that is IMPOSSIBLE)

5- The more Iraq's oil ouput increases, the more the Kurdish Budget from Baghdad will go up (even if the % has gone down)... this is money that no one wants to lose.

6- Much of the economic boom in Kurdistan is due to acting as the "safe proxy" for Iraq. An independent Kurdistan will lose this status, with subsequent negative flows of capital by Arabs/Christians who fear that their investments may be in danger in Erbil.

7- The Kurdish "big wigs" in Baghdad are very comfortable with their positions... and would lose their privileges if Kurdistan becomes a separate state... (Kurdistan has a notoriously large number of "big wigs" to keep in the "good life" for Kurdistan alone to absorb). These guys are going to oppose Kurdish independence FAR MORE than any arab nationalist (in fact all the arab nationalists I know only oppose giving Kurdistan the "disputed areas" and not Kurdish independence in principle... an important distinction).




In my view, Kurdistan's "windows of opportunity" for independence is 2012. They will de-facto take all the "disputed areas" under their existing control... but must avoid attempting to EXPAND it, since that will cause a war with Iraq which BOTH Kurdistan and Iraq will ultimately lose in.

[jjmuneer]

What disputed areas? Kahanqin and Mandali is Kurd Fayli areas.They can have the rest.

Yeh war will just damage both our economies, but lets face it. There are some Arab politicans who will attempt to profit off a war.

[alan131210]

What disputed areas? Kahanqin and Mandali is Kurd Fayli areas.

no one can argue that , they have been since kurdistan was islamized.

They can have the rest.

honestly bro who are you to say such things ? so you say we give away kirkuk to iraq ? even though many iraqis know its kurdish but still have the mentality to continue arabization bcoz its rich with oil , what about Duz khurmatu in slahadin province , sinjar and kurdish part of ninevah plain ? why ? are we land distributors to give give away our land ???

you better take this silly comment of yours back , in fact if i were you i'd edit it so will i.

[crazyhorse]

Lol Kirkuk is Kurdish. ENTIRE KIRKUK.
We WANT EVERYTHING BACK, EVERY SQUARE CENTIMETER OF LAND.

[alan131210]

Lol Kirkuk is Kurdish. ENTIRE KIRKUK.
We WANT EVERYTHING BACK, EVERY SQUARE CENTIMETER OF LAND.

except Hawija , which has been lost to arabs since oil was first found , hence massive immigration .

doesnt matter let them have Hawija , KRG will take back Duz Khurmatu which was annexed to Salahadin in 1968, since its part of 140 article ,

if the article is not implemented , there are other ways to take these areas back , ie via a vote process in kurdistan parliament like Barzani once suggested.

[KaniRashi]

Lol Kirkuk is Kurdish. ENTIRE KIRKUK.
We WANT EVERYTHING BACK, EVERY SQUARE CENTIMETER OF LAND.

except Hawija , which has been lost to arabs since oil was first found , hence massive immigration .

doesnt matter let them have Hawija , KRG will take back Duz Khurmatu which was annexed to Salahadin in 1968, since its part of 140 article ,

if the article is not implemented , there are other ways to take these areas back , ie via a vote process in kurdistan parliament like Barzani once suggested.

IF the Arabs won't give our lands back, even Hawija, then Kurds have another weapon, a very strong which won't cost much, block the water that goes from Lake Wan to them(through Kurdistan Region) so they will starve...they won't have water to drink xD...die out of thirst or cost alot

[jjmuneer]

Lol Kirkuk is Kurdish. ENTIRE KIRKUK.
We WANT EVERYTHING BACK, EVERY SQUARE CENTIMETER OF LAND.

except Hawija , which has been lost to arabs since oil was first found , hence massive immigration .

doesnt matter let them have Hawija , KRG will take back Duz Khurmatu which was annexed to Salahadin in 1968, since its part of 140 article ,

if the article is not implemented , there are other ways to take these areas back , ie via a vote process in kurdistan parliament like Barzani once suggested.

There is, FORCE.

[alan131210]

Lol Kirkuk is Kurdish. ENTIRE KIRKUK.
We WANT EVERYTHING BACK, EVERY SQUARE CENTIMETER OF LAND.

except Hawija , which has been lost to arabs since oil was first found , hence massive immigration .

doesnt matter let them have Hawija , KRG will take back Duz Khurmatu which was annexed to Salahadin in 1968, since its part of 140 article ,

if the article is not implemented , there are other ways to take these areas back , ie via a vote process in kurdistan parliament like Barzani once suggested.

There is, FORCE.

that is what i said , if our parliament votes on it , then Peshmerga will be deployed like we saw in Khanaqin's sliced off areas .

[jjmuneer]

But they didn't reay clash, plus I don't think the Arabs are so keen on using force like we are. So it would work to our advantage.

[sheytanElKebir]

the reactions here are by people who are clearly not in Iraq or Kurdistan.

Neither Iraq NOR Kurdistan is prepared to go to war. Yes there will be areas with Kurdish majorities which will remain under Iraq rule.

From Kurdistan's perspective this is a BETTER solution than going to war!

Much of Kirkuk is under Kurdish authority. Iraq won't start a war to "capture" all of Kirkuk. Neither will the Peshmarga start a war to "capture" tuz khormato and other areas under Iraqi control.

The COST of war is simply NOT WORTH the goal. At least for sane people!

Its easy to boast about going to war etc from behind a keyboard in Europe! Its better to keep things IN PERSPECTIVE and not destroy that which you profess to love!

[jjmuneer]

the reactions here are by people who are clearly not in Iraq or Kurdistan.

Neither Iraq NOR Kurdistan is prepared to go to war. Yes there will be areas with Kurdish majorities which will remain under Iraq rule.

From Kurdistan's perspective this is a BETTER solution than going to war!

Much of Kirkuk is under Kurdish authority. Iraq won't start a war to "capture" all of Kirkuk. Neither will the Peshmarga start a war to "capture" tuz khormato and other areas under Iraqi control.

The COST of war is simply NOT WORTH the goal. At least for sane people!

Its easy to boast about going to war etc from behind a keyboard in Europe! Its better to keep things IN PERSPECTIVE and not destroy that which you profess to love!

I have family in Baghdad my friend, I've been there many times aswell. So no I do not want a war, but you have to admit there is tensions. Though it may not be with the ethnic groups themselves, but with the government.

[alan131210]

the reactions here are by people who are clearly not in Iraq or Kurdistan.

Neither Iraq NOR Kurdistan is prepared to go to war. Yes there will be areas with Kurdish majorities which will remain under Iraq rule.

From Kurdistan's perspective this is a BETTER solution than going to war!

Much of Kirkuk is under Kurdish authority. Iraq won't start a war to "capture" all of Kirkuk. Neither will the Peshmarga start a war to "capture" tuz khormato and other areas under Iraqi control.

The COST of war is simply NOT WORTH the goal. At least for sane people!

Its easy to boast about going to war etc from behind a keyboard in Europe! Its better to keep things IN PERSPECTIVE and not destroy that which you profess to love!

there will be no war , we are simply taking but kurdish areas which were sliced off and arabized during saddam's era , iraq must undo these disasters or the new iraq is too pursuing the same mentality ! , otherwise we have a right to take them back by force , it will be iraq going to war not us since we are only taking back kurdish areas , and KRG will not break away without having 100 % of kurdish areas known as 'disputed areas' , which literally they are not disputes since they are kurdish and a simple referendum can determine that , but too bad the arabs do not know nor believe in such peaceful means to finalize the issue .

[sheytanElKebir]

I agree with you heval alan.

Arabs are loath to give up the disputed areas. Much of it is already under KRG rule, so that's not an issue (they won't start a war over it). The issue becomes whether Kurdistan will make a move to capture the areas not under its current rule. Kurdistan won't do that. It would simply trigger a war which Kurdistan simply won't do. Ditto, Iraq won't go and attack areas of Kirkuk, Diyala, Ninawa under Kurdish rule which they consider "iraqi". The de-facto boundary will be the current line of control.

Neither Arab nationalists nor Kurdish nationalists will be happy with that! but at least all the people will remain ALIVE and that is more important IMHO.

[alan131210]

I agree with you heval alan.

Arabs are loath to give up the disputed areas. Much of it is already under KRG rule, so that's not an issue (they won't start a war over it). The issue becomes whether Kurdistan will make a move to capture the areas not under its current rule. Kurdistan won't do that. It would simply trigger a war which Kurdistan simply won't do. Ditto, Iraq won't go and attack areas of Kirkuk, Diyala, Ninawa under Kurdish rule which they consider "iraqi". The de-facto boundary will be the current line of control.

Neither Arab nationalists nor Kurdish nationalists will be happy with that! but at least all the people will remain ALIVE and that is more important IMHO.

this is wrong thinking kaka shaytan, you see we kurds want to finalize the status of these areas but iraq and arabs do not and want to drag it along but what for ? its been 6 years already , which one do you prefer ?? and the longer we wait the lesser chances of getting them back when iraq gets its f16s .

i'd say the only way is moving peshmerga in sever the kurdish areas of those provinces and declare a kurdish state , or iraq has the option to go it peacefully via 140 which i have 0 faith in .

so it has to be either way or NO dragging it along any further .

so kurds are not asking for war but simply annexing "kurdish lands" that are under Peshemrga control but arab rule at the moment .

and yes the only sliced off parts which is not under peshmerga control its Jalalwa , Sadyea and Mandali which lies in Diyala province . the rest including kirkuk is controlled by Peshmerga and simply will be included in the boundary of a kurdish state, as deploying forces wont take place since its already under peshmerga .

[sheytanElKebir]

I think those parts of Diyala won't become part of Kurdistan. Its better than having a war where all the cities of Iraq and kurdistan are destroyed and hundreds of thousands killed!

Kirkuk is already under Peshmarga rule. so Iraq won't trigger a war over it.

Like you said, its better for Kurdistan to declare independence BEFORE Iraq's military becomes too powerful.

As for article 140, that simply won't happen IMHO. The line of control will be accepted as the de-facto border and neither side will make a move either way.