Peshmerga

[alan131210]

[ideas]

Great photo idea and great post you always have crucial news but I don't see you as much as before !! And I know someone who came from Erbil To Sydney for a visit told me the same thing he said pesmerga have bought ( whether bought or given in return for the US base ) 12 choppers for peshmerga and his friend too seen them with own eyes and that at night some of em hover over the city.

Barezi kak Alan gyan.. you have me on Facebook, we're never too far away. I'm really busy with Uni as it is exam season, I do however protect Kurdish honor when it is being stepped on every now and then on some forums. Yes that is what I have been told though.. my friend (also on facebook) is an interpreter for the US army (and I know he is because he has pictures of himself with the 'interpreter' badge) said he was present at the meeting which was 'classified' where the Americans gave weapons for land and the right to remain.

[ideas]

There is also this Turkish article I found, the translation using google translate is pretty bad, however from my understanding it is basically about the Turks requesting that the Americans don't leave the weapons for the peshmerga... it seems that request was denied. Maybe someone that can speak Turkish can give us a better translation?

http://www.atasehirweb.com/teknoloji/ab ... h8864.html

Quote from article: Using translate.

The United States 'grant' request "peshmerga groups" stay

The government does not want to keep groups of peshmerga in northern Iraq of weapons. Turkey, U.S. does not want to keep weapons in the hands of particular groups of peshmerga in northern Iraq. 45 thousand people and the power of the U.S. military pulls out of Iraq, the weapons left behind are wondering what will happen

[alan131210]

There is also this Turkish article I found, the translation using google translate is pretty bad, however from my understanding it is basically about the Turks requesting that the Americans don't leave the weapons for the peshmerga... it seems that request was denied. Maybe someone that can speak Turkish can give us a better translation?

http://www.atasehirweb.com/teknoloji/ab ... h8864.html

Quote from article: Using translate.

The United States 'grant' request "peshmerga groups" stay

The government does not want to keep groups of peshmerga in northern Iraq of weapons. Turkey, U.S. does not want to keep weapons in the hands of particular groups of peshmerga in northern Iraq. 45 thousand people and the power of the U.S. military pulls out of Iraq, the weapons left behind are wondering what will happen

well America have their own interest in kurdistan just cos turkey barks they wont get it their way i hope US refused their demand in retaliation of turks rejecting US army to use their soil in 2003 iraq invasion . and also there has been eye witness (my dad is now living in kurdistan and told me this) at the time of US army withdrawal , large US convoys were heading to north via Kirkuk now from what we know US only withdrew its forces and weaponry from south into Kuwait !!! where are all these weapons and armory i wonder !!! .

[alan131210]

Highlights in this update include:

*GoI/KRG agreement?; RGB personnel training at Taji; Peshmerga in Baghdad; KRG MedEvac Squadron; Light APCs provided to Zerevani ERB; KRG Oil Police Brigade Forming.

Members of the 4th motorized division, securing major throughfare between Sulayminiyah and Chamchamal
note the Kurdish flag on one of the armed vehicles

*The Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government have come to a deal, however the details are only trickling out. The Peshmerga is reducing to 70,000 personnel with 130,000 to be pensioned or get government jobs.

Elements of the 4th Battalion, 3rd Regional Guard Brigade are training at Iraqi Army facilities at Taji. This Brigade is based in Khanaqin – Diyala Provinces. Training Kurdish forces at Taji are a first and are probably part of the deal.

Mala Bakhteyar, a senior member of the PUK’s political bureau, said in an interview with Kurdish television channel Gale Kurdistan that the PUK had prepared for the “worst case scenario,” including military coups:

“Ten thousand members of the Kurdish peshmerga forces have been sent to Baghdad to protect Jalal Talabani – the Kurdish president of Iraq – and all other Kurdish officials there from the possibility of a military coup, says a senior official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of Iraqi Kurdistan’s two ruling parties.”

At first read, this appears to be exaggerated, however, both of the Presidential Brigades were formed around Kurdish troops and there are 3 other IA Brigades in and adjacent to the International Zone that are predominately Kurdish. The other 14 Independent Protection Battalions in Baghdad are of undetermined composition. Of note, the 54/6, 55/17, and 56/6 Brigades in Baghdad are numbered with what should be 15th Division brigade-numbers [54-57] – and 15th Division is a planned Kurdish IA Division.

An “aero medical emergency service” based in Sulaymaniyah is being formed. This MedEvac Squadron adds to the existing Light Observation Helicopter Squadron and the basic Pilot Training Squadron run by the Peshmerga.

Photos of black painted Saxon blast resistant light APCs were taken in Zahko in the summer 2010. This indicates that elements of the Zerevani police are converting to Iraqi MoI Emergency Response Force and receiving light armor. The only Saxons in the ISF were provided to the IA 14th Division in Basrah before the UK Forces departed Iraq. Iraqi MoD apparently transferred them to Iraqi MoI as part of the plan to reduce the number of vehicle types in the IA.

“The Interior Minister in Kurdistan Regional Government Kareem Sinjari, in a press statement said that his ministry formed a 5000 men force to protect the oil refineries in Kurdistan Region’s three provinces Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimani.”

Apparently the KRG is establishing its own Oil Police.

*In addition, M1117s were seen in Baghdad painted in ERF colors during the Police Day Parade and, as noted above in the Peshmerga section, Saxons have been photographed in ERF colors in Zakho.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Ira ... 011-06764/

[alan131210]

.......

[alan131210]

an older article but an interesting one


Iraqi Kurdistan Officials Deny US Bases to be Opened in Kurdistan Region


Juan Cole

Unattribtued report: “Opening three US military bases and transfer of Incirlik base to Kurdistan”
Hawlati
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Although it is expected that today responsibility for security will be handed over to the Kurdistan authorities, exclusive military sources have told Hawlati that the US forces intend to open three huge US military bases in the Arbil, Duhok, and Al-Sulaymaniyah areas. Meanwhile, senior peshmerga forces’ officials expressed their pleasure at such a move.

The three bases will be located in Qaradagh (south of Al-Sulaymaniyah), Zakho area (north of Duhok), while the third one will be based near Arbil. There is also a possibility that the Incirlik base in Turkey, opened in 1992, will be transferred to the Kurdistan Region, which is heralded as an important achievement by Kurdistan regional government military officials who said they would welcome such requests from the coalition forces.

However, some officials said the issue was not mentioned and thought to be a remote possibility.
Kurdistan Region Armed Forces Spokesman Maj-Gen Jabbar Yawar told Hawlati: “The coalition forces have not made such requests so far and nothing was mentioned about this in the general-command meeting of the armed forces with (Kurdistan) Region President (Mas’ud Barzani). However, we would welcome such a request because we and the US are allies. As far as I know, such a request was not made.”

Asked whether the US forces are unilaterally entitled to embark on such an action, the source said: “According to the memorandum signed between the coalition forces and the (Kurdistan) region president, they should inform us (of such actions). As far as I know, no such plans are in the pipeline. However, I do not know if such an action is considered for the future or if it was discussed it internally (presumably referring to the US).”
The source ruled out the possibility of transferring Incirlik base to the Kurdistan Region, adding that “I do not think the US will do that since Turkey is an important country for the US and is a member of the NATO, whereas we are a region inside a federal country.”

The (Kurdistan) Region’s minister for peshmerga affairs, Ja’far Mustafa, told Hawlati: “Such a request has not been tabled officially and I am not aware of it. If there is such a thing, the region’s presidency and the government should be aware of it, especially given that responsibility for security will be handed over to the Kurdistan regional government today.”

Regarding the transfer of Incirlik base to the Kurdistan Region, he said: “If the US does that, we will welcome it and that would be a good and important achievement for us.”

A few months ago, US infantry and air force surveyed villages near Qaradagh administrative sub-district for a day, throughout which they neither allowed the locals to approach them nor allowed local officials to visit them.

(Description of Source: Al-Sulaymaniyah Hawlati in Sorani Kurdish — weekly independent newspaper)

http://www.juancole.com/2007/05/iraqi-k ... bases.html

[alan131210]

Kanigoma Military School, 2006
Military officers-in-training at the 1st Combat School at Kamigama, near Sulaimani S.Kurdistan, under the command of Major General Karaman Kemal Omar.

http://www.davidgrossphoto.com/gallery.php?ProjectID=84

[alan131210]

this is the the 1st brigade of Peshmerga force in Kikruk that is under direct control of the Governor who revealed it few weeks ago , which angered Turkish puppet (Baray turkmani) a tool been used by turkey as they please .


http://kirkuknow.com/kurdish/?attachment_id=10384

[hevalo27]

Members of the 4th motorized division, securing major throughfare between Sulayminiyah and Chamchamal
note the Kurdish flag on one of the armed vehicles

is this picture from kurdistan? why their is the son of bitch khomeini to see on the right side?

[talsor]

Members of the 4th motorized division, securing major throughfare between Sulayminiyah and Chamchamal
note the Kurdish flag on one of the armed vehicles

is this picture from kurdistan? why their is the son of bitch khomeini to see on the right side?

You are right , The picture is not in Kurdistan . Most probably from Basra where Iran's mullas pics are every where .

this one however is obviously in Kurdistan .

[hevalo27]

this vehicles looks after high teck. are they were used by the usa in iraq at war?
it seems that what ideas said is true. modern weapons in kurd hands.

[talsor]

this vehicles looks after high teck. are they were used by the usa in iraq at war?
it seems that what ideas said is true. modern weapons in kurd hands.

I'm not sure about the accuracy of Kak Ideas statement considering that ALL weapons in Kurdistan come through Baghdad . As far as I know KRG can not purchase weapons or import arms unless it is done with baghdad's approval . Keep in mind that the central government is paying for the weapons and not KRG .

Unless off course there is some sort of secret deal between USA and Kurdistan

[alan131210]

this vehicles looks after high teck. are they were used by the usa in iraq at war?
it seems that what ideas said is true. modern weapons in kurd hands.

I'm not sure about the accuracy of Kak Ideas statement considering that ALL weapons in Kurdistan come through Baghdad . As far as I know KRG can not purchase weapons or import arms unless it is done with baghdad's approval . Keep in mind that the central government is paying for the weapons and not KRG .

Unless off course there is some sort of secret deal between USA and Kurdistan

i thought you knew heval !

Iraqi Kurds get weapons from Bulgaria
November 25, 2008

SOFIA, Bulgaria, — Government officials in Sofia have stoutly denied of arms sales to Iraqi Kurdistan without the knowledge of the Iraqi federal government.

Regarding a Washington Post front-page article published on November 23, which accuses Bulgaria of organising the sale and shipment of three plane-loads of weapons and ammunition to the Kurds in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in 'northern Iraq' that allegedly took place in September, the spokesman of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dragovest Draganov, has told the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) that Bulgaria did not sell arms to private individuals or non-government organisations, and that no such transaction ever took place.

According to Draganov, the Bulgarian Government abides by all international treaties and conventions, and that there are no justifications for the slander which was published in the Washington Post.

The reputed American publication reported on November 23 that massive quantity of weapons and ammunition were shipped from Bulgaria to the KRG. Allegedly, the arms from Bulgarian origin were deployed in the northern city of Sulaimaniyah in September on three C-130 cargo planes, according to three officials, who – as told by the Washington Post – wished to remain anonymous due to the nature of disclosed information.

The interior minister of Iraq, Jawad al-Bolani, declared that the Iraqi central government did not authorize purchasing of weapons and ammunition, nor their shipment from Bulgaria. Furthermore, he said that a transaction of such nature was a "violation" of Iraqi law as only the interior and defense ministries were authorized to sign such deals with foreign governments.

Official spokesman of the Kurdistan region guard forces,Jabbar Yawir on Monday denied news reports namely a report by the Washington Post that allegedly the Kurdistan region purchased arms from Bulgaria.

United States officials claimed that the shipments were of Bulgarian origin in September. Apparently, they learned of the deal from a source inside Bulgaria.

sofiaecho.com

[alan131210]

Iraq says Kurdistan government allowed to buy arms 25.11.2008

November 25, 2008

BAGHDAD, Iraq, — The Iraqi government has no objection to semi-autonomous Kurdish authorities purchasing weapons and ammunition to arm their security forces, but it wants to be informed, a government spokesman said on Monday.

The Washington Post reported that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had quietly shipped in three C-130 cargo planes loaded with guns and bullets from Bulgaria, stirring concerns among US officials over possible armed confrontation between the Kurds and the government.

The newspaper quoted federal Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani as saying such a purchase of weapons by the ethnic Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq would be a violation of the law.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, however, said the government would not oppose the Kurds arming their police if it were aimed at strengthening national or regional security.

“I don’t deny there is some tension between the KRG and the federal government due to many issues,” Dabbagh said. “It won’t reach to a level of conflict.”

The reported arms purchase — which a Kurdish official denied and Dabbagh said he knew nothing concrete about — came as tensions between the KRG and the government in Baghdad appear to be on the rise.

That has stoked fears of a resurgence of bloodshed at a time when anti-American attacks and conflict between Shia and Sunni have dropped to their lowest level in four years.

FUZZY LAW: Relations between Kurds and the government of mainly Arab Iraq have been especially strained over Kirkuk, a city that sits on potentially vast oil fields outside of Kurdistan, but which Kurds consider their ancestral home.

In August, Kurdish Peshmerga forces and government troops almost came to blows over the ethnically mixed town of Khanaqin in the restive northern province of Diyala.

Dabbagh said regional governments did not have the authority to arm themselves, but the law was unavoidably fuzzy while Iraq was in the process of building a federal system in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The Kurds, who have enjoyed virtual autonomy in the north since the first Gulf War in 1991, should have asked the central authorities for equipment. “Either that or they should be informing the federal government,” Dabbagh said.

“We understand there is a threat ... and they need to have equipment and weapons for their own police. I don’t think the federal government will object to it so long as this comes in those circumstances.”

Kurds, who make up less than a fifth of Iraq’s population, were killed by the thousands under Saddam. Kurds became partners in the U.S.-backed Baghdad government after the invasion.

Jabbar Yawer, undersecretary for Peshmerga affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government, denied the Washington Post story.

“As a region we don’t have the right to buy any weapons without the consent of the central government, and they haven’t allocated any amount in the budget for buying weapons,” he said.

Government officials in Sofia have stoutly denied of arms sales to Iraqi Kurdistan without the knowledge of the Iraqi federal government.

The undersecretary of Kurdistan’s regional Ministry of Interior (MOI) on Monday said that the region’s government does not sign contracts to buy arms without Baghdad’s permission, denying news reports that depicted Kurdistan had received Bulgarian dispatches of arms.

“The region’s cabinet does not sign contracts to buy arms from any side without the federal government’s permission,” General Jalal Kareem told VOI. He denied the Washington Post’s yesterday report in this regard.

Since 1991, the Kurds of Iraq achieved self-rule in part of the country. Today's teenagers are the first generation to grow up under Kurdish rule. In the new Iraqi Constitution, it is referred to as Kurdistan region.

Kurdistan region has all the trappings of an independent state -- its own constitution, its own parliament, its own flag, its own army, its own border, its own border patrol, its own national anthem, its own education system, its own International airports, even its own stamp inked into the passports of visitors.

Reuters