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Topic: "Kurdish zone not unstable enough": Bush
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Cueball
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4790
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posted 23 October 2007 11:55 PM
When in doubt bomb! quote: "It's not 'Kumbaya' time any more - just talking about trilateral talks is not going to be enough," the official said. "Something has to be done." While the use of US soldiers on the ground to root out the PKK would be the last resort, the US would be willing to launch air strikes on PKK targets, the official said, and has discussed the use of cruise missiles. But air strikes using manned aircraft may be an easier option because the US controls the air space over Iraq.
From: Out from under the bridge and out for a stroll | Registered: Dec 2003
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CMOT Dibbler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4117
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posted 24 October 2007 06:58 PM
quote: Originally posted by Cueball: Well, let me put it to you this way, it is often said that they are the largest nation without a state in the world.
Doesn't that make calling for united Kurdistan kind of like settler rabbis calling for a Jewish state which covers the whole middle east? Giving the kurds that much land is an impossibility. [ 24 October 2007: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ] [ 24 October 2007: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ]
From: Just outside Fernie, British Columbia | Registered: May 2003
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BetterRed
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11865
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posted 24 October 2007 09:13 PM
That may be true. But there was Chemical Ali, Saddam's right hand man. He was truly responsible for Halabja.He was sentenced to death a while ago, actually: From wikipedia: quote: On June 24, 2007, the court returned a verdict of guilty on all counts. The presiding judge, Mohamed Oreibi al-Khalifa, told Ali Hassan: "You had all the civil and military authority for northern Iraq. You gave orders to the troops to kill Kurdish civilians and put them in severe conditions. You subjected them to wide and systematic attacks using chemical weapons and artillery. You led the killing of villagers. You ... committed genocide. There are enough documents against you." [17]Ali Hassan received five death sentences for genocide, crimes against humanity (specifically willful killing, forced disappearances and extermination), and war crimes (intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population). He was also sentenced to multiple prison terms ranging from seven years to life for other inhumane acts.[18] As his sentences have been upheld, Under Iraqi law, sentence is to be carried out by hanging, subject to the convictions being upheld following an automatic appeal, he will be executed within the next 30 days along with 2 others - Sultan Hashem Ahmed, military commander of the Anfal campaign; and Hussein Rashid Mohammed, deputy general commander of the Iraqi armed force, assistant chief of staff for military operations, and former Republican Guard commander.
chemical Ali - a bio of a genocidal maniac
From: They change the course of history, everyday ppl like you and me | Registered: Jan 2006
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Cueball
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4790
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posted 26 October 2007 03:07 PM
quote: Originally posted by contrarianna: I think the US talk of attacks on the PKK is only talk--designed deflect Turkey, if possible. It is almost certainly only talk because the US is supporting the PKK's terrorist Iranian adjunct, PJAK, in attacks on Iranian targets.
Possibly. I also think this may be a situation which is simply beyond the control of the US for various reasons. My view is that the new resolution authorizing the Turkish army to operate in Kurdish Iraq is designed precisely to preassure the US and their Iraqi Kurdish allies into doing something about the PKK bases in Iraq. If they do not, then Turkey may very well act. This would likely put Iraqi Kurds in direct conflict with Turkey, anyway. The US is not going to be able to get the Iraqi Kurds to do anything effective against the PKK, so that basicly means that if the US wants to prevent Turkish intervention, then it would probably have to do something on its own. Even posturing sometimes results in concrete action.
From: Out from under the bridge and out for a stroll | Registered: Dec 2003
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contrarianna
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 13058
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posted 05 November 2007 09:12 AM
US mission accomplished: PKK, PJAK war on Iran Looks like Turkey will not have much of a target if they attack the PKK in Iraq. The US weapons that have been funnelled to the terrorist PKK and PJAK are being increasingly used for the designated target: Iran.Turkey has been upset with the US that so many US arms have been captured by Turkish military fromm the PKK. Well it looks like relief is at hand as the PKK moves the focus of its operations into Iran(the PKK has also just released 8 Turkish soldiers). "Turkish Kurd guerrillas are leaving Iraqi Kurdistan for Iran in order to avoid an attack by the Turkish army according to a former leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK. ... "President George Bush and the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are to meet today in Washington to discuss what can be done about the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan, from which it has been staging attacks on Turkish army units. The news that the PKK is moving its mobile fighters into Iranian Kurdistan – where they have escalated attacks on Iranian government forces – further complicates any action against the guerrillas. .... ""There are 2,750 fighters in Turkey," he said. "A further 2,500 are in the border areas of Iraq and 1,500 are in Iran." It is the PKK's war in Iran, where there is a Kurdish minority of four million, that is escalating. "In the last six months the PKK has started a war against Iran." "There are more and more fighters in Iranian Kurdistan and the Iranian Kurds support the PKK strongly." The shift of part of the PKK into Iran to evade a Turkish military operations and to attack Iranian forces faces the US with a problem. America condemns the PKK when it is killing Turkish soldiers in Turkey as "terrorists", but has not similarly denounced the section of the PKK, known as PJAK, which has killed as many as 150 Iranian soldiers and police in Iran. Iran claims that the PKK receives covert support from the US." The Independent
From: here to inanity | Registered: Aug 2006
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contrarianna
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 13058
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posted 05 November 2007 10:29 AM
Who will be wielding this "carving" knife, and will the "carvees" be expected to lie down for this operation? In Iran, where the United States is waging its terror war by PKK/PJAK proxy (and also by US special ops), the Kurds represent 7% of the Iranian population and are somewhat down the list of ethnic groups who would have an ethnically-based claim to carve up that country (that is, if ethnicity is a justifiable reason for creating a modern democratic state): "The main ethnic groups are Persians (51%), Azeris (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%), Kurds (7%), Arabs (3%), Baluchi (2%), Lurs (2%), Turkmens (2%),Laks, Qashqai, Armenians, Persian Jews, Georgians, Assyrians, Circassians, Tats, Pashtuns, Mandaeans, Gypsies, Brahuis, Hazare and others (1%)."
From: here to inanity | Registered: Aug 2006
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Noah_Scape
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14667
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posted 05 November 2007 10:54 AM
Awww, wouldn't it be nice for the Kurds to have a little nation for themselves? Too bad they insist on being violent about it - they might get further with diplomacy [in 100 years maybe!]. However, it would be another situation where people are dividing themselves into 'distinctive groups' at a time when the world needs to see the bigger picture, but we are so far from anything like that... Too much oil in the region, too much pride in Turkey to let part of their rugged soils go, and the label "terrorists" will ensure they never get it. Another example of the imperial powers of the world dividing up the Arab lands for their own purposes - these Kurds had a traditional area long ago.
From: B.C. | Registered: Oct 2007
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Cameron W
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10767
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posted 06 November 2007 08:11 PM
quote: Originally posted by Stockholm:
Why don't we give the Palestinian rural southern Alberta?
Ah, rural southern Alberta. It's been only a month since my wife and I moved out of that interesting area to Vancouver Island. I had some good times out there, but I'm glad to be back on the West Coast. As for the news story... quote: Mr Howard said there was some recent evidence that US forces were making headway in their battle against al-Qaeda in Iraq following the US troop surge.
Oh wait! I'm seeing progress now! We're definitely making headway. I can really see it! Mission accomplished.
From: Left Coast | Registered: Oct 2005
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