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Started By
Message
Revenge of the Kurds
Posted on 6/12/14 at 6:09 pm
Posted on 6/12/14 at 6:09 pm
LINK
I've been working in the Kurdistan region of Iraq now for almost 6 months. I can honestly state I have never met a group more proud of who they are and they don't see themselves as Iraqi at all. I've been corrected by many roughnecks when I say "I'm in Iraq". They say "No, no, you are not in Iraq. You are in Kurdistan. Much better."
For those who don't know about Kurdistan, it is an area composed of ethnic Kurds that comprises parts of Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran.
Typically, in modern times, when people refer to "Kurdistan" they are referring the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a semi-autonomous area to the north of the country (as US citizens you can get a Kurdistan Region 15 day visa on arrival at the airport).
For more information:
Wikipedia on the Kurdish People
Wikipedia on Kurdistan
Wikipedia on Iraqi Kurdistan
Just for reference, Mosul is just past that red line from Dahuk. The Kurdish forces are all over the border just in case. The area of Kirkuk is disputed between both Iraq and Kurdistan, but is now controlled by the Kurds as of yesterday. As Mosul is an original Kurdish town, there is some talk from the locals of a possible take over of Mosul as well, given time, nothing soon.
quote:
The Islamist insurgents, known variously as ISIS and ISIL, continued their drive south toward the Iraqi capital on Thursday after having captured key northern cities, including Mosul. No less vigorous has been the Kurdish response: In sharp contrast to the Iraqi military forces, which evaporated despite outnumbering ISIS fighters, Kurdish military forces on Thursday took Kirkuk, an important city straddling the Arab and Kurdish parts of Iraq and the centerpiece of the northern oil industry. The Kurdish occupation, in a matter of hours, of a city that has been a bone of contention between Arabs and Kurds for centuries -- and especially during Saddam Hussein's rule of Iraq -- underscores how dramatically the ISIS offensive is redrawing the map of Iraq.
quote:
The contrast between robust security in Kurdish-ruled parts of the country and the security vacuum left by fleeing Iraqi troops could ultimately roll back decades of Iraqi history and put Kurdish leaders in Erbil in the catbird seat, especially when it comes to a contentious tug of war over energy resources.
"The strategic failure of Iraqi forces has really shifted the entire balance of power between the Kurdish Regional Government and Baghdad," said Ayham Kamel, Middle East director at the Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy. "It really allows the KRG to negotiate with Baghdad on entirely different terms" when it comes to a fight over the Kurds' right to export oil directly.
For years, Kurds in northern Iraq sought to benefit more from the region's abundant oil and gas resources, but energy exports were centralized in Baghdad, with export revenues shared among Iraq's regions. Kurdish leaders argued that the deal shortchanged them because they never got the 17 percent of revenues they were promised.
As a result, the Kurds decided -- in the face of a barrage of threats and intimidation from Baghdad -- to build their own energy-export infrastructure, enabling them to transport oil directly to nearby Turkey. That pipeline opened this year and energy firms operating in the region say that it will be fully operational later this year. Getting the export pipeline up to cruising speed is important for the Kurdish government. It needs to export about 450,000 barrels of oil a day to earn what it received from the central government. By the end of next year, the KRG hopes to be exporting as many as 1 million barrels a day.
But just recently, Baghdad seemed capable of crushing Kurdish energy dreams. Only hours before the ISIS offensive began, Iraqi officials were vowing to take the dispute to the United Nations. The legal uncertainties surrounding Kurdish oil kept it from flowing easily to new buyers. For example, a pair of tankers loaded with Kurdish crude wandered around in search of a port in May and June. U.S. officials long sought to push Erbil and Baghdad into an agreement over how to divvy up the nation's energy wealth and tried to discourage the Kurdish government's go-it-alone stance.
quote:
Kurdish control over Kirkuk, and the massive oil fields found nearby, could have a ripple effect on the rest of Iraq's oil industry, Eurasia Group's Kamel said. That is, the Kurdish-style oil contracts, which offer foreign firms a share of the oil, could displace the less attractive Iraqi-style contracts at those mammoth fields.
"The KRG could actually push its interests and dictate terms for future contracts at the Kirkuk field; it wouldn't just be the central government dealing with that," he said.
Whether the Kurds come out stronger from Iraq's harrowing battle against extremists depends on how well they insulate themselves from violence and instability.
"The question now is whether Kurdistan can remain an oasis of stability despite the turmoil around it. If it does, its oil future is huge -- it now controls Kirkuk and its fields and oil exports could increase immediately," said the Wilson Center's Ottaway.
I've been working in the Kurdistan region of Iraq now for almost 6 months. I can honestly state I have never met a group more proud of who they are and they don't see themselves as Iraqi at all. I've been corrected by many roughnecks when I say "I'm in Iraq". They say "No, no, you are not in Iraq. You are in Kurdistan. Much better."
For those who don't know about Kurdistan, it is an area composed of ethnic Kurds that comprises parts of Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran.
Typically, in modern times, when people refer to "Kurdistan" they are referring the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a semi-autonomous area to the north of the country (as US citizens you can get a Kurdistan Region 15 day visa on arrival at the airport).
For more information:
Wikipedia on the Kurdish People
Wikipedia on Kurdistan
Wikipedia on Iraqi Kurdistan
Just for reference, Mosul is just past that red line from Dahuk. The Kurdish forces are all over the border just in case. The area of Kirkuk is disputed between both Iraq and Kurdistan, but is now controlled by the Kurds as of yesterday. As Mosul is an original Kurdish town, there is some talk from the locals of a possible take over of Mosul as well, given time, nothing soon.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 7:30 pm to NHTIGER
I'm very hopeful that the Kurds can officially break away. Good people. They shouldn't be hamstrung by the shite that resides in Baghdad.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 7:57 pm to C
This is an example of what happens when instead of trying to spoon feed "freedom" to people.
They take it themselves.
Hope Kurdistan stands for 1000 years.
They take it themselves.
Hope Kurdistan stands for 1000 years.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 8:16 pm to carbola
More power to Kurdistan. They seem like they are good people. I hope they can break away for good. They would be a good ally for the US. We should support their cause because it could benefit us with oil and we can leave the disaster that is Iraq alone
Posted on 6/12/14 at 8:19 pm to deltaland
quote:
More power to Kurdistan. They seem like they are good people. I hope they can break away for good. They would be a good ally for the US. We should support their cause because it could benefit us with oil and we can leave the disaster that is Iraq alone
as long as the turkish kurds don't try and start a civil war in turkey (a NATO country) I am ok with a Kurdistan, but I am not ok with ISIS gaining control over anywhere, but Pres no balls is so I guess I will have to get used to it.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 8:41 pm to carbola
at the title of the thread. Well played.
Posted on 6/12/14 at 10:36 pm to carbola
The Kurds had some autonomy even in Hussein's time, and the area is fairly well-run by people who generally have their shite together.
Posted on 6/13/14 at 12:15 am to carbola
Well assembled piece Carbola
Keep safe.
Keep safe.
Posted on 6/13/14 at 12:49 am to idlewatcher
I was stationed in that region for over a year, and still know some interpreters that live their. They hate Iraqis and especially Sadam. Once you get a little north of Kirkuk it gets nice, especially Dahuq.
Posted on 6/13/14 at 7:59 am to C
quote:
I'm very hopeful that the Kurds can officially break away. Good people. They shouldn't be hamstrung by the shite that resides in Baghdad.
I would agree with this.
I know Balad and south, but one of my brothers did two tours, one in Mosul and one in Kirkuk ... and, in general, he had nothing negative to say about the Kurds.
And, yes ... good title.
Posted on 6/13/14 at 8:26 am to carbola
All this illustrates that we simply should stay out of the region altogether.
I wonder carbola do the Kurds prefer the Iranian supported Shites to control Iraq or the Sunni.
I know they hated Saddam and the SOB bombed the heck out of them until the no fly zone was forced upon him.
If The ISIS and ISIL succeed in ousting the Shites from power in Baghdad will they be open to an independent Kurd nation?
I wonder carbola do the Kurds prefer the Iranian supported Shites to control Iraq or the Sunni.
I know they hated Saddam and the SOB bombed the heck out of them until the no fly zone was forced upon him.
If The ISIS and ISIL succeed in ousting the Shites from power in Baghdad will they be open to an independent Kurd nation?
This post was edited on 6/13/14 at 8:34 am
Posted on 6/13/14 at 8:30 am to WeeWee
quote:
as long as the turkish kurds don't try and start a civil war in turkey (a NATO country) I am ok with a Kurdistan
To be fair, the Turks have tried (and failed) to eliminate Turks for hundreds of years. Neither side has clean hands. It's sad, because if they set aside their differences, they could form the basis for stability in the region.
This post was edited on 6/13/14 at 8:31 am
Posted on 6/13/14 at 9:03 am to Ace Midnight
It's like Game of Thrones in the Middle East.
You got the Sunni who were once in control of Iraq but then pushed out and are now trying to overthrow both the governments in Syria and Iraq and are backed by Saudi Arabia. The U.S. supports them in Syria, but not in Iraq.
You got the Shia who are trying to hold onto power in Syria and Iraq and they also dominate Iran.
You got the Kurds who have a semi-autonomous region in parts of Iraq but deep down they really want their own country which would include parts of Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Turkey. Sensing weakness in Iraq, they are moving to consolidate territory while the Shia's and Sunni's are fighting.
You got the U.S. who is backing the Sunni's in Syria but backing the Shia in Iraq and have a solid relationship with the Kurds as well. To complicate matters they are feuding with the Shia's in Iran but are allies with the Sunni's in Saudi Arabia. To make things even more complicated, they overthrew the Sunni's in Iraq and installed the Shia which kickstarted this whole process.
You got Turkey who is for the most part a force of stability and moderation in the region. However they are weary of the Kurds encroaching on their territory even though a part part of the population is Kurdish.
You got Iran who is an enemy of the U.S. and the Sunni's. However, they share goals with the U.S. in Iraq in keeping a Shia government in place but they are fighting the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in Syria who want to install a Sunni government.
You got Iraq which had a Sunni government that was overthrown by the US and replaced with a Shia government. However the Shia government is quickly losing control over of over 2/3's of the country to both the Sunni and Kurds.
You got the Sunni who were once in control of Iraq but then pushed out and are now trying to overthrow both the governments in Syria and Iraq and are backed by Saudi Arabia. The U.S. supports them in Syria, but not in Iraq.
You got the Shia who are trying to hold onto power in Syria and Iraq and they also dominate Iran.
You got the Kurds who have a semi-autonomous region in parts of Iraq but deep down they really want their own country which would include parts of Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Turkey. Sensing weakness in Iraq, they are moving to consolidate territory while the Shia's and Sunni's are fighting.
You got the U.S. who is backing the Sunni's in Syria but backing the Shia in Iraq and have a solid relationship with the Kurds as well. To complicate matters they are feuding with the Shia's in Iran but are allies with the Sunni's in Saudi Arabia. To make things even more complicated, they overthrew the Sunni's in Iraq and installed the Shia which kickstarted this whole process.
You got Turkey who is for the most part a force of stability and moderation in the region. However they are weary of the Kurds encroaching on their territory even though a part part of the population is Kurdish.
You got Iran who is an enemy of the U.S. and the Sunni's. However, they share goals with the U.S. in Iraq in keeping a Shia government in place but they are fighting the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in Syria who want to install a Sunni government.
You got Iraq which had a Sunni government that was overthrown by the US and replaced with a Shia government. However the Shia government is quickly losing control over of over 2/3's of the country to both the Sunni and Kurds.
This post was edited on 6/13/14 at 9:53 am
Posted on 6/13/14 at 9:10 am to deltaland
id support the Kurds running rough shot all over the rest of the Iraq and just stabilizing the entire country
Posted on 6/13/14 at 10:38 am to carbola
Love the title.....
Great Presentation....
Now come home !
Posted on 6/13/14 at 10:45 am to carbola
HBO's Vice has a really good piece on the Kurds in Syria. Also a oil tanker with Kurdish crude oil left port with a million barrels of oil earlier this week, they just need to find a buyer.
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