Salam

[Darkseid]

He could be better for the Kurds in trying to establish a true Kurdistan, but that would involve us in a war with Turkey and Syria, but neither front should last much longer than the one we had with Iraq.

Turkey might last a month or so longer, but certainly it would have been over well before today nor this year with an establish Kurdish domain and an extension of land for Armenia, Greece, and an established Pontic state.

[proudkurd]

yeah, one of the problems is he won't help us make our own country. it's because he's afraid things will go worse than they already are...when you think about it, in iraq, the kurdish areas seem to be the only parts that have made a dramatic improvement, and it makes iraq look better for him.

[sicpit]

yeah, one of the problems is he won't help us make our own country. it's because he's afraid things will go worse than they already are...when you think about it, in iraq, the kurdish areas seem to be the only parts that have made a dramatic improvement, and it makes iraq look better for him.

how come Kurds and Kurdistan are never mentioned in the media and in politics? Average americans look at you funny when you talk about Kurds, it's like I made up a race. I do not trust our government, especially since he has the turks as allies

[proudkurd]

yeah, one of the problems is he won't help us make our own country. it's because he's afraid things will go worse than they already are...when you think about it, in iraq, the kurdish areas seem to be the only parts that have made a dramatic improvement, and it makes iraq look better for him.

how come Kurds and Kurdistan are never mentioned in the media and in politics? Average americans look at you funny when you talk about Kurds, it's like I made up a race. I do not trust our government, especially since he has the turks as allies

good point, the media is too focused on all the bad things in the world.. so with iraq, you would assume that it's all bombings and stuff 24/7 but in reality when you go to northern iraq in kurdistan, it's a totally different place. but of course, they won't even bother showing the good things.

[Diri]

It's not just that - but the fact that: Kurdistan - in "Northern Iraq" - is what the US displays to the media and tells them "look what we've built in Iraq"...

And that's in a way ruining things for us Kurds - because few know that "Northern Iraq" is actually "Kurdistan"...


In a way - we're used by the US to prove that they've accomplished "something" - apart from capturing Saddam...

[proudkurd]

It's not just that - but the fact that: Kurdistan - in "Northern Iraq" - is what the US displays to the media and tells them "look what we've built in Iraq"...

And that's in a way ruining things for us Kurds - because few know that "Northern Iraq" is actually "Kurdistan"...


In a way - we're used by the US to prove that they've accomplished "something" - apart from capturing Saddam...

yup exactly

[Zia]

It's not just that - but the fact that: Kurdistan - in "Northern Iraq" - is what the US displays to the media and tells them "look what we've built in Iraq"...

And that's in a way ruining things for us Kurds - because few know that "Northern Iraq" is actually "Kurdistan"...


In a way - we're used by the US to prove that they've accomplished "something" - apart from capturing Saddam...

I think this is really a joke! I mean, so the US captured Saddam, but who was Saddam before the US "discovered" him? And now Saddam is gone and there is an emerging "prosperity" or "peace" in Kurdistan? Why do people thank Bush for this? So he encouraged Kurds to rise up against Saddam, but then when they actually did it, he left them high and dry without the promised intervention... Kurds accomplished this ON THEIR OWN.

There are many here in Hawler who are happy and grateful for the measure of peace they enjoy, but Kurds who lived in Baghdad and have relocated to Hawler say that in some senses it was better under Saddam. At least then they knew who the enemy was. Now the South (and there are a lot of Kurds who where/are living there) is a free-for-all for any fundamentalist or terrorist group from neighboring countries to wage their wars of hatred and intolerance.

In addition, I take offense at some of the ways in which US/UN aid is offered - it harms local agriculture and potential industry. Everything here is produced elsewhere - not such a good way to promote self-sufficiency.

On a more positive note, I think that the world is becoming more aware of the existance of Kurdistan. There have been so many reporters from NPR and American War Radio coming here to interview. Also BBC and other news agencies. Last March, my 60+ year old mother came from small-town-Canada to visit me here, and her friends (having seen a "60 minutes" exposition on Kurdistan) didn't say, "Iraq! Are you crazy?" but asked her to take lots of photos of Kurdistan.

[Diri]

It's not just that - but the fact that: Kurdistan - in "Northern Iraq" - is what the US displays to the media and tells them "look what we've built in Iraq"...

And that's in a way ruining things for us Kurds - because few know that "Northern Iraq" is actually "Kurdistan"...


In a way - we're used by the US to prove that they've accomplished "something" - apart from capturing Saddam...

I think this is really a joke! I mean, so the US captured Saddam, but who was Saddam before the US "discovered" him? And now Saddam is gone and there is an emerging "prosperity" or "peace" in Kurdistan? Why do people thank Bush for this? So he encouraged Kurds to rise up against Saddam, but then when they actually did it, he left them high and dry without the promised intervention... Kurds accomplished this ON THEIR OWN.

In fact, it was Kurdish intelligence which located and cornered Saddam... But of course, as a PR stunt, the US had to get the credit for it...

"Let them have their 15 minutes of fame..."

There are many here in Hawler who are happy and grateful for the measure of peace they enjoy, but Kurds who lived in Baghdad and have relocated to Hawler say that in some senses it was better under Saddam. At least then they knew who the enemy was. Now the South (and there are a lot of Kurds who where/are living there) is a free-for-all for any fundamentalist or terrorist group from neighboring countries to wage their wars of hatred and intolerance.

I can understand that. And I can empathize with that. But I would limit that description to non-Kurdish areas and non-Shia areas alone... In e.g. the areas which were highly mixed and often of Sunni Arab character... When Saddam was in power, he curved Kurdish and Shia-Arab rights and organization - and clearly promoted Sunni-Arab dominance... Of course in the aftermath, a lot of chaos and conflict rose from the ashes of the old structure (Sunni-Arab dominance). The Kurds and Shia-Arabs have gained from the fall of Saddam - but the Sunni-Arabs, and wherever they constitute a majority or large minority, have lost and turned into conflict torn battle zones... There is no organized Sunni faction or party to controll the Sunni opposition - there are Shia and Kurdish parties and organizations in the dozens - and they have gained some liberties with the fall of Saddam at the expense of the Sunnis...

I don't pitty the Sunni-Arabs - although I am sorry that innocent people have to suffer for the mistakes of others, I can't see why or how the overthrow of the Baath regime would be a "bad" thing...

In addition, I take offense at some of the ways in which US/UN aid is offered - it harms local agriculture and potential industry. Everything here is produced elsewhere - not such a good way to promote self-sufficiency.

I've complained about this a gazillion times - and it's probably THE most annoying thing about this whole Kurdish move for power process... How in the world are they gonna stabalize and restitute the economy etc. of their lands if they aren't self-sufficient and self-providing and producing... It's like they're doing Uncle Sam a favour by buying all the worthless resources and products which would be "of low standard" to be sold to European countries...

Just as it is with cars - importing every piece of junk that comes along, without any critical hindsight...

On a more positive note, I think that the world is becoming more aware of the existance of Kurdistan. There have been so many reporters from NPR and American War Radio coming here to interview. Also BBC and other news agencies. Last March, my 60+ year old mother came from small-town-Canada to visit me here, and her friends (having seen a "60 minutes" exposition on Kurdistan) didn't say, "Iraq! Are you crazy?" but asked her to take lots of photos of Kurdistan.

Wonderful! I hope your mom enjoyed her stay...

Yes, I loved that broadcast of "60 minutes"