Quote:
Originally posted by sgtclub
I have been having this thought as well. It would seem far easier to attempt to break up Iraq into at least 3 countries (Shia, Sunni, and Kurd), but as I recall the Turks do not want a separate Kurdish country for fear it would cause an uprising of their own Kurdish population.
|
The Turks view an independent Kurdistan as a threat to their existence. They have invaded (or encroached upon) the Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq many times since the 1992 end of the Gulf War in pursuit of the PUK, etc. They have some forces now in Northern Iraq. They have said that, if the Kurds declare an independent state, they will invade and occupy it. The Kurdish leaders say: "Hey, we don't need no independent state. (now)"
I think the Turks are quite serious, and that we could only prevent said attack by physically defeating them. That would "cause serious problems" in NATO. Turkey is the only Muslim country which truly has good relations with Israel. We don't want to screw any of that up.
S_A_M
Threaded Mode