IRAQI KURDS LOSE

Over the past couple of months, information has become available about a Washington-Ankara agreement that will allow over 35,000 Turkish troops to move into Kurdistan-Iraq in the event of a war. American and Turkish diplomats "are encouraging the Kurdish leaders to accept the Turkish proposal." With few resources and few available alternative choices, they have no real chance to reject it. As in the aftermath of World War I and several times since then, the Kurdish dream of self-rule is evaporating because of an international deal.

Until last week, Turkey had been consistently in opposition to war in Iraq since its political and economical interests were not addressed by the United States. Turkey has become successful in pressuring Washington to include her as a partner during the war and in a post-Saddam Iraq. First, Turkey weakened the influence of U.S.-sponsored Iraqi Opposition groups by preventing them from holding their second conference in January in Kurdistan. These groups represent part of the Iraqi governing body for a post-Saddam Iraq. Second, Turkey organized a regional conference between itself and Iraq's other five neighbors: Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, which called for a peaceful solution with Iraq. Third, Turkey delayed giving permission for the US to use Turkish territory to attack Iraq from the North.

Turkey put four conditions to cooperate with the US:

  • (a) there should be no independent state for the Kurds,
  • (b) Kurdish forces, Peshmarga, should not enter the oil-rich cities of Kirkuk and Mosul,
  • (c) Turkey needs to have a sizeable number of troops inside Kurdistan to prevent (a) and (b)
  • (d)Turkey should receive a large share of the economic package for rebuilding Iraq after Saddam


    • It appears that President Bush's special envoy, Mr. Zalmay Khalizad, is working on a "memorandum of understanding" with the Turks to integrate their conditions into the overall U.S. policy on Iraq. On February 6, Turkey agreed to the U.S. military request "to modernize bases in Turkey" so they can be used by a large number of U.S. troops. Based on the Washington-Ankara agreement, the Turkish Parliament will vote again on February 18.

    The long-held Kurdish dream of a federated state and a region of self-rule within Iraq may yet again come to an abrupt end. Kurds had hoped that the presence of U.S. military would stabilize the security in a post-Saddam country. However, the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq will trigger Arab nationalists who fear the Turkish "historical claim" on Kirkuk and Mosul. The Kurds also fear that Turkish support for Turkmen in Kurdistan will threaten their security. Thus, it would not be a surprise if Arabs and Kurds seek help from Iran, bringing further instability and turmoil to the region.

    Iraqi Kurds cooperated with the US administration during 1972-75, only to be forgotten after Saddam and the Shah of Iran signed the Algerian Agreement. In 1991, Kurds rebelled against Saddam and controlled four major provinces. After both events, the US left them to suffer Saddam's revenge. What would the U.S. excuse be this time for dropping a faithful ally because it is politically expedient?

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