Bad news for Turkey: The US to disarm everyone but the Kurds

kurdmedia.com ^ | 24 May 2003 | KurdishMedia.com

[Destro]

Bad news for Turkey: The US to disarm everyone but the Kurds

24/05/2003 KurdishMedia.com

London (KurdishMedia.com) 24 May 2003: According to the American daily New York Times, basing it on a draft directive, the US will allow the Kurds in south Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan} to keep their assault rifles and heavy weapons.

The New York Times wrote today that the plan drawn criticism by Shiite leaders involved in negotiations with American and British officials.

Under the draft order, obtained by the New York Times, "militias that assisted coalition forces who remain under the supervision of coalition forces" will be authorized "to possess automatic or heavy weapons."

The American daily also quoted the commander of allied land forces in Iraq saying that under the directive there would not be any "militias" inside Iraq adding that the Kurdish forces were an exception.

The New York Times reported that the directive would allow ordinary Iraqis to retain some arms, including pistols, rifles and shotguns, but would ban AK-47 automatic assault rifles, machine guns, mortars, grenades and heavier weapons such as artillery, antitank weapons and armored vehicles.

Turkey has long tried to disarm Kurds in south Kurdistan and elsewhere due to its "concerns" that it might be used against her, but at the same time armed its own militia in the area in order to create tensions that might lead to clashes so that it can intervene in the area to undermine Kurdish self-rule and occupy another part of Kurdistan.

[gcruse]

Tuck Furkey. An oil-based Kurdistan province under a federated Iraq should come out of all this.

[gitmo]

Gonna be a big war of secession someday for the Kurds.

[gcruse]

The necessity of free association among likeminded people seems a natural force to overcome arbitrary boundaries. Whether it is done peacefully or not, it becomes imperative over time.

[desertcry]

I'm glad that justice was done. The Kurds stood by US, it's only fair that the USA stands by th Kurds.

[Defender2]

Good Show!!!!:-)

[river rat]

A trustworthy and reliable ally, is an ally...

The Kurds stood erect and fought alongside us, while "others" in the area were attempting to make deals, or stage parades calling for the death of Americans.....

President Bush made it very clear....You are with us, or you are not........each has to decide...

Semper Fi

[VOA]

Note to Turkey's guvmint and citizens, other than the military:
"You can not win, if you do not play."

(I feel sorry for the Turkish military...apparently they are the sanest and
maybe even most enlightened part of Turkish society.)

[Finalapproach29er]

Your right. Part of this is punishment against Turkey, and part of this is to hedge against the hard-line Turk govt. in case they get any ideas. Good to sow a little discord over there and make them realize it is good to have the US as a friend.

[inquest]

We shouldn't be disarming anybody at all. If anything, we should be DISTRIBUTING arms.

[Michael Barnes]

Comments?

[WaterDragon]

The Kurds allowed to keep their arms are those who fought with us in the Iraq war. The Shi'ites and others stood by til they were sure the Americans would win. I don't particularly blame them for that, but really we will trust and reward those who've fought beside us.

It's irrelevant whether Turkey likes or dislikes this plan. The U.S. is committed to an intact Iraq. How often does that have to be said to Turkey?

[a_Turk]

Who cares?

[cksharks]

Think Mexico!!!!!!!!!

[gcruse]

It's coming.

[alphadog]

"under the directive there would not be any "militias" inside Iraq adding that the Kurdish forces were an exception."

Good call for Bush etc. ...As far as I'm concerned, I would support the Kurds "running the whole table"

[Mortimer Snavely]

This is utterly insane, the worst possible scenario. Kurds are organized as either Marxists or Islamists, and are incapable of producing anything resembling free society.

This is like supporting Pol Pot to oppose Vietnam.

[McGavin999]

Oh please, where have you been? The Kurds have established a thriving democracy in northern Iraq under the watchful eyes of the US flying the No Fly Zone.

They've actually done quite well.