# Kurdish revolt against U.S. occupation?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kurdish-revolt-against-u-s-occupation/160209>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 10, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kurdish-revolt-against-u-s-occupation/160209 "2003-03-10T03:17:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kurdish-revolt-against-u-s-occupation/160209/21 "2003-03-11T01:57:52Z")

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**Brain Glutton**. I agree, this could get ugly. Can of worms, etc.

> [@](#):
>
> The new Kurdistan would be economically viable if it held Kirkuk and its oil;

“New Kurdistan” might be at war with Iran, Iraq, and Turkey from the beginning, correct? I don’t think a new state is in the offing if the existing states have a say, and they do.

I especially agree that this northern front idea is causing more problems than it is solving. Keeping the status quo in that area would be best.

Welcome to the boards, and good post.

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**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kurdish-revolt-against-u-s-occupation/160209/22 "2003-03-11T03:18:25Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by BrainGlutton \*  
> **The very best possible outcome of this war, in my view, would be for it to somehow produce an independent Kurdistan encompassing the Iraqi, Turkish AND Iranian Kurds. The new Kurdistan would be economically viable if it held Kirkuk and its oil; the Turkmens and Assyrians might be given independent microstates of their own, or might be satisfied with federal autonomy within Kurdistan. Kurdistan would stop being an intractable problem and become a useful and easily defensible buffer state between all its fractious neighbors. It’s all mountains, and mountains, once you control them, make good defenses, at least against invasion by ground troops; just ask the Swiss. Meanwhile, Turkey, relieved of both its southeastern provinces and its endlessly vexing Kurdish question, would have suffered a major national humiliation, but at the same time gained the luxury of drastically improving its human-rights record, opening the door to that long-coveted EU membership and a real, effective voice in the European Parliament. And if things remain quiet for just a few years, even Kurdistan just might maybe possibly be considered for EU membership!**

Interesting take on it. Thanks for the links & info!

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kurdish-revolt-against-u-s-occupation/160209/23 "2003-03-11T15:14:59Z")

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It seems like us Americans are just talking to each other about other peoples’ problems, here. This might be a long shot, but are there any (English-speaking) Kurdish dopers out there? Any Turks? Any Iraqis or Iranians? Assyrians? Turkmens? What do YOU think?

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