Limited Political Progress in Iraq
August 4th, 2008 by Sarah
An emergency session of the Iraqi Parliament planned for this past weekend in order to settle disagreements over the provincial election law was cancelled. Juan Cole summarizes the situation simply. “No provincial election law means, probably, no provincial elections this year. No oil law. No significant Shiite-Sunni reconciliation. Politics gridlocked in Iraq.”
Meanwhile, Kurdish members have called for the oil-rich city of Kirkuk to be annexed to the nearby Kurdistan Regional Authority, a move that was vehemently rejected by the city’s Turkmen and Arabs.
An editorial, in the International Herald Tribune strongly opposes the annexation of Kirkuk, and blames the U.S. and Kurds for not seriously looking for political compromise. “Compromises on Kirkuk are theoretically possible, but only the UN seems to be seriously trying to find one.”
A New York Times editorial agrees.
And Helena Cobban in The Christian Science Monitor argues that only the U.N. can mobilize the global resources, the non-military tools, and expertise necessary to sort out the political divisions in Iraq. However, for the U.N. to be successful, Cobban argues that U.S. must form a “strong, new compact” with the U.N. after “Washington’s deep estrangement” in recent years.
Posted in Elections, Iraq, Kurds, Sectarianism, US foreign policy, United Nations | Comment »
Ethnic Rivalries Plague Iraq
July 28th, 2008 by Sarah
Ned Parker in the L.A. Times warns that Iraq’s “political horizon is clouded” by dangerous ethnic rivalries “with no resolution in sight.”
Robert Dreyfuss at The Nation agrees, claiming that Iraq is “poised to explode” for various reasons. “The first is the brewing crisis over Kirkuk, where the pushy Kurds are demanding control and Iraq’s Arabs are resisting. The second is in the west, and Anbar, where the US-backed Sons of Iraq sahwa (”Awakening”) movement is moving to take power against the Iraqi Islamic Party, a fundamentalist Sunni bloc. And third is the restive Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr, which is chafing at gains made by its Iranian-backed rival, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.”
Likewise, Juan Cole at Informed Comment reports that this weekend attempts to come to a compromise on Iraq’s provincial elections have failed.
Posted in Iraq, Kurds, Legislation, Sectarianism, US foreign policy | Comment »
Kurdish Walk-Out
July 23rd, 2008 by Sarah
Marc Lynch at Abu Aardvark suggests that the recent walkout of Kurdish Iraqi Parliament members at the vote on the country’s provincial election law spells trouble for political reconciliation. “At a minimum, it seems likely that President Jalal Talabani will not vote to ratify the law, which means it will not come into effect. Even worse would be if the decision drives Kurds to now demand the implementation of Article 140 [the deeply contentious referendum on the status of Kirkuk]… And then, of course, there’s the prospect of a mass Kurdish boycott of the provincial elections leading to a round of disenfranchisement reminiscent of the Sunni community in 2005.”
Posted in Elections, Iraq, Kurds, Legislation, Sectarianism | Comment »
Troubled Times In and Out of Iraq
June 26th, 2008 by Adam
In an op-ed in the New York Times, Nicholas Kristof shines a light on the plight of Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries. Kristof criticizes the U.S. and international community for neglecting what many call the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. If not dealt with, the refugee crisis could, “…drag on — and especially if we allow young refugees to miss an education so that they will never have a future — then we are sentencing ourselves to endure their wrath for decades to come.”
The New York Times reports that the situation for those in Iraq is also perilous, especially Christians. Even though security has improved to the point where local churches have stopped paying protection money to insurgents, their still remains a high degree of insecurity. Christians in Northern Iraq fear that the Kurds will not adequately protect them in order to tilt the demographic balance in the Kurds’ favor.
Posted in Iraq, Kurds, Sectarianism | Comment »
Fascinating Article on Kurdish Journalists
June 12th, 2008 by Sarah
Sam Dagher of The Christian Science Monitor published a fascinating article on Kurdish journalists, based in Iraq, who advocate for reforms in Kurdistan. They risk imprisonment, torture, and death, yet the journalists continue to push envelopes. “We have a long way to reach a democratic country and civil society based on equality and human rights.”
Posted in Arab media, Freedom, Iraq, Journalism, Kurds | Comment »
2008: Some Turkey and Muravchik
May 24th, 2008 by Matt
Emre Uslu and Onder Aytac take a look at what a Barack Obama presidency might mean for Turkey, concluding that it could be very helpful in several areas. First, Obama’s commitment to dialogue overlaps closely with Turkey’s current approach to foreign policy, possibly providing an opening for a closer strategic partnership with the U.S., especially regarding Iran. Next, they believe Obama’s decision to withdraw troops from Iraq would assist relations between Turkey and the Kurds of northern Iraq, possibly leading to a permanent solution to the ongoing conflict there. Finally, while Obama’s position on recognizing the Armenian genocide seems problematic for the Turks, Uslu and Aytac believe Obama could help establish a dialogue between the two sides that could potentially lead to cooperation and the eventual resolution of this dispute.
Elsewhere, Joshua Muravchik was out in Chicago talking about democracy promotion in the Middle East after the Iraq War. CFR’s Campaign 2008 blog provides a summary of Muravchik’s remarks.
Note: The presidential campaign coverage will be taking a brief break as I’m out of the country for the next couple weeks. Will be back for the home stretch in early June!
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Election 08, Kurds, Turkey | Comment »
PKK Strains Turkey-Iraq Relations
April 25th, 2008 by Amanda
Hiwa Osman in the Daily Star declares that the best solution to moderating the PKK is not an offensive one, citing the recent incursion by Turkish military as a failure. He also notes problems the PKK, the militant Kurdish population in Turkey, poses for their Iraqi brethren politically. “The Kurds appreciate the importance of long-term strategic ties with Turkey,” and believe that “PKK issue is an irritating factor that is hampering progress in relations with their much-needed neighbor.” Osman calls for the dampening of radicalism and for moderate groups to come to the fore.
The Iraqi Kurds also recognize the importance of a relationship with the US. Osman affirms that the Americans wish to maintain positive relations with both the Turks and Iraqis as well, noting that “America does have two allies: a long-standing Turkish one and a nascent Iraqi one.”
Posted in Iraq, Kurds, PKK, Turkey, US foreign policy | Comment »
Struggles in Turkey
April 18th, 2008 by Sharlina
An editorial in The International Herald Tribune analyzes the current attempts to ban the AKP, arguing that “a high court decision to nullify the popular will by dissolving a legitimately elected party would cast a pall over Turkish democracy and make it harder than it already is for Turkey to gain membership in the European Union.”
In a discussion on the interplay between Turkey, Iraq, and the PKK, Bitterlemons International presents opinions on the topic. Hiwa Osman argues that a ripe opportunity has presented itself to engage in “direct talks between Ankara and Arbil,” while Abdulkadir Onay urges Iraqi Kurds to recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization and thus “come on board” with the U.S., Iraqi and Turkish governments. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Steven A. Cook states, “Washington would not look favorably on any Turkish actions in the north that would precipitate further Iranian meddling in Iraq.” Bulent Aras argues that Turkey’s new strategy in regards to the Kurds is “based on three principles: domestic peace, regional legitimacy and coordination with the United States and the European Union.”
Posted in Iraq, Islam and Democracy, Kurds, PKK, Turkey | Comment »
Demise or Development of Turkish Democracy?
April 7th, 2008 by Amanda
Soner Cagaptay deliberates in Newsweek that consideration by the Turkish Consitutional Court to ban the AKP may only serve to strengthen it. He accuses the majority party of abandoning alliances with liberals and the media once the EU began “formal accession” talks to include Turkey into its member organization, utilizing secularists only for political gain.
He concludes that the AKP is now in a winning position and “losing its appetite for consensual politics.“
He argues that while the Court’s consideration to ban the AKP is “an undesirable outcome for a democracy”, he is troubled that the party “fully controls the legislative and executive branches,” allowing it the “chance to rule Turkey with majority public support, unrestrained by checks and balances.”
At World Politics Review Jonathan Kolieb concludes that “progress is threatened if the AKP is even perceived as pursuing a veiled Islamist agenda” by secularists. He notes that for the AKP to dampen such criticisms of its alleged religiosity it should address broader issues such as minority discrimination against Jews and Kurds that Kolieb considers to be “glaring inconsistencies in the Turkish polity.”
Posted in Islam and Democracy, Kurds, Sectarianism, Turkey | Comment »
A Kurdish Domino Effect?
March 14th, 2008 by Kent
Gunes Murat Tezcur’s Daily Star op-ed analyzes the effects of Kurdish nationalism in Iraq on Kurdish communities elsewhere, specifically Turkey. The writer believes that the independence for the Kurds in Iraq inspires desire for separation, or at least autonomy, in the hearts of Kurds who reside in Turkey. Tezcur calls for the United States to act carefully in order to prevent regional destabilization.
Posted in Iraq, Kurds | Comment »
Kurdish Concern as Talabani visits Turkey
March 7th, 2008 by Sharlina
Gareth Jenkins at The Eurasia Daily Monitor comments on Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s 3-day visit to Turkey that begins today, arguing that the main reason for Ankara’s refusal to grant Talabani’s visit official status is mainly because Turkey views Talabani more as a Kurd than as President. “Even though he is coming to Ankara as president of Iraq, Turkey still treats him as the head of the PUK,” noted journalist Rusen Cakir in the daily Vatan.
Meanwhile, Dr. Günes Murat Tezcür argues at Newsweek’s PostGlobal that “for a peaceful border to become a reality, Turkey and other regional states with sizeable Kurdish populations need to extend full recognition to Kurdish demands for greater cultural and political rights.”
Posted in Iraq, Kurds, Turkey | Comment »
Turkey’s Military Offensive in Northern Iraq
February 28th, 2008 by Sharlina
Michael Jansen comments at The Jordan Times on Turkey’s offensive in northern Iraq, arguing that it “has put the U.S. in an awkward position as the country’s occupier and, allegedly, defender of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Quoting U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates in his warning that the Turkish military cannot rely solely on force to resolve the country’s “Kurdish problem,” Jansen states that “a very high price could be paid by Turkey because the generals are using the offensive to reassert their central role in decision making and to sideline the democratically elected AKP government.”
Lt. Col. Abdulkadir Onay of the Turkish Army and Soner Cagaptay at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy argue that continued U.S. assistance against the PKK is not only positively affecting Turkish attitudes toward the U.S., but it is also helping the U.S. in the War on Terror against all terrorists, “not just those most actively targeting the United States.”
Posted in Iraq, Kurds, Military, Turkey | Comment »
Iraq’a Kurds and Political Reconciliation
February 14th, 2008 by Nicolas
Michael O’Hanlon and Omer Taspinar from the Brookings Institution consider that Iraq’s Kurds “appear to be interfering with efforts to foster political accommodation among their country’s major sectarian groups” by developing oil fields on Kurdish territory with foreign investors but not with the central government and by wanting to reclaim Kirkuk and its surrounding oil fields. O’Hanlon and Taspinar believe that Kurds are making a “major mistake” that may “shatter” and “destabilize” the region. “They should rethink their approach both out of fairness to the United States, which has given them a chance to help build a post-Hussein Iraq, and in the interests of the Kurds and their neighbors. “
Posted in Iraq, Kurds | Comment »
Status of the Iraqi Government
January 31st, 2008 by Nicolas
In the USIP briefing, entitled “Iraq: Politics Unfrozen, Direction Still Unclear,” Daniel Serwer and Rend al-Rahim measure the postive political progress of Iraq and make recommendations for imrovement. There is a “broad acceptance of the new constitutional regime,” yet, “despite these positive developments, many obstacles remain, and there is little time in which to surmount them, given the American pressures for continuing withdrawal.”
Nazar Janabi from the Washington Institute for Near Easy Policy, writes that the Sunnis and Shiites are ”testing the waters of reconciliation in the Iraqi parliament” with “Article 140” that would increase the central government’s control over Kirkuk’s oil. This might come at the cost of escalating “anti-Kurdish sentiment among many Arab parliamentarians, costing the Kurds some of the hard-earned political ground they have gained thus far.” He warns that this agreement “could turn into a violent contest” between the Baghdad and Kirkuk.
Posted in Iraq, Kurds | Comment »
The Future of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan
January 10th, 2008 by Sharlina
In an article in the Atlantic Monthly, Jeffrey Goldberg discusses the US interest in a unified Iraq in contrast to Kurdish desires for independence. Goldberg also examines the future of the broader political map fo the Middle East, asking ”How many states will there one day be between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates River?”
American Enterprise Institute’s Michael Rubin examines the state of US relations with Iraqi Kurdistan, suggesting that recent actions of Iraqi Kurds are not in the US’s best interests. “It is time to take a tough love approach to Iraqi Kurdistan. There should be no aid and no diplomatic legitimacy so long as Iraqi Kurdistan remains a PKK safe haven, sells U.S. security to the highest bidder, and leaves democratic reform stagnant.”
Brian Katulis and Peter Juul at the Center for American Progress remark on damage done to internal Iraqi reconciliation by highlighing “four ticking time bombs.” They note that “all four are issues that U.S. troops on the ground cannot resolve. Instead, they require increased diplomatic intervention.”
Posted in Iraq, Kurds, US foreign policy | Comment »
Ramifications of Turkish Bombing Last Thursday
January 8th, 2008 by Sharlina
The larger meaning of a terrorist car bombing that killed five people and wounded 68 last Thursday in southeastern Turkey is discussed in an editorial in the International Herald Tribune today. The article implores the lethal blast to be seen against “the backdrop of a domestic struggle over the political and cultural identity of Turkey.” It also indicates that a reprisal of the dirty war that the Turkish military conducted against the PKK in the 1980s and ’90s could endanger the continuance of Turkish economic and political reforms and also undermine regional relationships with Iran, Syria, and Israel, as well as Turkey’s bid for membership in the European Union and Turkey’s relationship with the United States.
Posted in Kurds, PKK, Terrorism, Turkey, US foreign policy | 1 Comment »
The Kirkuk Referendum
December 20th, 2007 by Sean
David Ignatius writes in today’s Washington Post of ’sectarian disaster’ narrowly averted in Kirkuk - a newly brokered compromise between factions. The compromise allows for a six month delay of the controversial Kirkuk referendum, previously scheduled for the end of this month.
In the American Prospect today, however, Spencer Ackerman takes a less positive view of the coming referendum. He discusses Kurdish attempts to preemptively determine ‘facts on the ground’ in Kirkuk and Mosul and warns of a possible constitutional crisis.
Posted in Elections, Iraq, Kurds | Comment »
Kurdish Parliament: Kirkuk Referendum Deadline May Be Extended
December 17th, 2007 by Sean
Today the Kurdish parliament met to discuss the fate of article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, providing for a census and referendum on the status of the oil-rich region of Kirkuk. The UN secretary-general’s representative to Iraq Stefan De Mistura proposed a six-month extension, citing the current lack of progress towards meeting the current end-of-the-year deadline.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued a report on a new press bill passed last week by the Kurdish parliament, in which they warn that the law’s vague wording and provisions for governmental control would impose significant restrictions on independent media.
Posted in Iraq, Journalism, Kurds | Comment »
"Why American Troops Belong in Kurdistan"
November 21st, 2007 by Amanda
Lionel Beehner in USA Today says that the United States “hasn’t done enough to defuse the tension” between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan, and if war errupts, then “Washington could come to regret its hands-off approach.”
Moreover, he argues “A conflict on Iraq’s northern front would be disastrous for the United States, as it could destabilize the one region in the country with any modicum of stability,” and that Kurdistan is “a safe, moderate and investment-friendly place with democratic aspirations” therefore, “it’s worth putting U.S. troops there…better sooner rather than later.”
Posted in Iraq, Kurds, Turkey | Comment »
Turkey, Kurds, and Political Participation
November 19th, 2007 by Sean
In an CS Monitor article entitled “How to erode Kurdish terror,” Didem Cakmakli argues today that the most effective anti-PKK strategy for Turkey involves commitment to giving its own Kurdish population “more rights and representation.”
Posted in Human Rights, Kurds, Reform, Turkey | Comment »
