I have a question for the more enlightened on here. The demise of Isis as a fighting force capable of taking territory is at an end in Iraq. If press reports are accurate the only cities Isis controls are Rawa and Qaim. After these cities are captured, it seems Isis might only have a few roving squad size units left to eliminate. I know hit and run bombings or suicide attacks will still continue.
My question is, what is Iran's goal in Iraq after Isis is all but eliminated. I know Iran would love to see am Iraq with a Supreme leader. I don't see Iraq with anything but a secular form of government. So outside of having a strong Shia led government and no Sunni terrorists roaming Iraq what is their goal in Iraq?
Well, the current system is based on French and British claimed spheres of influence from 100 years ago. I don't see that as a better system. BTW, I don't see the possibility of a Christian Lebanon. Not only does it infringe on the land corridor Elisha refers to, but none of the Muslim countries in the area would accept it any more than they would an independent Kurdistan. They're nuts enough about Israel.
BTW, excellent discussion. This thread, at least currently, deserves to live.
Mike
Iraq could never be Switzerland, but the three groups separated should be able to be more like the Gulf states or Morocco.
njm
The Arab states would not except any part of my plan, they want to control everything, but they are not the only group in the middle east. Lebanon was carved out of Syria for the Maronite Christians after WWI, it would of had an overwhelming Christian majority, but they wanted more land which included more Muslims. Many of the Christians left because of terrorism. Christians are under attack and are being ethnically cleansed all over the middle east. They deserve a state for themselves. The Arab Muslims will have to learn to share. BTW, the Kurds are Muslim and they have always opposed them having a state, so its more than religion, its tribal. Plus they think a Kurdish state will be tight with Israel. However, as I always say when discussing Israel, Sunni Muslim Arabs have 21 states, the middle east is large enough for a few other states. Perhaps they could be convinced to change because they are scared of Iran. The gulf states are so spooked they work with Israel behind the scenes. The Gulf states, Israel, Kurdistan, and a Christian Lebanon could be a great counter to Iran.
Israel has existed for almost 70 years and still fights for its survival. Iran, through proxy, has done everything in it's power to threaten it. What makes you think Iran would accept a Kurdish or even Christian state? They won't even accept dual state solution.
What should, could or would happen are very different things. We (the West) have a difficult enough time keeping the various Shia and Sunni factions at bay, much less negotiating a land division that recognizes non-Muslim states in the ME.
I did not jive at all with Bill2s brand of pragmatism, but he was a font of knowledge and probably experience and led these threads in a welcome manner.
2. regarding the M.E. - You have to know what you are about .......what the "measure" is.
Pluralism is not just a vague idealistic idea, implemented properly, it can be very stabilizing.
In addition, its almost a requirement for a Nation State to have -valuable- relations with the West, over and above, 'we want your (oil or what have you, the pragmatist position)'.
Pluralism Miriam Webster-
a :a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization .
b :a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state
The Kurds, from here on my couch, seem to be the only player in Pluralism within the Iran/Iraq/Saudi sphere, and far better than the Syrians, possibly better than the Turks, certainly better than formerly Isil.
Strategy 101 says 'reinforce success.' By that measure, we should be helping the Kurds.
Notions of 'send millions of people here, send other millions there' are naïve, Un-American and have actual terrorizing examples in history (see, Stalin, Joseph, 20 to 60 million dead) Don't suggest ethnic cleansing, that would be steps from genocide, its not our thing.
Contrast Western style pluralism, where cultural identity and individualism are welcome as long as they stay within the blank slate of basic constitutional law. From a distance, only the Kurds come close to that.
Whereas it may be naïve of me to suggest we have that as a goal, methods and timing counts:
As long as the parties (Arabs of all sorts) are not attacking us here at home, or harboring those who would, we may be able to step back and take the long view. So its not like we are going in and trying to plant seeds in fallow ground. Just ignore the non-pluralistic ones as much as possible within those minimalistic goals, while maintaining and sharing the focus as a constant reminder.
All that said, the Kurds may have to give Kirkuk and the oil, or the oil $$$, to Iraq, as part of any independence bid, that might be the smart move, and without a fight.
In addition, the Kurds need to outline a strong 'non-interference policy towards Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq' ASAP. That is: 'we wont start or support Kurdish rebellions once our state is in effect'.
In addition, "we will respect all borders as they existed prior to 1989" or whenever (with the exception of Iraqi Kurdistan, where the new state would or will be, and if Assad willingly throws in a couple of acres here and there, in exchange for same).
Kurdish emmigres into a new State from those neighboring States must be required to state - the same as above.
As for my own bonafides:
Prior to the Syria war, here on BBI; I was the ONLY one on the initial Syria rebellion thread that said "I am very worried about this one as opposed to Libya, this could get bad, like WW2 bad" and that "the Russians may play a role".
Prior to the Syria war, here on BBI; I was the ONLY one on the initial Syria rebellion thread that said "I am very worried about this one as opposed to Libya, this could get bad, like WW2 bad" and that "the Russians may play a role".
The civil war started in 2011. You registered in 2015. So...
Can I borrow your time machine? I need to stop the Trey Junkin signing...
- After marginally helping the Kurds for a time, and "requiring that they act as proxy to prevent said land bridge from Iran to the Mediterranean, we, unable then to ask the Kurds to take a non-interference position (as we are asking them to interfere elsewhere), we therefore loosing the hope of that beacon of freedom and true ally of a pluralistic Kurdish state as I described, killed on the usual altar, the altar of hate of and fear of the Iranians.
Possibly the same rational we used for letting the Yemen horror burn on. One of those rare spots where we really look, not too great, letting the Saudis play like that.
Israel has existed for almost 70 years and still fights for its survival. Iran, through proxy, has done everything in it's power to threaten it. What makes you think Iran would accept a Kurdish or even Christian state? They won't even accept dual state solution.
What should, could or would happen are very different things. We (the West) have a difficult enough time keeping the various Shia and Sunni factions at bay, much less negotiating a land division that recognizes non-Muslim states in the ME.
It may be as simple as this, seeing that success of a Kurdish state would be great strategically and morally, but knowing that they would have to do said non-interference.
Our side says "no can do, we asked them just last week to interfere in Syria (vs the land bridge thing) , gotta wait"
So, once again, small fish beat big fish we tied our own hands.
Contrast Western style pluralism, where cultural identity and individualism are welcome as long as they stay within the blank slate of basic constitutional law. From a distance, only the Kurds come close to that.
Whereas it may be naïve of me to suggest we have that as a goal, methods and timing counts:
As long as the parties (Arabs of all sorts) are not attacking us here at home, or harboring those who would, we may be able to step back and take the long view. So its not like we are going in and trying to plant seeds in fallow ground. Just ignore the non-pluralistic ones as much as possible within those minimalistic goals, while maintaining and sharing the focus as a constant reminder.
All that said, the Kurds may have to give Kirkuk and the oil, or the oil $$$, to Iraq, as part of any independence bid, that might be the smart move, and without a fight.
In addition, the Kurds need to outline a strong 'non-interference policy towards Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq' ASAP. That is: 'we wont start or support Kurdish rebellions once our state is in effect'.
In addition, "we will respect all borders as they existed prior to 1989" or whenever (with the exception of Iraqi Kurdistan, where the new state would or will be, and if Assad willingly throws in a couple of acres here and there, in exchange for same).
Kurdish emmigres into a new State from those neighboring States must be required to state - the same as above.
As for my own bonafides:
Prior to the Syria war, here on BBI; I was the ONLY one on the initial Syria rebellion thread that said "I am very worried about this one as opposed to Libya, this could get bad, like WW2 bad" and that "the Russians may play a role".
I don't think it will get political because you're pretty much spot on with your assessment that is not based in anything other than fact
Yeah, I probably over reacted, sorry,
Religino is the easy way to describe the issues of the region. The real problem has more to do with poverty and brutal dictators who have enslaved many of their own and often use religion to maintain their power.
Mike
Iraq could never be Switzerland, but the three groups separated should be able to be more like the Gulf states or Morocco.
njm
The Arab states would not except any part of my plan, they want to control everything, but they are not the only group in the middle east. Lebanon was carved out of Syria for the Maronite Christians after WWI, it would of had an overwhelming Christian majority, but they wanted more land which included more Muslims. Many of the Christians left because of terrorism. Christians are under attack and are being ethnically cleansed all over the middle east. They deserve a state for themselves. The Arab Muslims will have to learn to share. BTW, the Kurds are Muslim and they have always opposed them having a state, so its more than religion, its tribal. Plus they think a Kurdish state will be tight with Israel. However, as I always say when discussing Israel, Sunni Muslim Arabs have 21 states, the middle east is large enough for a few other states. Perhaps they could be convinced to change because they are scared of Iran. The gulf states are so spooked they work with Israel behind the scenes. The Gulf states, Israel, Kurdistan, and a Christian Lebanon could be a great counter to Iran.
I think it might take more than the fear of the Iranians to "convince" them to accept a Christian and/or Kurdish state. And that raises the problematic question of how the US would be involved.
Quote:
India has many different ethnicities and a caste system. Separating Pakistan from the rest of India generally worked out okay, but the Muslims want the Kashmere region.
Mike
Iraq could never be Switzerland, but the three groups separated should be able to be more like the Gulf states or Morocco.
njm
The Arab states would not except any part of my plan, they want to control everything, but they are not the only group in the middle east. Lebanon was carved out of Syria for the Maronite Christians after WWI, it would of had an overwhelming Christian majority, but they wanted more land which included more Muslims. Many of the Christians left because of terrorism. Christians are under attack and are being ethnically cleansed all over the middle east. They deserve a state for themselves. The Arab Muslims will have to learn to share. BTW, the Kurds are Muslim and they have always opposed them having a state, so its more than religion, its tribal. Plus they think a Kurdish state will be tight with Israel. However, as I always say when discussing Israel, Sunni Muslim Arabs have 21 states, the middle east is large enough for a few other states. Perhaps they could be convinced to change because they are scared of Iran. The gulf states are so spooked they work with Israel behind the scenes. The Gulf states, Israel, Kurdistan, and a Christian Lebanon could be a great counter to Iran.
I think it might take more than the fear of the Iranians to "convince" them to accept a Christian and/or Kurdish state. And that raises the problematic question of how the US would be involved.
An internally peaceful,externally secure and co-dependent entity. It doesn't have to sell chocolates to be stable. If however there is a trained cadre of intelligence and military professionals lurking behind the scenes to sabotage any progress in this direction than the possibility may never materialize. I believe the involvement of the former regime operatives with terrorists was always underestimated both prior and after our involvement. After we left they fell right back in on their former functions, IMHO.
Iraq
Turkey (15% - 20% of population is Kurd)
Syria (10% - 15% of population is Kurd)
Iran (10% -15% of population is Kurd)
If Kurds in Iraq declare free nation then the rest of Kurds in region will want to join this new country -
Turkey Iran and Iraq will use force to prevent this from happening
They are already in a military alliance to prevent it.
Kurdistan - ( New Window )
Is it because they are in the areas that are oil rich?
Iraq
Turkey (15% - 20% of population is Kurd)
Syria (10% - 15% of population is Kurd)
Iran (10% -15% of population is Kurd)
If Kurds in Iraq declare free nation then the rest of Kurds in region will want to join this new country -
Turkey Iran and Iraq will use force to prevent this from happening
They are already in a military alliance to prevent it. Kurdistan - ( New Window )
Even your link shows that Kurdistan had not existed for centuries prior to WWI. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. And indeed, Turkey Iran and Iraq have no desire to lose a part of their countries to an independent Kurdistan.
Montana - Believe there are substantial oil deposits in or near the Kurdish controlled part of Iraq. I don't recall any in Kurdish areas of either Iran or Syria.
Quote:
Iran through southern Iraq, through Syria to their proxy group in Lebanon known as Hezbollah. They seek to dominate the Muslim world, spread their form of Islam, and destroy Israel. I'm sure this will get political and be deleted soon, but the only thing that can be done in the middle east is to re-organize the countries by ethnic and religious lines. This could create some violence and instability in the short term, but I think would work out well in the long term. Southern Iraq can be turned into an Arabic speaking Shia state. The Kurds should have a state, Sunni Muslims should leave Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon can return to being the Arab Christian state that it was intended to be. All middle eastern Christians can move there, it can be a Christian Zionism for middle eastern Christians. The remaining ethnic and religious minorities can replace the Sunni Muslims who leave Israel and Lebanon (they will be treated much better there). One might say this is unrealistic, but nothing will ever change in that region without this plan.
I don't think it will get political because you're pretty much spot on with your assessment that is not based in anything other than fact