Comments on: Kurdistance: Lebanon's Legacy? http://globalvoicesonline.org/2006/07/19/kurdistance-lebanons-legacy/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Sun, 27 May 2012 06:55:59 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: metin http://globalvoicesonline.org/2006/07/19/kurdistance-lebanons-legacy/comment-page-1/#comment-189779 metin Thu, 20 Jul 2006 01:15:59 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/?p=13122#comment-189779 I think the Israeli incursion into Lebanon to fight 'Hezbollah' should not signal a green light for Turkey to enter northern Iraq to fight 'PKK.' For one thing, American military presence in that region and as such a military campaign would be very distracted. Second, the Turkish citizens of Kurdish descent would not be helped with such an adventure as the eventual retaliation from the PKK will put them in a precarious position. Third, there are religious and cultural ties that bind the peoples of Kurds, Arabs, and Turks (although that hasn't stopped Iran/Iraq war or recent Turkish incursions into northern Iraq in the past.) And lastly, Israel has a 'most favored' status among the powers to be, that Turkey hasn't 'earned' yet. I believe the solution should still come from diplomatic channels. The present government of Turkey (although slowly, but surely) has been willing to show patience as they work 'behind-the-scenes' to incorporate peace in the region. The Turkish citizens of Kurdish descent probably would find themselves 'at a loss' if they 'renounced' their Turkish citizenship and allegiances to Turkey and sided with a 'Kurdish-only' state. They should instead continue to insist on more concessions, and rightly so, should receive it. The Turkish intellect and liberals should support such a noble cause. Why not a 'Kurd-Aid' or similar campaigns to get public opinion to support an integrated, but independent Kurdish federation within Turkey that could serve as a model for other 'aspiring' minorities in the region. Constructive criticism is welcome! I think the Israeli incursion into Lebanon to fight ‘Hezbollah’ should not signal a green light for Turkey to enter northern Iraq to fight ‘PKK.’ For one thing, American military presence in that region and as such a military campaign would be very distracted. Second, the Turkish citizens of Kurdish descent would not be helped with such an adventure as the eventual retaliation from the PKK will put them in a precarious position. Third, there are religious and cultural ties that bind the peoples of Kurds, Arabs, and Turks (although that hasn’t stopped Iran/Iraq war or recent Turkish incursions into northern Iraq in the past.) And lastly, Israel has a ‘most favored’ status among the powers to be, that Turkey hasn’t ‘earned’ yet.

I believe the solution should still come from diplomatic channels. The present government of Turkey (although slowly, but surely) has been willing to show patience as they work ‘behind-the-scenes’ to incorporate peace in the region.

The Turkish citizens of Kurdish descent probably would find themselves ‘at a loss’ if they ‘renounced’ their Turkish citizenship and allegiances to Turkey and sided with a ‘Kurdish-only’ state. They should instead continue to insist on more concessions, and rightly so, should receive it. The Turkish intellect and liberals should support such a noble cause. Why not a ‘Kurd-Aid’ or similar campaigns to get public opinion to support an integrated, but independent Kurdish federation within Turkey that could serve as a model for other ‘aspiring’ minorities in the region.

Constructive criticism is welcome!

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