A comment by Lars Akerhaug, Norway
Once again the Turkish generals threaten to invade areas in Northern Iraq, or, if you want, Southern Kurdistan.
Historically these areas with their flat fields around Euphrates and
Tigris, surrounded by peaked mountaintops have been home for a
multitude of religions and cultures, in the way mountainous areas often
are. But after decades of war, dictatorship and ethnic persecution
these places have been cleansed of minorities, in the way it often
happens when imperialist forces cut artificial borders and build
artificial states.
But since the occupation of Iraq this area has actually been one of the
few things Washington dares to boast about. The area of the Kurdish
regional government has been noted for its stability and has seen
economic growth.
Maybe not so strange, as these areas have been ruled by the iron fist
of the two dominating Kurdish parties in Iraq, PUK and KDP and at the
same time been a major pint for trade between Iraq, Turkey and Iran.
Why, in areas where political opposition is being marginalized and
persecuted, stability often follows. And at major road crossings for
smugglers of guns and drugs you’re seldom short of cash.
The black sheep is the Northern Kurdistan guerrilla PKK which has their
military camps based in the Qandil mountains of Southern Kurdistan.
Since 2002 the group has attempted to improve their relations to the
West and America. Leaders from their sister party PEJAK in Iran have
travelled to the United States and met American officials. In Turkey
the group has attempted a moderate line with several unilateral
ceasefires and attempts to follow the rules of parliamentary politics
through running for elections with independent Kurdish candidates and
setting up a legal parties.
None of the attempts had much effect. Turkey hasn’t softened up to the
guerrilla. The US hasn’t done anything and at the same time the secular
nationalist movement is losing votes and popular support to the
Islamists in Northern Kurdistan. So, it’s nothing strange that the PKK
broke the ceasefire this spring. Anything else would be a political
suicide.
Neither is it strange that a united Turkish public opinion now aims at
Iraq and the PKK. Though it’s hard to see that Turkey in any way would
gain from invading their neighbouring country, making it more unstable,
it’s easy to see that in a country where a large majority of the
citizens hold strong nationalist opinions, all big parties gain from
promoting Turkish chauvinism.
Actually all parts could be seen to gain from a war. Already now the
Turkish state and the nationalist falangs are directing hard strikes to
the Kurdish and democratic movement, both in Turkey and Europe. Even if
the Turkish generals know that they cannot win control over Southern
Kurdistan, they might think they’re getting one step closer in
exterminating opposition in the Turkish state. At the same time, the
post-Islamist party AKP could prove their worth as “real nationalists”.
And, ironical as it may be, weakening the PKK would probably only
strengthen the Islamist adversaries of the military council in Northern
Kurdistan.
And it might look like the PKK is consciously trying to get Turkey
involved in Iraq. Maybe they want to weaken relations between Turkey
and the US (they’re bad enough already) and thus indirectly strengthen
their own relations to Washington. Maybe the guerrilla is betting that
the neocons once again will attempt to exploit the Kurds, this time in
a crusade against Iran?
The situation in Turkey, Iraq and Kurdistan is a bright example of how
geopolitics is centred around the United States. Since the Iraq war
Turks and Kurds have fought over support from the White House. Anyone
could’ve predicted this recent conflict. At the same time the US never
had many options. They don’t exactly have plenty of friends in this
part of the world. This war could easily become the last step towards
the collapse for the US occupation of Iraq.
