No solution in sight for Kurdish problem.

CHANCE FOR INDEPENDENT KURDISTAN HAS PASSED

KURDS HAVE BEEN PROBLEM FOR REGION FOR A 100 YEARS

The area called Kurdistan is made up of northwestern Syria, southern Turkey, western Iran and northern Iraq. the ethnic group known as Kurds are a substantial minority in all those countries. They consider themselves decedents of ancient Persian Medes. They do have unique physical features. They are mostly Caucasian and handsome in their appearance. They are also very independent minded.

The Ethic group called Kurd's number 30 million people, they number about 18% of the Turkish population, 17% of the Iraqi population, 7 % of the Iranian population and 9 % in Syria. They seem to be not popular with the other ethnic groups in the region.They have been seeking some sort of independence or autonomy since WW1.

After WW1, they were promised independence after the breakup of the Ottoman empire, but within 2 years the western democracies reversed the plan.

They engaged in several rebellions in the 1920' and 1930's, with Turkey, Iraq and Iran. They have always been brutally defeated.

They rebelled from Iraq in the 1980's and 180,000 were killed by Saddam Hussein.

With the invasion of Iraq in 2003 they sided with the United States and were granted some autonomy and self rule in northern Iraq by the 2005 Iraqi constitution. 

In 2017 a referendum was held and  they voted for independence from Iraq with a 93% vote. This referendum was opposed by all the Western countries and the UN. Interesting that Paul Manafort was hired by the leaders of the referendum to help organize the endeavor.

There was a swift backlash from Iraq, Iran and Turkey which all rejected any such idea.

The Kurdish forces were the main fighting force that defeated the ISIS caliphate. They did the majority of the fighting losing over 11,000 soldiers. They were supported by U.S. air power,weapons and operational assistance.

The Kurdish forces have been in control of northern Syria. There have been negotiations with Syria, Russia, Turkey the U.S. and Iraq. They are split into several factions, all for independence but with opposing political views.

It seems they are also in control of over 10,000 Isis prisoners, many who originated from and are European citizens.  The Trump administration has been negotiating with the EU members to take charge of their citizens. They have refused.

It seems some kind of agreement has been reached between Turkey and Trump, with Turkey agreeing  to deal with these prisoners and relocating Syrian refugees back into northern Syria. There is a meeting planned for next month in Washington.

Many are rightfully concerned that Turkey will use the opportunity to attack the Kurds. If this should transpire it will be an escalation of the middle east chaos. The Kurd's will not be defeated easily and may have access to U.S. air support.

If Turkey begins executing or mistreating the ISIS prisoners, I am sure the EU will be the first to voice their outrage, all the while not willing to deal with the problem.

Turkey may see the situation as an opportunity to expand its influence, not a friend of Syria, not trusting of Iran. If they overstep they will be estranged from NATO and suffer economic consequences. They may also enrage their Kurdish population into an all out civil war.

Then there is the ongoing maneuvering between Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia of who will dominate the region.

No one knows exactly what agreements have been made. Trump's position is that the U.S. cannot be policing the world. That the EU takes no serious effort to repatriate their citizens. The United States seems to be the designated protector of the oil supplies that primarily go to Europe, China and Japan.

Maybe it is a time to step back and see if there any solutions that do not make the United States the only world sheriff.