Kurds' Wariness Frustrates U.S. Efforts

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1767-2004Jan8.html

The United States faces the prospect of two governments inside Iraq -- one for Kurds and one for Arabs -- after so far failing to win a compromise from the Kurds on a formula to distribute political power when the U.S. occupation ends, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials.

L. Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, twice met with the two main Kurdish leaders over the past week to urge them to back down from their demands to retain autonomy, according to U.S. officials.

But in a new setback for U.S. plans in Iraq, the Kurds have not budged. They insist on holding on to the basic political, economic and security rights they have achieved during a dozen years of being cut off from the rest of Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rule.

"They have a strong hand and they're playing it," a senior administration official said.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Turkey must be oh so peachy

this is going to further destablize the region.

[0rganism]

2. Uh, yes, there will be a civil war and possibly a Turkish annexation

Good job with the invasion, boys! Love yer stuff!

Saddam is laughing through his manacles.

[Snappy]

3. Sunnis

They have formed their own government council. Seems that a three territory split may be coming up. The USA will never be able to pull troops out below a level of 100K because the moment the reduce the strength size too far bellow that, the civil war will begin. It's brewing now.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi Snappy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Bob3]

4. So the Kurds are in the way

Sorry couldn't help myself - still I can understand - the Kurds have been sold up the river by everybody they ever dealt with so their distrust of our motives is not very shocking (and probbaly accurate to boot)

[mbperrin]

5. Gee, why should they be..uh...

wary?

Besides those doublecrossing things and the death of thousands and decades of being lied to? Gosh, these guys are pessimists!

</blithe indifference to reality>