Iraq-based Kurdish rebels to unite against Iran

[bemildred]

Source: AFP

ARBIL, Iraq — The separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has battled Turkey for years, said on Saturday it will aid another north Iraq-based Kurdish rebel group in fighting against Iranian forces.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said earlier that they had resumed operations against Kurdish rebels in northwestern Iran along the Iraqi border, inflicting "heavy blows."

"From now on we will fight on the side of the fighters of PJAK (Party of Free Life of Kurdistan) against the Iranian attacks, that are trying to enter the Kurdistan region of Iraq, especially in the Qandil area," PKK spokesman Dozdar Hammo told AFP.

"We are a force to protect the people of Kurdistan. We see it is our duty to protect the achievements of the people of Kurdistan in any part," Hammo said.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j5bOhwVWNIsH9iREYS1qjcHjzuvg?docId=CNG.8e3e8af3a6fc02c8a1fde7406092ab00.71

[xchrom]

1. again -- one of those things you knew was going to happen...

you just wondered when.

[bemildred]

2. Yep.

Interestingly enough, this does not seem to be bringing Iran and Turkey closer together though:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=116x17828

[xchrom]

4. i really do think of turkey as a european not a middle east nation.

i'm iffy on this newish turn in office -- but so far they seem fairly committed to a secular government.

& the turkish people don't seem interested in an 'islamic revolution'.

so i'm not surprised at this move of theirs -- though hitching their wagon to us bothers me.

[bemildred]

5. I quite agree.

They are not such good friends with us as they once were.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

3. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims and are sitting on top of a lot of oil.

Wanna guess what's going to happen when we pull out?

[aquart]

7. Probably why they've been getting training from Israel.

While Turkey has been buying drones from Israel for the purpose of killing them. Complicated place, the MidEast. Don't assume the Kurds are that easy to kill. People have been trying for centuries.

[ShockediSay]

6. Things should get interesting right about now, n/t

[Muskypundit]

8. And if the kurds homeland didnt run through parts of turkey

We would be secretly arming them up so fast against iran...