SHORT CUTS KURDISTAN (CLICK HEADLINES FOR FULL TEXTS)
The Kurds in Syria, the PKK and Turkey
The Journal of Turkish Weekly – The greater part of Syria’s population is made up of Arabs but it is generally claimed that Kurds are the largest minority (9%) in the country’s 22 million population, but it needs to be said that this figure is not definite. Some sources claim that 13 to 14% of the population of Syria is Kurdish…
Syria’s Coming Sectarian Crack-Up
The Wall Street Journal – The Obama administration has been decrying the spread of sectarianism in war-torn Syria and calling for the preservation of state institutions there. A “managed transition” is the new mantra in Washington. This isn’t a policy but a prayer. Syrian state institutions are inherently sectarian, and they are crumbling before our eyes…
Kurds’ ambitions add explosive element to Syria equation
CNN- In the city of Qamishli, on Syria’s border with Turkey, neither the forces of the Syrian regime nor the rebels of the Free Syrian Army are to be seen. But visitors say the Kurdish flag is very evident, and Kurdish fighters man checkpoints around the city…
Iraq’s Rise To No. 2 Oil Producer In OPEC Is Bad News For World
Forbes – Iraq has finally overtaken Iran as the second largest oil producer in OPEC according to the International Energy Agency. Baghdad chalked up 3mb/d production compared to 2.9mb/d from Tehran. For some, that’s cause for celebration – ‘proving’ that international sanctions against Iran are ‘working’…
Associated Press – Iraq remains a fragile state deeply traumatized and riven by thirty years of war, sanctions, occupation, and civil strife. Although there are numerous positive signs of progress in Iraq—violence has fallen to its lowest level since 2003, its economy is growing modestly, oil production recently surpassed that of Iran, and foreign investment is beginning to restore infrastructure decayed by years of war and sanctions…
US insists on political solution to Kurdish question
Hurriyet Daily News – A political solution to the Kurdish question is the “responsible and promising way” and could drain the terrorist swamp, the U.S. ambassador has said, amid escalated terror acts which include the abduction of a Turkish lawmaker…