Some exaggeration, yes

Submitted by Michael S. (United States), Sep 10, 2014 at 22:16

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which came into existence the following year, can be called (with only some exaggeration) the Switzerland of the Muslim Middle East.

Yes, with exaggeration: The KRG is very different from Switzerland. The latter has four peoples in one state; the former has one people in four states.

The immediate outcome of an independent Iraqi Kurdish state would be a struggle between its ruler, Masoud Barzani, and his rivals in the PUK, PKK and elsewhere. Barzani would be a Turkish puppet, and the others would be supported by Iran and Syria. Ultimately, this would end in further instability in the region and its occupation by Turkish, Iranian and Israeli forces. (I count "the West" out in this one).

The last I read, the only ones favoring an independent Kurdistan have been the Turks (yes, the Turks), Barzani and Israel. ThePKK-allied Syrian Kurds, as well as the PUK (which supplies Iraq its President), and the Turkish PKK Kurds all back autonomy rather than full independence. What will determine which way things go will the Americans, who are sure to go in with both left feet (but no boots).

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".