The Demographic Puzzle and the Kurds

Submitted by Ianus (Poland), May 15, 2007 at 17:50

Dear Sophia, you ask :

> I'm wondering what - if anything - this all has to do with the Kurds, who comprise a major percentage of the population in Northeastern Anatolia?

I find it curious and quite symptomatic that in Dr. Pipes' article the word "Kurd" doesn't appear at all . If it did , it wouldn't contribute to the alleged dualism "secularism" versus "Islamism" on which Dr. Pipes argument is built. And the reason is obvious - whoever rules in Ancara (Islamist or secularist ) will persecute the Kurds and hate whomever supports them - be it America or Greece .

> Also, if the Iraq war has affected attitudes toward America and also probably contributed to antisemitism, how has the movement for Kurdish independence affected the political process discussed above?

America created a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. Turkey sees it as a constant threat as it gives hope and haven to the oppressed Kurds in Turkey to grow larger one day. So the Turks hate America for that and it is not advisable for friends of America in Turkey to boast of that . The Turks hate also the Jews rabidly as they think the Jews control America and know the sympathies of the Kurds towards the Jews.

> Could this in itself destabilize Turkey?

On the contrary - this is a major uniting force in the Turkish society. It is shared by all irrespective of party and faith affiliation . Those who demonstrate on order of the militarists and the police will never demonstrate in favour of Kurdish autonomy , let alone a greater Kurdish state in Eastern Anatolia.

> Would this have any bearing at all on the power of Islamist parties or is it a completely distinct issue?

In my view there is the reason why the two groups have secretly concluded a strategic alliance. (I read it somewhere and found probable) . Erdogan will not interfer in what concerns the army - personnel , training and indoctrination. It's enough for him that all soldiers are Moslems. It makes teh army de facto Islamic even without beards and turbans. The Army on the other hand gives him a free hand and support in conducting political intrigues.

Both want to proceed to stage a major action to crush the Kurds . I imagine it this way - the army stages demosntartions against Islamism. It goes without saying that the present demosbtrations are no spontaneous events but are staged by the armyand police . it frightens and blackmails the west with a sceptre of Islamism. Islamists do all they can to confirm the sceptre story from Turkey. The US and the EU succumb at the end . Secularism a la turque is at last restored but in the meantime the army carries out a blitz expedition into Iraqi Kurdistan with the US assent. Law and order are restored , the Kurdish danger averted. Turkey promises to be a good pro-American boy again . The US supports Turkey's request to join the EU. All are happy .

Even if much of this is pure fantasy , I'd still advise no one to trust the Turks . Whenever Turkey had internal problems they were always exported abroad in form of military aggression like in 1974 against Cyprus.

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