American Presidents

[benda]

Thank you - I really had plenty of pleasure in Carpathians. I think you are right - most people (including me) don't know the history of the area. However, what I know is that Kurds had their own country for a very long time and have ancient state traditions. So no doubt for me that creation of independent Kurdistan as Kurds demand would be a right thing.

[lenire]

Benda,

You are right but its not that simple. The Kurds have never had what we call a country today. They were a regional people in what was the Ottoman empire, without any recognized borders. Unfortunately today the issue is much broader because of the Armanian issue, and oil.
Its not that the US is in over their head, everyone is. The long term solution is so complex I doubt anyone can predict the outcome. My only hope is that the US recognizes the complexity of the situation and allows the kurdish people to form their autonomous region, without influence by an administration that "does not understand".

Len

[benda]

Yes, Kurdistan was not a unite state (during its independence) - it consisted of many little countries with their rulers. But now, I think, Kurds in different countries realized being one nation. If so, continuous oppressions by foreigners played not the last role in this.

[lenire]

"If so, continuous oppressions by foreigners played not the last role in this"

Benda,
I'm not sure that is such a good choice of words you use there. The complexity of nations is far more un-balanced than that. The real problem arises when you start to suggest that modern nations should be split or created on ethnic or a religious basis. Or that all ethinic groups should be recognized as independant and autonomous sovereignties. Its easy to see the strife this would create, where the lack of integration and acceptance of our differences, is the major problem of the world as we know it.
Perhaps its the understanding and acceptance of previous injustices, and a move forward to integration and dignity in differences that is far more important. The issue of the middle east is far too complex to think that simply forming a Kurdistan would in any way pacify such an unstable region.

Len

[benda]

Maybe not the best words - because of my rather poor vocabulary, as you must have noticed.

I am sure it won't "pacify" the region, as you say. But it can be one of the steps which has to be done - sooner or later.

And one more thing - about ethnic minorities. Of course it does not mean that all the regions where majority of population consists of national minorities must be recognized as independent states. I mean only aborigins - origin inhabitants of the land. And Kurds, no doubt, have been living in Kurdistan since long-long time ago - before Arabs and Turks conguered those lands.

[lenire]

Its not quite that clear cut, but the Kurds have shown their ability to both govern themselves in a civilized society, and an ability to join other societies, without loosing site of their national aspirations. Other ethnic groups in the middle east have not shown such maturity.

[benda]

I've heard that even Saladin was a Kurd.