What if Bashar Al-Assad realized early on that in order to reduce tension he had to go?

1) 150,000 lives saved.
2) The US backs the Syrian government against the ISIL like it does Iraq.
3) Iraqi Kurdistan is not in the hands of the ISIL.

Kurdistan is in the hands of ISIS?

Some people will believe anything, if they're lied to long enough.

(06-21-2014 01:29 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Kurdistan is in the hands of ISIS?

Well they have Mosul which is the major city for Iraq Kurdistan.

It's on the border of their territory. All borders are subject to change without notice in unstable times. So I wouldn't say they CONTROL it.

(06-21-2014 11:20 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  It's on the border of their territory. All borders are subject to change without notice in unstable times. So I wouldn't say they CONTROL it.

I thought they had more of Kurdistan when I first mentioned it based on reports. From this map apparently they do not.

The question is if Assad was out of Syria 3 years ago and the US was supporting the new Syrian government against terrorism would this even be a question?

People have thought for a long time that the Kurdistan regions of Iraq and Syria could be united in a common state. Afterall the Kurds do not have their own state.

Who would have thought that the Sunni regions of Syria and Iraq would unite like that potentially? There are plenty of Sunni dominated states out there.

Maybe a 3 state solution in both Iraq and Syria is the answer.

Mosul isn't part of Kurdistan. The Kurds havn't been there in centuries.

Erbil and Tikrit are their two major cities.

The ISIS has had no impact on Kurdistan and hasn't occupied a single square foot of it.

(06-21-2014 03:08 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Mosul isn't part of Kurdistan. The Kurds havn't been there in centuries.

Erbil and Tikrit are their two major cities.

The ISIS has had no impact on Kurdistan and hasn't occupied a single square foot of it.

See, Kurdish autonomous region.

Why take on the Kurds. Then they would have a real fight.

Why not take on the Kurds? Those people have been fighting each other since the dawn of time.

What if? After almost 13 years of armed involvement in the area I really don't care any more. Make it a caliphate, make it a liberal democracy, make it all tribal. Don't care.

I'm of a similar opinion. Leave them to their own devices. Our involvement only stirs the hornet's nest.

The apathy is understandable; it's just a shame that the Kurds are history's losers once again after making a commitment and following through with her western 'allies.'

(06-24-2014 01:22 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The apathy is understandable; it's just a shame that the Kurds are history's losers once again after making a commitment and following through with her western 'allies.'

I'd like to see the Kurds beat back ISIS and establish an area of their own - if Iraq is going to break up.

(06-20-2014 08:35 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  What if Bashar Al-Assad realized early on that in order to reduce tension he had to go?

1) 150,000 lives saved.
2) The US backs the Syrian government against the ISIL like it does Iraq.
3) Iraqi Kurdistan is not in the hands of the ISIL.

Honestly, i believe that ISIS becomes .. ISS (I don't think they make enough headway in Iraq, and are limited to Syria for quite some time.)

And again, note that ISIS hasn't made too many moves against the Kurds. I do expect a 'formal' announcement of the formation of Kurdistan within 5 years (IMO).

As late as last week the US government was leaning on Barsani not to make any move that could be thought of as a move towards Independence. The biggest hurdle to Kurdistan becoming a nation is us. That won't change.

(06-25-2014 09:41 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  As late as last week the US government was leaning on Barsani not to make any move that could be thought of as a move towards Independence. The biggest hurdle to Kurdistan becoming a nation is us. That won't change.

The one constant truth I've learned in life is that things change. What was once true may not be true in the future. The only constant truth in the universe is change. So don't bet on things not changing.

They are still working on a coalition government in Iraq so naturally the Kurds can still try that route.

In 6 months the conflict is raging on and the government collapses then its a different story.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(06-24-2014 11:22 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I'm of a similar opinion. Leave them to their own devices. Our involvement only stirs the hornet's nest.

Outgoing Israeli president said the same thing this morning on CBS news.

' Wrote:The apathy is understandable; it's just a shame that the Kurds are history's losers once again after making a commitment and following through with her western 'allies.'

That's why I said ISIS would not really take on the Kurds. They could take over most of the rest of Iraq, but they would be bogged down if they went full bore against the Kurds.
I'd like to see the Kurds beat back ISIS and establish an area of their own - if Iraq is going to break up.
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