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Press release by US Representative Eliot Engel’s office:
Washington, DC — Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation Thursday that seeks to block a proposed sale of U.S. military equipment to the Republic of Turkey over concerns about its treatment of American allies including Israel, Cyprus and Armenia.
“We are deeply concerned by Turkey’s increased saber rattling, its threats against Israel, its outlook toward the European Union, its occupation of Cyprus and its unrelenting blockade of Armenia. It appears as though our long-standing ally in Ankara is not only drifting toward confrontation with its friends and allies, but is also cozying up to some of our most entrenched enemies. The U.S. should be busy raising these very serious concerns with Turkey, rather than selling arms to them,” said Reps. Berkley and Engel.
The $111 million arms sale to Turkey proposed by the Obama Administration late last month would include AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopters, engines, spare parts, training equipment, technical documentation and support services. Under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the Administration must notify Congress 15 days before selling arms to a NATO ally such as Turkey, if the sale is $50 million or more. After 15 days, the sale can be finalized, unless Congress passes legislation prohibiting or modifying the proposed sale. The resolution introduced by Berkley and Engel would prohibit this sale. Cosponsors of the Berkley-Engel bill, H.J.Res.83, include Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Ed Royce (R-CA).
04 November 2011
It would be fair if there was a slight indication to the plight of 25 million suffering Kurds in North of Kurdistan in the content of the stated letter as one of the key reasons to objecting the arms sale to Turkey by the US representatives, as well?
Brother Baqi has revealed the fact behind leaving out the mentioning of an entire nation of kurds being the real targets of the Turkey’s military assaults by the would be sale of the 2-3 cobra attack helicopters. What I like to add is the fact; that the esteemed US representatives’ noble mission to stop the sale has had to have the usual “politically correct” justification behind it or it might not have been possible to pass, when “US declared” signatory to PKK being terrorist rather than a Freedom Fighter is yet to be corrected regardless of how close of a friend US administration considers itself to be with Turkey.
Given the fact; that this is no longer the “Cold War” era, and no one can hide from the Global internet computer communication highway; US must now insist to recognize Turkey’s ongoing atrocities against Kurds since 1923, and by spending some more quality time in “Foreign Policy”, try not to lag behind some of her allies, whom are increasingly accepting the EU’s Court decision, which has removed PKK from its terrorist list, and is hoping others in position of Heads of States follow suit.
Finally, in 2003, when US was in the front rank to remove Saddam with gross violations of human rights within the manufactured “Iraq”, mainly targeting “Kurds”, she now must not change course to complete the task of securing an independent Kurdistan, when during 1918-1923 Kurdistani defenders were attacked by 4 usurper military power nations (Turk, Arab, Persian, and again Arab with the help of their colonial masters) against “1”, which was clearly the most unfair fight in any capacity (4 to 1).
This is why US, particularly under a famous former longtime “Civil Rights” activist President Obama, must not remain silent, and play the same politically Correct games played in Washington on daily basis, and must expose Turkey’s atrocities against Kurds full force ahead before it is too late to stop more genocides, and more chemical weapon attacks like the past week’s Turkish military assaults as just one example in the endless ongoing attacks over the past 92 years.
Wasn’t it President Obama himself, when stated something to the effect; that “I’m going to Washington to change the culture of corruption…….” or to Change Washington, because I consider myself as an outsider?
I must stop here since this is only a reply – comment section, giving others a chance to join us.
Thank you The Kurdistan Tribune, and keep up the good work. November 8, 2011
This is one more evidence that shows how much the US cares about the Kurds and their declared principles of human rights, democracy etc.
Kurds are simply irrelevant to the US. We Kurds should stop begging and wining.
The US would care if we had some weight to put on their balance in the middle east.
We might have some weight but that little we have is given away for nothing because kurdish representatives, ncluding the kurdish public, are willing to fulfill and US wishes even before they have asked for it and for nothing.
To be realistic the US and the other western countries have no other choice. They would be mad if they would ignore their “much more important” interests with countries like Turkey, arab countries and Iran in favor of Kurdistan.
Even if they did that, their own people would hold them accountable for harming the interests of their countries.
So “get united, get stronger”.
This is the only solution because if that was the case no one would dare to bypass the Kurds who are at the heart of the middle east and with their 45 millions they could control all of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran which no one, not even the superpowers, are able to control right now.
Even if we weren’t controlling we could have such an impact so that none of those countries could dictate their will and we would be able to have a big impact on how things develop and thus take care that they are not completely against our intzerests.
If Kurds stop begging and fighting each other then they could put demands on the table and not going to Washington and telling how nice they have been to the US and beg for some support which will never materialize.
It’s the power of “ALL Kurds” from all 4 parts that is needed, including their ordinary citizens, civil society organizations and parties, including PDK, PUK, PKK and all the others no matter how opposed they are.
Staying scattered as we are right now and even fighting each other will mean only one thing:
we will stay irrelevant for the next years and decades to come.
So if we don’t like that, we need to change it and know that we could have a bright future awaiting us, specially with the vast natural resources such as oil & gas, water and other resources Kurdistan has.
We could also gain some friends or allies.
Israel for example could be a natural ally for Kurds.
They need some non hostile partners in the middle east and Kurds are genuinely friendly to Jews and Israel.
The same applies for Kurds. We need allies and we could have no better allies than Israel.
But that doesn’t include Israel feeding us through and fighting for us as some Kurds expect from an ally.
Best regards
Dilshad Xoshnaw
Dear Mamosta Steve,
Salaw u Rez
It’s always good to hear from you. As a student of yours along with many other fellow Kurdish comrades, we would love to continue learning about your valuable views on Kurdish themes.
Given your extensive experience and deep grasping of US politics, we have a question and you can best help us infer on this debate:
Some of us believe that Republicans are generally more pro-Kurds than Dems. Had they still been in office, things would have turned out more in favor of Kurdish nation. Since Obama admin assumed power, support is noticeably diminishing for Kurdish cause by and large, particularly in regard to Kurdish independence in South of Kurdistan?
To what extent does this statement hold truth in your view and if positive, what could have been possibly the motives?
We appreciate it very much if you could cast some light upon this facts for us?
Mr.Dilshad Xoshnaw
We must be realistic. We cannot pin the blame on the US for its fluctuating approach toward the Kurds. Hosni Mubarak was a servant of the US for decades, and now he is behind the bars. Every country primarily pursues its own national interests. I strongly concur with the notion that Turkey is of more assets and substance to the US compared to the Kurds. Capitalism = self-interests.
Solution: If we could annex Kirkuk, Khaneqin and other key oil-rich Kurdish disputed regions back into KRG, even it was for the sake of protecting their own economic interests, the US, west and superpowers would side with the oppressed Kurdish nation. Had we been able to achieve the stated goal, Kurdistan could turn into another Kuwait when the US troops would rush to its aid against foreign invasions. When EU would really care about HR violations by the Turkey and Iran, and when the West would fret about the absence of democracy.
The US favors the Kurds but do not want to be the ones to be impugned for. Once the US troops pull out, we should no longer wait to resolve the lingering status of Kirkuk and other disputed regions. It is a total waste of time and relying on constitution is nothing more than rubbish. If KRG runners really ruminate wise, it is the right time to strike. Another but the very last chance.
Just because our nation has been through so much oppression during its history of struggle, we constantly have agreed to the minimum. No one cares about the Kurds and no one will hand over us our rights and freedom. We must fight for it and be willing and really to offer sacrifices if deemed crucial.
Had there been real cohesion among varying Kurdish political factions, the entire ME would be ruled by the Kurds!
Kak Baqi Barzani,
is it really you 😉
let’s start by your last remark, as you seem to be referring to what I had written in my previous comment:
“Had there been real cohesion among varying Kurdish political factions, the entire ME would be ruled by the Kurds!”
I do think that this is more than an realistic vision.
My point is not ruling and bullying others such as Turkey does and Iran tries to.
Just look at Iran and it’s attempt to get the bomb.
Even the big US and the always capable Israelis are perplex as to what they should and can do to stop Iran acquiring the bomb.
If there was a united Kurdistan then that would mean 3 almost equally sized countries (Turkey, Greater Kurdistan and Iran) in terms of population and the economic power and to some extend the strategic relevance.
The first advantage would be a dramatic change of the balance. Neither Iran nor Turkey would be so big to be able to bully us Kurds.
Such a Greater Kurdistan would be much more heavy-weight than the rest of Iraq and Syria.
So they wouldn’t be able to play any false games with the Kurds.
So the end result would be a much more balanced Middle East because neither Iran nor Turkey would be as strong as they are now and would be far less capable of dictating their will upon the others in the ME
AND the major powers such as the US & EU.
Even without a Greater Kurdistan and by “just” supporting ALL Kurds in all 4 parts seriously they could achieve many of those advantages.
Such a new situation and in the ME can’t be anything else than beneficial for the West.
I am pretty puzzled that this scenario hasn’t been seriously an issue for the US and specially Israel as this would be a major shift in the strategic balance in the ME which would benefit them tremendously.
Kurds are moderate muslims and generally very tolerant to other religions and minorities as they show now in the generous way they deal with the christian refugees from South-Iraq.
If any of those western countries are serious about promoting democracy and religious tolerance in the ME then they MUST support that direction.
And if they start to sing their old song of stability in the ME then one can only respond by saying what stability?
It can only get better. And if one tends to be pessimistic, one could say:
“probably that is the point”.
It seems that they don’t really want it to get better. This chaos seems to be not too bad for a few.
Slaw u rez
Dilshad
Dear kak Baqi, slaw u rez bo Te u hemu laek.
Dear, as many have described the politicians on both sides of the isle; they put their interest, and the interest of their friends first, then comes other issues, individuals or peoples.
Ironically my own personal feeling about parties is exactly that of President Obama, when in a recent speech he stated something to the effect; that “frankly I’m neither Democrat nor Republican, but independent”.
In my last run for office I was just that “Independent”(non-partisan), and have no plans to run again, since the entire system of election here is being tampered with, and particularly with no funds it is even harder to win.
The parties care or no care about Kurds are almost equal. The first one went to Iraq in 2003 because they had their own agendas, and getting Independence for Kurds was not one of them, because they both act like Kurds don’t even exist, when it comes to dealing with Turkey’s fascism.
It almost sounds like they condone the fascist attacks against North Kurdish communities there particularly their defense force army known as PKK, which is the same or worse in East Kurdistan occupied by Iran, when it comes to PJAK even though US appears to have no diplomatic relations with Iran, yet helping Iran by putting PJAK on terrorist list.
Hillary Clinton, who had stated “we must protect the Kurds” knew best; that PKK and PJAK and Kurds are all the same, yet she pretends without any clues, and exposed Kurdish people’s security and safety to the established military power of Iran, when it began hanging Kurd political activists shortly after Clinton’s concession to Iran in regards by labeling PJAK as terrorist to appease Iran to come to their mutual nuclear development ending talks, when Iran did no such a thing, accepting the consequences by Western Allies as seen in the news.
To make the last story short; it all boils down to the essence of what kak Dilshad has so eloquently described, and that is; Kurds must first rely on themselves.
I add; that too much reliance on Foreigners is a wrong thing to do. Kurds should support Kurds first before putting all their eggs into one basket in expecting outside help to achieve an independent Kurdistan for them, and as you put it; it takes more sacrifices and work by Kurds themselves. This is because many in Kurdistan do not wish to risk the chance of more killings and destruction as we all totally share their feelings.
The reality I’m afraid should leave us no other choice but never being too soft, too kind, and too forgiving, since our enemies have always taken advantage of those human qualities we Kurds posses more than many other nations, but we must never compromise our permanent Freedom in a permanent Independent homeland that can give us everything; “safety, prosperity, peace, and stability”.
Kak Baqi, to further answer to your question in a more precise way; my answer is no, because if Republican George W. wanted to help bring independence for Kurds in South, North, East or West, he would have done it in the 8 years he had the chance to do so.
Now DEMS can either do it or make it worse for Kurds so that it may even take longer to achieve half of what GOP gained during 2002-2008. What they both have in common about their understanding of Kurdish people is summed up in what they have not done in Iraq, which is to allow Two nations of Kurds (South Kurdistan) and Arabs (Iraq or Arabistan) to emerge in “IRAQ”.
This may only be possible by Kurds own additional efforts to make their point in how vital it is to distinguish the two totally different nations, and how necessary to recognize it as the only way they may survive into the future without wars and lack of stability.
I answered your question in a nutshell, and out of respect, but currently may not have too much time to do so on regular basis, since facing many of my own hardships, nevertheless I try to write articles when I can for the most vital current issues as I find them necessary.
Wish you all good luck in writing your pieces and comments, and will try to join you as much as possible.
If any of you wish to contact me for occasional phone conversations please feel free to do so. Spas
Thanks very much Mamosta Steve and Barez Kak Dilshad for the useful information. we would love to constantly hear about your valuable views.