America plans to use South Kurds to remove Saddam

News of America using Kurdish rebels is out in the British press (The Observer: America Plans to Use Kurdish Rebels) Since Saddam Hussian has literally complete control over Central and Southern Iraq; the only people that could be used to dispose of Saddam would be the North.

Two of the three forces mentioned are highly unlikely to be used. The United States would not support radical Sunni Muslim groups since they were attacked by such groups last September and are fighting them in Afghanistan.

The opposition in Baghdad is virtually non-existent and has no power against the incredibly powerful government and dictatorship. The United States would also not likely support Shi’te groups in the South - the idea of supporting the same religious group that stormed a US embassy and held Americans hostage for 444 days is not very popular among the American public. And despite being relatively away from Baghdad, Saddam has complete control over the South and any attempt of just speaking badly of Saddam, let alone try to overthrow him, would cost people their life (and their tongue, apparently).

The geography of Central and South Iraq is not very helpful. Being landlocked between Iran and Syria, two states that are not very U.S friendly, makes it difficult to assist those groups.

The last area would be the North, in which there are two opposition groups. One is the Kurdish rebels, and the other would be the Iraqi Communist Party, which still has some (very little) power and influence in parts of Iraq. It would be unlikely for the US, after a very long "Cold War", to assist Communists in anything, let alone take power. So that leaves the U.S with the Kurds, who are geographically located close to Turkey, a NATO member, and who would be easier to assist in overthrowing Saddam from power.

However, the Kurds still remember when another American George Bush told them to rebel, and then withdrew ALL support from them letting them to be crushed completely by Saddam’s troops. The United States used the Kurds to fight and be killed, while American planes simply flew too high to be in danger. The U.S is thinking of stopping its flights over the "Safe Zones", because there is a small risk of losing one man - it doesn’t matter to them that thousands of innocent civilian Kurds may be killed, as long as one trained, professional American pilot does not face the small risks of his own job.

Recent reports show that the main Kurdish groups, the PUK and the KDP, oppose American intervention against Saddam and do not want to oppose him.

Despite my initial, personal condemnation of their stand on this issue, my opinion changed after reading the Observer report. The Kurds have learnt to not trust the U.S government and the Bush family, as they were betrayed by them in the past; and even though they learnt this lesson the hard way (the Tickriti violent way), the experience was gained and the lesson was learnt - they simply do not want to be used again.

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	3.12.2001 \| KurdishMedia.com \| by Ken Muslimovic America plans to use South Kurds to remove Saddam News of America using Kurdish rebels is out in the British press (The Observer: America Plans to Use Kurdish Rebels) Since Saddam Hussian has literally complete control over Central and Southern Iraq; the only people that could be used to dispose of Saddam would be the North. Two of the three forces mentioned are highly unlikely to be used. The United States would not support radical Sunni Muslim groups since they were attacked by such groups last September and are fighting them in Afghanistan. The opposition in Baghdad is virtually non-existent and has no power against the incredibly powerful government and dictatorship. The United States would also not likely support Shi’te groups in the South - the idea of supporting the same religious group that stormed a US embassy and held Americans hostage for 444 days is not very popular among the American public. And despite being relatively away from Baghdad, Saddam has complete control over the South and any attempt of just speaking badly of Saddam, let alone try to overthrow him, would cost people their life (and their tongue, apparently). The geography of Central and South Iraq is not very helpful. Being landlocked between Iran and Syria, two states that are not very U.S friendly, makes it difficult to assist those groups. The last area would be the North, in which there are two opposition groups. One is the Kurdish rebels, and the other would be the Iraqi Communist Party, which still has some (very little) power and influence in parts of Iraq. It would be unlikely for the US, after a very long "Cold War", to assist Communists in anything, let alone take power. So that leaves the U.S with the Kurds, who are geographically located close to Turkey, a NATO member, and who would be easier to assist in overthrowing Saddam from power. However, the Kurds still remember when another American George Bush told them to rebel, and then withdrew ALL support from them letting them to be crushed completely by Saddam’s troops. The United States used the Kurds to fight and be killed, while American planes simply flew too high to be in danger. The U.S is thinking of stopping its flights over the "Safe Zones", because there is a small risk of losing one man - it doesn’t matter to them that thousands of innocent civilian Kurds may be killed, as long as one trained, professional American pilot does not face the small risks of his own job. Recent reports show that the main Kurdish groups, the PUK and the KDP, oppose American intervention against Saddam and do not want to oppose him. Despite my initial, personal condemnation of their stand on this issue, my opinion changed after reading the Observer report. The Kurds have learnt to not trust the U.S government and the Bush family, as they were betrayed by them in the past; and even though they learnt this lesson the hard way (the Tickriti violent way), the experience was gained and the lesson was learnt - they simply do not want to be used again. WADI e.V. \| tel.: (+49) 069-57002440 \| fax (+49) 069-57002444 http://www.wadinet.de \| e-mail: