US takes sides in Kirkuk dispute

[GottaDash]

(presstv.ir) -The White House supports the Kurdish authority's stance on a dispute over the future of the oil-rich Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk.
In a meeting with US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker in Irbil on Sunday evening, President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Local Government Massoud Barzani reiterated the region would not accept any compromise or administrative division of the governorate, a statement by Barzani's office said, the Voices of Iraq reported.

The statement added Crocker backed Barzani's stance on the issue.

Kirkuk's status which holds one of the country's largest oil reserves has been one of the thorny issues in Iraq's politics.

The Iraqi parliament has so far failed to pass a draft law governing the provincial elections over Kurdish lawmakers' disapproval of one of its clauses about Kirkuk's status.

The clause proposes a power-sharing formula based on which the oil-rich region's council would comprise of 10 Kurdish members, 10 Arabs, 10 Turkmens and two Christians.

In an attempt to resolve the dispute, Arab and Turkmen lawmakers have suggested to divide Kirkuk into four constituencies.

But the Kurdistan Regional Government rejected the proposal and demanded that Kirkuk be regarded as one constituency.

The Kurds also demand a referendum determine Kirkuk's future in line with Article 140 of the Constitution.

Barzani had earlier warned that "If Article 140 dies, then the Constitution will die, and you should be held responsible for Iraq's partition."

http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=69755

[cowpoke]

CHECK MATE!!!!!!!!:lmao:

MAN I love politics, and you as well Gota like it...;)

GREAT post DASH...

So the Kurds have been the ACE in hole all along!!!! Life is Good..:)

[Voyeur]

CHECK MATE!!!!!!!!:lmao:

MAN I love politics, and you as well Gota like it...;)

GREAT post DASH...

So the Kurds have been the ACE in hole all along!!!! Life is Good..:)

What'd Maliki expect after he started playing politics with Obama. He now has to pay for biting the hand that has fed him, protected him, died for him, interceded on his behalf, been scorned and tormented for him. He really has it coming.

[Screaming Eagle]

(presstv.ir) -The White House supports the Kurdish authority's stance on a dispute over the future of the oil-rich Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk.
In a meeting with US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker in Irbil on Sunday evening, President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Local Government Massoud Barzani reiterated the region would not accept any compromise or administrative division of the governorate, a statement by Barzani's office said, the Voices of Iraq reported.

The statement added Crocker backed Barzani's stance on the issue.

Kirkuk's status which holds one of the country's largest oil reserves has been one of the thorny issues in Iraq's politics.

The Iraqi parliament has so far failed to pass a draft law governing the provincial elections over Kurdish lawmakers' disapproval of one of its clauses about Kirkuk's status.

The clause proposes a power-sharing formula based on which the oil-rich region's council would comprise of 10 Kurdish members, 10 Arabs, 10 Turkmens and two Christians.

In an attempt to resolve the dispute, Arab and Turkmen lawmakers have suggested to divide Kirkuk into four constituencies.

But the Kurdistan Regional Government rejected the proposal and demanded that Kirkuk be regarded as one constituency.

The Kurds also demand a referendum determine Kirkuk's future in line with Article 140 of the Constitution.

Barzani had earlier warned that "If Article 140 dies, then the Constitution will die, and you should be held responsible for Iraq's partition."

http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=69755

Interesting!! point and counterpoint Maliki plays politics with Obama for US troops to leave Iraq by 2010 and bang, Bush allies with the Kurds. Your move Maliki. The Kurds as a independent country will be more than willing to have a US presence.

[mailman17]

Interesting!! point and counterpoint Malik plays politics with Obama for US troops to leave Iraq by 2010 and bang, Bush allies with the Kurds. Your move Malik.

wonder who the first one to say checkmate will be?

[Screaming Eagle]

wonder who the first one to say checkmate will be?

Actually I am more interested if it comes to pass as to what kind of currency will be issued and which Kurdish bank will become the Central Bank.

[cowpoke]

What'd Maliki expect after he started playing politics with Obama. He now has to pay for biting the hand that has fed him, protected him, died for him, interceded on his behalf, been scorned and tormented for him. He really has it coming.

YEP!!! Malaki is basically an Idiot and this forum is wrought with 2 years of proof.

The Kurds have basically BEGGED us to take up residence there. They are FAR AND ABOVE the MOST pro western group of nationals in the Turkish/Babylonian/Persian Theater. They fear for thier lives and welcome us with open arms.

What do we get in return????

Besides 100000000000000000000000% support from the local government.

As with real estate, it's Location, Location, Location!!!!!:D

[Screaming Eagle]

YEP!!! Malaki is basically an Idiot and this forum is wrought with 2 years of proof.

The Kurds have basically BEGGED us to take up residence there. They are FAR AND ABOVE the MOST pro western group of nationals in the Turkish/Babylonian/Persian Theater. They fear for thier lives and welcome us with open arms.

What do we get in return????

Besides 100000000000000000000000% support from the local government.

As with real estate, it's Location, Location, Location!!!!!:D

Will have to keep a eye on this. Kurdistan independence would mean that Iraq would lose as much as 50% of its GDP in oil exports and the price of oil is now falling. The Iraq dinar could lose 30-50% of its value very quickly. With only 25 billion dollars in GDP the average Kurd would be very wealthy because of their small population. Another Kuwait.

[boombatz]

Where can I buy some NKD?

[Dinar=Dollar!?]

Where can I buy some NKD?

I don't know, but if you find out pick some up for me too!

[cowpoke]

Will have to keep a eye on this. Kurdistan independence would mean that Iraq would lose as much as 50% of its GDP in oil exports and the price of oil is now falling. The dinar could lose 30-50% of its value very quickly. With only 25 billion dollars in GDP the average Kurd would be very wealthy because of their small population. Another Kuwait.

YEP, Which is why I have hedged myself with a nice helping of KIB (Kurdistan Inter-national Bank Stock/Shares) :)

[GottaDash]

CHECK MATE!!!!!!!!:lmao:

MAN I love politics, and you as well Gota like it...;)

GREAT post DASH...

So the Kurds have been the ACE in hole all along!!!! Life is Good..:)

Any time, Poke.

I'd take Kurdistan as it's own country.
He$$, they'll get done in six months what Iraq will still be working on in 3 years.
It's a little land locked, but I live in the mid-west, so it looks good to me. -Dash

[jcpsych]

You said it voyeur!!!!

[mailman17]

Will have to keep a eye on this. Kurdistan independence would mean that Iraq would lose as much as 50% of its GDP in oil exports and the price of oil is now falling. The Iraq dinar could lose 30-50% of its value very quickly. With only 25 billion dollars in GDP the average Kurd would be very wealthy because of their small population. Another Kuwait.

which is why Maliki in the best interest of Iraq better make concessions. Once an idiot, always an idiot.

[wherbie]

cowpoke...

great minds think alike....

KIB is in the bag for me

.

[billh]

Go Kurds! We'll see if Malaki still wants to play in the US Presidential race. In the meantime, looks like more Kurdistan Bank for me.

[kikojones75]

PUKmedia 23-07-2008 18:34:17
US forces could be stationed permanently in Kurdistan as part of a long-term security agreement, top Kurdish political sources revealed to Gulf News.

The Iraqi government and head of northern Iraq's regional Kurdish administration, Massoud Barzani, along with the leadership of US forces in Iraq have started to suggest that American forces be permanently based in Kurdistan.
These ideas are welcomed by Democratic US Presidential candidate Barack Obama who believes the survival of US combat forces in Kurdistan does not pose any real danger to the lives of US troops and therefore it would be appropriate to redeploy US troops there in the future, added the sources.
Iraqi and US negotiations continued in Baghdad to conclude a memorandum of understanding to sign this agreement, which will allow the US military to stay permanently in Kurdistan, and Iraqi and US negotiators agreed to focus these negotiations on the issue of determining a timetable for the agreement.
There are currently no military airports or airbase installation in any of the three provinces in Kurdistan and these may need to be established. It may take two to three years to clear US forces from Iraqi cities.
Protection
"A permanent US military presence in the Kurdistan region is welcome and is necessary to defend Iraq from internal and external risks and is important to protect the region, but this presence must be within an Iraqi-Kurd-American agreement," Jabar Al Yawir, spokesman for the Protection Forces of the Kurdistan Region, told Gulf News.
"Permanent US forces remain in the Al Hurria Air Base in the province of Kirkuk and the Al Gizlani Air Base in Mosul, close to the Kurdistan Region, but this will not be a solution because such a permanent presence in those cities is fuelling the armed resistance. I therefore believe that the relocation of US forces inside the region is the solution," Emad Al Hamadani, an Iraqi army officer told Gulf News.
While US and Kurdish sources denied any intention of building a US air base near the town of Halabja in the governorate of Sulaymaniya, near Iran, some independent Kurdish sources said if the US decides to establish a permanent presence in the Kurdistan Region they will certainly be closer to the Iraqi-Iranian border.
"Kurdish leaders are among the most prominent US allies in Iraq and the region, and with this permanent US presence not one neighbouring country would dare to threaten the sovereignty of the region and its federal experience, and the Kurdish population will not to take up arms against the presence if this happens, because much of them are have a message of thanks and gratitude for the Americans," Abdul Razzaq Al Saadi, a strategic analyst told Gulf News.
From Gulf News

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.ph...=5446&Itemid=1

[BettingOn Iraq]

Interesting!! point and counterpoint Maliki plays politics with Obama for US troops to leave Iraq by 2010 and bang, Bush allies with the Kurds. Your move Maliki. The Kurds as a independent country will be more than willing to have a US presence.

I love it! It's like a chess match. Give Maliki enough rope and he will hang himself. A few skirmishes and Maliki thinks he can play with the big boys. Nah Nah.

BettingOn Iraq

[BettingOn Iraq]

Go Kurds! We'll see if Malaki still wants to play in the US Presidential race. In the meantime, looks like more Kurdistan Bank for me.

My thoughts exactly, billh.

[DealOrBuyDinar]

"US forces could be stationed permanently in Kurdistan as part of a long-term security agreement, top Kurdish political sources revealed to Gulf News."

Ah, apparently the Kurds are in the game with the US to counter Maliki as well. Care to discuss timelines and meet with Obama again Mr. Maliki? Go for it, up the ante. The Kurds would be more than happy to have a permanent US presence in Iraq.