The Arab Spring

Well, apparently Israel is taking Kurdish oil. Under the carpet, as it may be.

My concern is that If there's an independent kurdistan, Turkey will either try to send it's kurds there, or sabotage it in various ways to try to hold on to it's eastern territories.

FYI, Iran isn't Arab.

Most Kurds are actually well integrated with the Turks. Those who care about having a homeland no matter where will move on their own. Those who are obstinate about fighting the Turks after already winning a homeland will probably be deported. Everyone else will just remain as is.

Actually though, I imagine the Kurds themselves will try to attract the diaspora, especially in recently conquered areas (or in Syria where they're being chased out) in order to establish a demographic reality.

I understand that the Syrian government is oppressive, but I don't see how they are chasing out the Kurds.

Eastern Turkey is still historically Kurdish lands though

Should have clarified: Being chased out by ISIS.

Yeah, but they don't have an infinite population. Most are happy to be Turks so long as they can speak their own language. Of the rest, some will fight forever, some will come south to colonize liberated Kurdistan, and some will lay down their weapons.

edited 31st Aug '14 4:54:51 PM by FFShinra

No, but it is a regional player, and the impact of Iranian politics and policies on the region is considerable. No reason the broader implications of events in Iran/the Arab world shouldn't be discussed if they are relevant to the discussion. Certainly not because the Iranians have a hard-on for the Achaemenid Empire.

Nation States logic aside, did you really name yourself after the ancient Persian Empire?

Yup. I was reading a decent pop-history of it (Tom Holland's Persian Fire) at the time.

edited 31st Aug '14 5:10:12 PM by Achaemenid

Yeah I'm part Parsi. Shame how they got treated by the history books.

@Achaemenid - Yeah, but he was saying Kurdistan would be the only non-Arab state in the region. I was just saying Iran ain't Arab.

Obama faces bipartisan criticism of his foreign policy. Senator Dian Fienstien stated that "I've learned one thing about this president, and that he's very cautious. Maybe in this case to cautious." Feel free to share your thoughts, particularly in how this relates to the spring.

I do think the media took his words of context regarding the "no strategy" gaffe. Obama was specifically saying they don't have a strategy to deal with ISIS in Syria yet. They just started launching reconnaissance flights over there and we don't have nearly the amount of intelligence assets on the ground as we do in Iraq, yet the media was going on about how strikes in Syria were imminent. Obama was basically telling them not to jump the gun until they worked the details out.

That said, he really, really could have chosen his words better there.

edited 31st Aug '14 9:41:17 PM by KoBB

Whatever words Obama will use doesn't matter.

"We have no plans at the moment." = "US involvement will increase without clear plans."
"Not enough information to do anything substantial." = "US to proceed with insufficient information."
"We don't know what to do yet." = "US looking to intervene without specific actions outlined."
"We're not yet ready to act." = "US to take actions despite lack of readiness."
i.e. USA + negative + verb = USA + verb - negative

edited 31st Aug '14 10:07:37 PM by entropy13

Any news?

The Syrian Army and the al-Nusra Front are now fighting in the Golan Heights. Those Filipino peacekeepers have gotten out of there, but apparently there are some other Fijian peacekeepers who got captured.

On a more tangential note, apparently Malaysian social activists know nothing of what a reliable source of information is. It may be ad hominem, but an article on the CIA funding the IS souldn't be taken seriously when it's on Global Research...

How the Islamic state makes it's money Still can't believe Assad and the Kurds are dumb enough to buy oil form ISIS. On another note, apparently it seizes control of all the food and water of any town it takes, explaining their "humanitarian" shipments.

Germany has decided to arm the Kurds against ISIS Rifles, machine guns, grenades, anti-tank systems and armoured vehicles would be sent, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said.

edited 1st Sep '14 7:20:37 AM by JackOLantern1337

Most Government Ministries in Libya are under Militia control They also seized the US embassy yesterday, and apparently have been enjoying the pool quite a bit.

Acording to the BBC the siege of Amerli has been broken. Involved in the operation were the US,the Iraqi army, the Peshmerga,and Shia militia, some of whom had been fighting US forces in Iraq just a few years earlier, in addition their are rumors of Iranian involvement in the offensive. Polandball you are a prophet.

The Islamic state stronghold of Suliman Beg has been taken by Peshmerga fighters. Also some touching scenes from newly liberated Amerli.

edited 1st Sep '14 4:13:13 PM by JackOLantern1337

Regarding Amerli, that coalition of anti-ISIS factions deserves a mention in the real-life examples for Enemy Mine.

However, the Shiite victory may only serve to polarize the conflict even more, as Sunnis in recaptured ISIS territories fear reprisals from government forces and their allies.

Thats what I was afraid of...

My albeit unlikely favored outcome of this big mess would be an independent Kurdistan that includes Eastern Turkey, only because for Armenia they'd be much better neighbors than Turkey is. Maybe they'd even be nice and give Mt. Ararat and the city of Ani back.

Where's that interdimensional portal opener from Sliders when I need it.

ISIS beheads second captive journalist

Libya's the bad one here.

We're recognizing the Tobruk congress currently, correct?

The Taliban are not ruling out possibly swear fealty to ISIS if they prove to be a viable state.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29009125

Can't see Tehran reacting very well to the prospect of having these guys on both their flanks.

I appreciate Obama being cautious but at this point I don't know what the right call is.

What we need is the rest of the middle east and Europe to work with us but everyone is too scared to do anything as if they expect us to solve all their problems.