If the Kurds declare Independence what should your country do?

**Farnan** · June 28, 2014, 10:21 PM

Moderators: Please don't merge with Iraq Civil War. This is a focus on one issue of it that I believe can be separated from the whole.

How should your home country react if:

1) Iraqi Kurdistan declares independence claiming all disputed territory in Iraq (including the Ninveh Plains (Assyrian Christian territory))?

2) Iraqi Kurdistan declares independence claiming all disputed territory in Iraq (including the Ninveh Plains (Assyrian Christian territory)) and Syria?

3) Iraqi Kurdistan declares independence claiming all disputed territory in Iraq (including the Ninveh Plains (Assyrian Christian territory)), Syria and Iran?

The assumptions for reality is it does not claim territory in Turkey due to close relationship between Turkey and the KRG.

How should this government look? Does the KRG need any changes to be an independent state?

**YukonTrooper** · June 28, 2014, 11:21 PM

Our home countries will react according to how their interests are best served, regardless of what's lawfully or morally right. In Canada's case, we'll go along with whatever the empire decides.

**The Despondent Mind** · June 29, 2014, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by YukonTrooper

Our home countries will react according to how their interests are best served, regardless of what's lawfully or morally right. In Canada's case, we'll go along with whatever the empire decides. Canada is good at sucking American cock.

**Adar** · June 29, 2014, 07:21 AM

I am going to go with "Wait and see how Turkey reacts" in all 4 cases.

I see the Kurds as "the least bad" group in Syria-Iraq right now but they have an almost infinite history of internal turmoil. A Kurdish state with acceptable relations with Turkey would be of great help to stabilizing the levant. But without Turkish support it is likely to just end up being another source of sectarian violence.

**Sphere** · June 30, 2014, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Adar

I am going to go with "Wait and see how Turkey reacts" in all 4 cases.

I see the Kurds as "the least bad" group in Syria-Iraq right now but they have an almost infinite history of internal turmoil. A Kurdish state with acceptable relations with Turkey would be of great help to stabilizing the levant. But without Turkish support it is likely to just end up being another source of sectarian violence.

Calling them the "least bad" is an undeserved insult. Since 1991 they have built a functioning parliamentary democracy in which opposition parties are now thriving. They have created true protections for ethnic minorities and women. They have created a professional and disciplined army. They have an economy, while still quite oil dependent, that is healthy and developing. And they spearheaded the diplomatic engagement and eventual 2013 ceasefire between the PKK and Ankara.

They are definitely on the "good" side of the ledger.

**Farnan** · June 29, 2014, 07:26 AM

Despondent:

That's a nonanswer. It's like if someone asks you if you want cake or pie and you reply "which ever tastes better"

**Condottiere 40K** · June 28, 2014, 11:49 PM

Couldn't care less either way, though if the Kurds do manage to hold on to Kirkuk and gain more autonomy or independence, it will change the dynamics there.

As long as the fundamentalists don't win.

**PointOfViewGun** · June 28, 2014, 11:56 PM

The Kurdic problem in Iraq becomes a Turkmen and Arab problem in Kurdistan.

Turkey would probably not recognize it right away but would be willing to work with it depending on the promises KRG makes of course.

**~~Exarch~~** · June 29, 2014, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Farnan

The assumptions for reality is it does not claim territory in Turkey due to close relationship between Turkey and the KRG.
tate?

that might be convenient for US geopolicy but in reality, no state is going to willingly give up territory like that; the kurds, if they become a state will agitate for those kurdish regions of turkey to join up with the rest of kurdistan.

**Farnan** · June 29, 2014, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Exarch

that might be convenient for US geopolicy but in reality, no state is going to willingly give up territory like that; the kurds, if they become a state will agitate for those kurdish regions of turkey to join up with the rest of kurdistan.

Except they've already given up claims and have close relations with Turkey...

**~~Exarch~~** · June 29, 2014, 12:16 AM

if that is indeed so, then good on the new republic of kurdestan

**hellheaven1987** · June 29, 2014, 12:30 AM

Whether Kurdistan wants to claim Kurdish land in Turkey is not completely decided by its future government, I thought we already learn that lesson 100 years ago. In the end, "Free" Kurdistan would probably includes both Syrian and Iraqi Kurdish territory in short term, but in long term, Allah knows when the Kurdish population would want to get Kurdish territory in Turkey and Iran joining them, particularly it seems the right thing to do.

**~~Exarch~~** · June 29, 2014, 12:39 AM

i've made up my mind and come to a decision:
if the kurds declare independance, i reckon the iraqis should bomb them to Oblivion

**Condottiere 40K** · June 29, 2014, 02:27 AM

The Kurds won't make a Crimean landgrab, but probably believe that time would be on their side as they follow/force Turkey to go for a referendum.

**hellheaven1987** · June 29, 2014, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Condottiere 40K

The Kurds won't make a Crimean landgrab, but probably believe that time would be on their side as they follow/force Turkey to go for a referendum.

Tough to say; we don't know whether Turkey would fall into chaos or not, and it is really difficult to say whether Kurdistan would resist the tempt to craft out Turkey when Turkey was in chaos. Furthermore, even Turkey is stable, it is difficult to say whether Kurdistan would try applying Pakistani style operation on Turkey or not, just like Serbia did on Bosnia 100 years ago.

**Tureuki** · June 29, 2014, 03:42 AM

Turkey would probably not show a serious resistance, but I don't think anybody would accept if they try to annext land from Syria.

Anyway as mentioned North Iraq also has serious ethnic issues.

**Treize** · June 29, 2014, 06:23 AM

We should recognise them in the lands they control in Iraq. Claims in other states should not be recognised.

We should also push them to provide autonomy for Assyrians in Nineveh Plains region.

**Lazzeer** · June 29, 2014, 08:10 AM

I don't think my government (the UK) should react positively if the KRG claims all disputed territory in Iraq (so Nineveh plains, Kirkuk, western Nineveh, parts of Diyala). Whilst I can respect KRG proper (Arbil, Sulaymaniyah, Dohuk) declaring independence, I think the status of these other regions should be settled by referendum. Then in turn it's wholly possible that a degree of regional autonomy (e.g. for Assyrians) would be the right course of action.

Then in turn I don't think the KRG should claim Western or Eastern (by which I mean Iranian) Kurdistan. If the Kurdish administration in Syria declares independence (which I'd probably support) and then it chooses to join Kurdistan then that's fine, but I wouldn't support the KRG unilaterally claiming jurisdiction over all other Kurdish areas. Iranian Kurdistan is also somewhat tricky, given that claiming sovereignty wouldn't actually equal any changes on the ground, and it's unclear what support the KRG actually holds there.

**DarthLazy** · June 29, 2014, 10:02 AM

What they should do: recognize it; glory to kurdistan!

What they will do: Bow to whatever Riyadh tells us.

**alhoon** · June 29, 2014, 11:23 AM

My country will be quite happy for Kurdistan and probably seek better relations with them. There are some claims that we have armed their insurgents in the past after all. Whether those are true or false, we could claim that we always wanted them to be independent and free to bolster relations.