EU to arm Kurds in Iraq

[Shah-Jehan]

They weren't rebels, they were mere civilians in Batak and Stara Zagora, the freedom fighters consisted of 40,000 men, most of which were located either on the serbian border or the romanian border, the ottomans slaughtered mostly civilians. Batak was located on the Greek border, most of the people in Batak were not armed. IT is not true that Christians were exempt from conscription,Christians also paid the most heavy bills.

This argument will lead to nothing so, this is the last of what I will say.

The Ottoman's intention was not to slaughter civilians but, the freedom fighters in Bulgaria/Macedonia. The Jiyza was also only required to be paid by able-bodied males whereas the Zakat had to be paid by all and the jiyza was also only 1 dinar/ducat per year whereas the Zakat was based on accumulated wealth. Plus, jiyza guarantees the protection of non-Muslims from foreign aggression and no military service, which was the best thing that could've happened because military service was a dangerous job back then and most did not return from battle safely without wounds, for e.g. many Muslims declared themselves as Christians to escape military service.

[legolasbozo]

Thanks to Ataturk. I hope it stays that way.

Atatürk made amount of contributions, but there were greeks, armenians and turks were living in peace before secularizm. This is what west trying to portray "if there would hadn'nt been atatürk and westernization process, turks would turned to hellhole like other middle eastern countries" you cant compare monarchic tyrannies with a country which has wishdom and state roots going back a thousands of years. Today islamist ruling the country non-muslim minorities and kurds living better and prosperous life compare to last 50 years.

[Ars Moriendi]

Unlike the Syrian PYD, the Kurd power base in Erbil has traditionally been close to the West, Turkey and even Israel. It isn't surprising in the least.

The only reason the Iraqi dossier is turning into an even bigger mess, is due to the fact Al-Baghdadi and Co decided to turn north after capturing Fallujah and Tikrit, rather than heading south to raid the Shiite heartland as American intelligence had foreseen.
Shady oil interests and the hegemonic reputation of NATO is at stake in Iraqi Kurdistan, so it's no wonder Washington, London, Paris, Berlin and even Rome are executing soft interventions in the area, in spite of having absolutely no will to do it.

It's interesting that the experiment failed so soon with the Islamic State. A number of intelligence sites argue the IRGC succesfully managed to deceive them by using counterpropaganda hightlighting the riches they could acquire by seizing the northern wells, similar to what they have done in Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa.

This new peshmerga vs IS campaign while proving to be a humanitarian disaster, will at least indirectly help to the political survival of Iraq.


Worth keeping an eye though, if there's something the last decade has taught the world, is how terribly unstable Iraq can be.

[Hayalet]

Atatürk made amount of contributions, but there were greeks, armenians and turks were living in peace before secularizm.

The Greek War of Independence predates secularism in Turkey by a century.

[legolasbozo]

The Greek War of Independence predates secularism in Turkey by a century.

6-7 september case? What was the reason behind "Atatürk's house bombed" gossip? Who pushed greek minorities to leave?

[Hayalet]

6-7 september case? What was the reason behind "Atatürk's house bombed" gossip? Who pushed greek minorities to leave?

Menderes and co. What does that have to do with anything though? Greeks gained their independence from Turkey in 1821, long before there was any notion of secularism.

[mikhail]

Disliking my comment doesn't make you any less serbian, Dzhihadovic.

[Immortal Technique]

[Partizan]

Bad news to Barzani lovers:

"However, these strikes are unlikely to affect IS's overall capabilities or its operations in other areas of Iraq and Syria.

"IS remains focused on securing and gaining additional territory through Iraq and will sustain its attacks against Iraqi and Kurdish security forces and their positions as well as targeting Yazidis, Christians and other minorities."

http://news.sky.com/story/1316536/us...wont-stop-isis

ISIS can be awfully cruel but they're giving Kurds a good lesson:

Kurdistan cannot go into state

[legolasbozo]

Menderes and co. What does that have to do with anything though? Greeks gained their independence from Turkey in 1821, long before there was any notion of secularism.

Menderes and co.? Oh i was thinking who brought wealth tax for jews, who oppressed kurds and bombed dersim did that. Menderes is a man who couldnt prevent his own hanging, even his presidency was a show to delude public about democracy when he crossed the line, he exterminated. From since the foundation of this republic, and even before, there have been "ittihad ve terakki" mindset deep state ruled this country. To overthrow atatürk's rivals rauf orbay and kazım karabekir held a fake assasination plan, 6-7 september plans, sivas massacre etc. İttihad and teraaki mindset was behind All those shames of our history.