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As a side note, if we are talking about politics then this comes on the heels of the Kurdish vote to pursue independence from Iraq with 92% of voters in favor (
by ethbro 9y ago
As a side note, if we are talking about politics then this comes on the heels of the Kurdish vote to pursue independence from Iraq with 92% of voters in favor (I read 72% turn out).
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41440747 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41440747
Both the US and Britain condemned the vote, which is morally disgusting after the Kurds and Peshmerga supported both of them in at least 2 wars (Iraq War of 2003+ & fight against IS).
It's okay when developed countries invade developing countries to "spread democracy", but when ethnic subgroups attempt to seek independence non-violently it's not?
- jorgemf 9y ago> but when ethnic subgroups attempt to seek independence non-violently it's not? I didn't say anything, just it is against the law and the constitution (the same Catalans signed). The big issue is that there is no an open debate for this. There is only fight without arguments. It is not clear what type of independence they are fighting for but they want to make a binding vote. And the central government doesn't want even to talk about a possible secession. They use it to gain votes in the rest of Spain (but at the same time they made negotiations with independants to change the law). This is more about corruption. The same way "spread the democracy" is more about getting local resources.
- IIAOPSW 9y agoI think you should read the US and UK words on this referendum as "saying no but nodding yes". For geopolitical reasons (see: Bosphorous straits) the US/Western Bloc can't afford to piss off Turkey. But in a vacuum I'm sure the US and Brits are perfectly fine to see a Kurdish state. The result is that the US and UK will pay lip service to being anti-secession while doing nothing to stop it on the ground.
- dragonwriter 9y agoThe US (and probably UK) don't want a Kurdish state formed out of the Kurdish areas of A Iraq because because, Syria, Iran, and Iraq have been united in opposing Kurdish separatism, and even if Iraq gets okay with it, a Kurdish state encourages separatists in Iran, Syria, and Turkey, and drives Syria and, more importantly, Turkey into deeper alignment with Iran. Ideologically, the US and UK might support the Kurds goals, but geopolitically they do not. And geopolitical, especially with the US, trumps ideals in the Middle East.
- PhasmaFelis 9y ago> And geopolitical, especially with the US, trumps ideals in the Middle East. Always has, everywhere, unfortunately. See our various exploits overthrowing legitimate democracies that sided with the USSR and replacing them with bloody-handed dictators that sided with us.
- allenz 9y agoI think that we've made progress. There is now a consensus that those actions were wrong, and should not be repeated.