Left In Lowell

Not much reported here in the US, and more than disturbing, is the amassing of Turkish and Iranian troops along their border with northern Kurdish Iraq. Now the Guardian is reporting that Iran and Turkey are shelling parts of Kurd territory in Iraq. Both countries have a history of oppressing the Kurdish minorities within their borders. Turkey outlawed their use of their own language until last decade, and even now that language is restricted. They have continually used the term “terrorist” to excuse using violence against them. It is again one of those situations where treating a whole ethnic people as dogs turned many of them into rebel seperatists.

Turkey and Iran fear an independent Kurd territory in Iraq. It might give their own Kurds ideas - stupid things like freedom from oppression and such. Turkey ought to look at its own handling of their crisis for the origins of the violence some Kurds have turned to against Turkey. Instead, they’ll join the US’s enemy in violence against Kurds in another country. I’m severely disappointed in this otherwise-democractic ally.