The Common Ills: Self-determination?

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Self-determination?

Everyone thinks they have a right to determine the Kurds self-determination.

Reuters Top News‏Verified account @Reuters 3 hours ago

U.N. chief: Northern Iraq vote would detract from Islamic State fight http://reut.rs/2fdW1lf

4 replies18 retweets29 likes
Al Jazeera English‏Verified account @AJEnglish 1 hour ago

UN chief urges Kurds in Iraq to scrap referendum, arguing it would detract from the fight against ISIL http://aje.io/nkdvu

11 replies31 retweets23 likes

That would be the same United Nations that knew the Iraq War was illegal but didn't object to it, remember?

In September of 2004 (six months after the Iraq War started), Ewen MacAskill and Julian Borger (GUARDIAN) reported:

The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, declared explicitly for the first time last night that the US-led war on Iraq was illegal.
Mr Annan said that the invasion was not sanctioned by the UN security council or in accordance with the UN's founding charter. In an interview with the BBC World Service broadcast last night, he was asked outright if the war was illegal. He replied: "Yes, if you wish."
He then added unequivocally: "I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN charter. From our point of view and from the charter point of view it was illegal."

They can't weigh in on a war when it matters but they can screech no to Kurdish self-determination.

In other stupidity . . .

‏ @spectatorindex

IRAQ: Vice President Nouri Maliki says a Kurdish state is equivalent of the 'creation of a second Israel in the north of Iraq'

6 replies36 retweets29 likes

Wait, does Nouri mean there's already a "first Israel in the north of Iraq"?

For a serious analysis, you can click here. You can also refer to Peter Galbriath's analysis from June of earlier this year:

Galbraith pointed to criticism the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) received from neighboring countries regarding the decision to hold a referendum.
The former diplomat said some nations had highlighted the risk an independence referendum poses in the region, but stressed staying in Iraq was riskier for Kurds.
“The alternative [to a referendum] is to be a part of Iraq, and I think Kurds have to consider whether that isn’t even more risky,” he said.
Galbraith said the history of Kurdistan and Iraq was not positive, especially as Kurds had always been treated as second-class citizens.
He also pointed to the Anfal campaign “which involved the destruction of almost every village in Kurdistan [and] the extensive use of chemical weapons.”

Peter Van Buren‏ @WeMeantWell 3 hours ago

While we're all enjoying Vietnam war doc on PBS, let's remember last five US presidents have (pointlessly) made war in Iraq #neveragainmyass

10 retweets17 likes