Comments on: Kurdistan: The Other Iraq

Bob Simon On How The Kurds Are Reshaping Northeastern Iraq

[obiquital]

The rest of Iraq isn't a mess because the Americans are there. The rest of Iraq is a mess because the Sunnis and Shiites hate each other.

[dargay]

its good the Kurds are finally living free and moving towards prosperity. Iraqi Kurdistan isn't controlled by Americans, hence thats probably why it isn't such a mess.

[hozankapri]

Kurds are a very resaonable people and they are to negitiate on anything than use violance.If Albanians in Kosovo get Independence and scores of otehr nations why not Kurdistan?Being the most sane people in the region Kurds deserve to get their own countries. Kurds are not extremist and what is important to us is our national Identity, our Kurdishness comes before anything. Even our religion. Kurds are very Moderate and Modern. America should not take us for granted. Kurds dont hate the west or anybody. Our culture is not based on hate.Kurds have always fought Armies and never civilians.Kirkuk is Kurdistan and must come back to Kurdistan. America people are our friends. We want to be cliose to America and the west. We want to advance and progress.
Hozan Kapri
http://www.kurdsloveamerica.com

[obiquital]

The US should recognize Kurdistan as a seperate state.

And Iraq should be partitioned between the Shiite and Sunni areas since they can't get along. Just like Yugoslavia was partitioned. Just like Austria/Hungary. Just like Czechoslovakia. Just like Korea.

[sherwood828]

Can you believe - of the "big three" news broadcasters. only one - CBS, apparently knows enough to investigate all sides of the prevailing news stories. Thank you!!!

[talsian]

Only crazy people use all caps.

[talsian]

A united Kurdistan could become one of the powers of the region, which would be a definite bonus for US interests. Plus, like everyone, the Kurds deserve a homeland.

[perception5]

Having seen the rapid reconstruction going on Kurdistan, one wonders why the Bush administration can't do as well in Louisianistan.
Posted by AndieRooney at 03:49 AM : Feb 19, 2007

.....BECAUSE IT'S UNDER THE CONTROL OF LOCAL OFFICALS .....LIKE YOUR PAL MAYOR NAGAN WHO GOT REELECTED DESPITE THE FACT HE'S SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 1,000 DEATHS.... BECAUSE HE DID NOT EVACUATE NEW ORLEANS IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ARRIVAL OF KATRINA AS OUR PRESIDENT OREDERED......

[droshani]

My message to the gentleman, who tries to deny The Anfal atrocity by Iraqi x-Regime against Kurdistan, is to write a book on his conspiracy with his facts. He can give Guinness to Saddam as the only Muslim killing more Muslims than any other Muslim and non Muslims in the history of Islam. If still has not understood why western allied of Saddam tried to cover up his brutal chemical bombing of Halanja, and the the Anfall campaign then he has not done his homework.

[droshani]

I thank Bob Simon for his coverage. It is the time for western public opinion to see that Middle East is not just about killing and bombing. There are people who looking for better life and trying to build a future. People in Kurdistan has gone through the unthinkable but survived for a day to raise their flag and proudly say "I live in Kurdistan!"

I would like to mention this to Bob that the reasons behind the security and harmony in Kurdistan is not what he explained as no "ethnic diversity in Kurdistan", since there are more religious and ethnics group in Kurdistan than any other places in Iraq. You can find religious groups such as Christian, Jewish, Yaristanis, Yizidis, Muslims (Sunnis and Shias), for that matter ethnic groups such as Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrian, Jwes and Arabs. So I believe Bob need to look into the character of Kurdish culture which has never been a hostile one. Kurds has always lived in harmony with others. Kurds says "Home is more pleasant when you have guest over" (Mall we mmwanew xuwesh e)

People in Kurdistan need a voice so their rights once again will not be overwritten by political games. An independent Kurdistan is the missing factor for political stability in Middle East which has been denied since the First World War. It is time to put this right and create a balance for the future peace and prosperity of the region.

[droshani]

I thank Bob Simon for his coverage. It is the time for western public opinion to see that Middle East is not just about killing and bombing. There are people who looking for better life and trying to build a future. People in Kurdistan has gone through the unthinkable but survived for a day to raise their flag and proudly say "I live in Kurdistan!"

I would like to mention this to Bob that the reasons behind the security and harmony in Kurdistan is not what he explained as no "ethnic diversity in Kurdistan", since there are more religious and ethnics group in Kurdistan than any other places in Iraq. You can find religious groups such as Christian, Jewish, Yaristanis, Yizidis, Muslims (Sunnis and Shias), for that matter ethnic groups such as Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrian, Jwes and Arabs. So I believe Bob need to look into the character of Kurdish culture which has never been a hostile one. Kurds has always lived in harmony with others. Kurds says "Home is more pleasant when you have guest over" (Mall we mmwanew xuwesh e)

People in Kurdistan need a voice so their rights once again will not be overwritten by political games. An independent Kurdistan is the missing factor for political stability in Middle East which has been denied since the First World War. It is time to put this right and create a balance for the future peace and prosperity of the region.

[andierooney]

Having seen the rapid reconstruction going on Kurdistan, one wonders why the Bush administration can't do as well in Louisianistan.

[akrawi77]

This was a very good report that clearly addressed the present state of Kurdistan (Northern Iraq). I think that this is a great opportunity for Americans to make new allies with people who have proven their loyalty to the United States.

TO cnast,
At the time of the Halabja incident, the Kurds were helping the Iranians fight against Saddams reigme. It wold make no sense for the Iranians to fight The Kurds during the time. In addition, to call this a rumor is assinine and ridiculous seeming that thousands of people were victims of this incident. If you are accusing Bob Simon and CBS of flasehood, your also accusing the Kurdish people, United Nations, Amnesty International, HRW (Human Rights Watch), and others of stating false statements.

Point being, this article is about Kurds being successful and are a prime example of democracy in the Middle East.

[carlsond]

Your tonight's story on the ongoing march of a sovereign Kurdistan needs to be told over and over until the present administration 'gets it'. Staring them (the administration) in the face is the chance to immediately establish a real democracy in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the short sighted President Bush has rejected 'partitioning' out of hand.

The USA should back the Kurds with enough territory and resources (oil territories near Kirkut) to be able to absorb Kurds from neighboring territories (Iran, Syria, Turkey, etc)

They will be forever grateful, and in the long run, so will we....

David Carlson
Fresno CA

[carlsond]

Your tonight's story on the ongoing march of a sovereign Kurdistan needs to be told over and over until the present administration 'gets it'. Staring them (the administration) in the face is the chance to immediately establish a real democracy in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the short sighted President Bush has rejected 'partitioning' out of hand.

The USA should back the Kurds with enough territory and resources (oil territories near Kirkut) to be able to absorb Kurds from neighboring territories (Iran, Syria, Turkey, etc)

They will be forever grateful, and in the long run, so will we....

David Carlson
Fresno CA

[mikeandrews5]

Nice reporting.

Best,

Mike Andrews
journalist
Erbil

[ev805]

Wonderful! Thank you. In watching this story it is the first hopeful feeling I%u2019ve had since %u201Cthe war%u201D began.

[dumbwoman]

Nice story but it seems to only really show that federalism is the only way forward for Iraq. They just dont all get along...

[cnast-2009]

Bob Simon owes the world an apology for repeating a false rumor. He said "Some 5,000 Kurds were gassed by Saddam%u2019s army at a place called Halabja".

Information in the public realm establishes that the gas that killed the Kurds in Halabja was Iranian according to Stephen C. Pelletirer, the CIA's senior political analyst on Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, "I was privy to much of the classified material that flowed through Washington having to do with the Persian Gulf. In addition, I headed a 1991 Army investigation into how the Iraqis would fight a war against the United States%u2026" The Kurdish civilians who died had the misfortune to be caught up in a battle between Iraqis and Iranians. Each side used gas against the other in the battle around Halabja. The condition of the dead Kurds' bodies, however, indicated they had been killed with a blood agent -- that is, a cyanide-based gas -- which Iran was known to use. The Iraqis, who are thought to have used mustard gas in the battle, are not known to have possessed blood agents at the time, according to Pelletirer. Saddam Hussein has committed human rights atrocities against his people, but this is not one of them. This information was in The New York Times 31 January 2003--before Bush invaded Iraq, and is repeated on various other sites. It was still another of Bush's lies justifying his illegal war. One must wonder why CBS is repeating this falsehood.

[cnast-2009]

Bob Simon owes the world an apology for repeating a false rumor. He said "Some 5,000 Kurds were gassed by Saddam%u2019s army at a place called Halabja".

Information in the public realm establishes that the gas that killed the Kurds in Halabja was Iranian according to Stephen C. Pelletirer, the CIA's senior political analyst on Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, "I was privy to much of the classified material that flowed through Washington having to do with the Persian Gulf. In addition, I headed a 1991 Army investigation into how the Iraqis would fight a war against the United States%u2026" The Kurdish civilians who died had the misfortune to be caught up in a battle between Iraqis and Iranians. Each side used gas against the other in the battle around Halabja. The condition of the dead Kurds' bodies, however, indicated they had been killed with a blood agent -- that is, a cyanide-based gas -- which Iran was known to use. The Iraqis, who are thought to have used mustard gas in the battle, are not known to have possessed blood agents at the time, according to Pelletirer. Saddam Hussein has committed human rights atrocities against his people, but this is not one of them. This information was in The New York Times 31 January 2003--before Bush invaded Iraq, and is repeated on various other sites. It was still another of Bush's lies justifying his illegal war. One must wonder why CBS is repeating this falsehood.