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The Only Positive Development in the Middle East

Reader comment on item: Hello, Kurdistan

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Sep 10, 2014 at 14:44

I salute Daniel Pipes for being able to nimbly and completely change his mind. A few years ago, I had a letter-to-the- editor published which advocated that the US establish a military base in Kurdistan as the only place in the Muslim Middle East the where US soldiers would be positively welcomed,, and free of fear of suicide bombers.

It is also most encouraging to consider that an eventual fully developed Kurdish State might have a population of 30 million which really could stand against possible enemies from 3 directions (Iran, Iraq, Turkey). And even more encouraging to think this new nation might also acquire a land route to the Mediteranean (on territory abandoned or lost by Assad's crumbling Syria).

I would only add that while it seems that Kurdistan can have its Islam without breeding suicidal fanatics, I don't attribute this to a "moderate" islam, but to something in the Kurdish national character that allows them to remain Muslim ..... in spite of Islam.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (26) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
SALEH M. MOHAMED, Co-President, Democratic Union Party [Syrian Kurdistan] [242 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
RobertApr 11, 2016 11:37228882
Great subject! [47 words]YahoofanSep 18, 2014 11:09218008
1Kurdistan; Hope and Stability For Iraq [135 words]Clarence Paul PuckettSep 12, 2014 23:15217825
2An independent Kurdistan? Not if the US and Iran can prevent it. [255 words]Michael S.Sep 14, 2014 08:15217825
PS: Bring Back Petraeus and His Team to Advise Our Middle East Policies [207 words]GWKSep 11, 2014 11:36217771
Excellent Proposal! Right Idea At The Right Time! [160 words]GWKSep 11, 2014 11:24217769
1Turkey and Kurdistan [96 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Nazim CairoSep 11, 2014 09:55217763
Turkey Kurdistan [133 words]mythSep 15, 2014 09:12217763
Turkey and Kurdistan [85 words]dhimmi no moreSep 20, 2014 08:39217763
Kurdistan [114 words]AkivaSep 11, 2014 08:51217757
Kannidigas of India [14 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
HarindranathSep 11, 2014 02:09217738
Some exaggeration, yes [191 words]Michael S.Sep 10, 2014 22:16217732
Kurdish Sovereignty Still Not All That Clear [443 words]M. ToveySep 10, 2014 19:08217729
Kurds and failure of islam [53 words]VijaySep 10, 2014 17:22217726
"dangerous but necessary" [112 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Paul RothbergSep 10, 2014 17:21217725
1Kurdistan vs. 'Palestine' [105 words]PezDispenserSep 10, 2014 14:57217722
The Only Positive Development in the Middle East [165 words]Ron ThompsonSep 10, 2014 14:44217721
We can learn from the past [44 words]David W. LincolnSep 10, 2014 12:24217719
A Way to Contain the New Turkey [80 words]NAASep 10, 2014 09:53217717
You were wrong before, and you're wrong again, sorry [86 words]TL WinslowSep 10, 2014 09:48217716
Religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East do not trust neither Europe nor the US [261 words]dhimmi no moreSep 10, 2014 06:54217713
Kurdistan [48 words]David SnyderSep 10, 2014 05:40217712
Hello kurdistan [124 words]EmanuelSep 10, 2014 04:37217710
Will Turkey Agree? [23 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
YitzchokSep 10, 2014 04:22217709
At last a sensible opinion to give a true Nation a Homeland. [199 words]LeonSep 10, 2014 03:38217707
1The Kurds are no saints. Turkey will soon be Israel's next-door neighbor [386 words]Michael S.Sep 19, 2014 02:31217707

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