Kurds: A People Without a Country

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:01:55 -0500

In just a few months the Kurds went from being a group fleeing violence of war to becoming a well disciplined army that accomplished missions very few undertook; going into towns and cities to hunt down and kill ISIS. They have become an immovable force on the Northern Iraq borders, and continue to fight ISIS. War makes strange bedfellows as the Kurds joined Syrians forces are fighting ISIS. I am sure the ultimate direction is to contain, attrite, defeat or destroy ISIS forces in urban environments. They have proven themselves to be a brave and tenacious force, although they are not finished yet, there is still much fighting to be done. This is the part where life is not fair. When the last bullets fly and the dust settles, will the Kurds have a home they can call their own? I would prefer to immigrate Kurds than the alternative.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Dec 2 at 2015 7:05 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:05:34 -0500

No doubt the Kurds are succeeding where others have miserably failed.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 2 at 2015 7:14 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:14:18 -0500

Sad but True. I have nothing but respect for the Peshmerga. Their Tribal lands are wedged between Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, Their neighbors don't like them. If I'm not mistaken their version of Islam is a Hybrid between the Old Persian Faith with it's 100 Angels and Islam.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 2 at 2015 7:23 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:23:12 -0500

I certainly hope the Kurds will have their own country very soon. It should be carved out of Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq in the portions of those countries where the Kurdish language and heritage has been established foe centuries MAJ Ken Landgren

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 3 at 2015 2:36 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 02:36:02 -0500

I would prefer to see northern Iraq and northern Syria become Kurdistan; it would provide the best security and stability possible for the region.

Response by SGT James Hastings made Dec 3 at 2015 1:51 PM

SGT James Hastings — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 13:51:24 -0500

I agree. I also take note that a significant number of these fighting Kurds are women.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Dec 3 at 2015 2:44 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 14:44:39 -0500

While I mostly support the Kurds you might think twice about moving too many of them to your neighborhood. Nashville took in a bunch of them and not all turned out the way it was planned and what they got was a Kurdish version of the Crips, the Bloods or MS-13. In the last few years they have managed to send a bunch of them to jail and have used a novel approach of filing for civil injunctions against the gang and it's known leaders. The Kurdish Pride street gang is an example of what you can get if you take in too many younger males. The 24 members mentioned are the known leaders. The gang had several hundred total members.

https://www.nashville.gov/News-Media/News-Article/ID/143/Nashville-Government-Seeks-to-Have-Kurdish-Pride-Gang-and-24-Members-Collectively-Declared-a-Public-Nuisance.aspx

Nashville | Nashville Government Seeks to Have Kurdish Pride Gang and 24 Members Collectively...

Nashville Government Seeks to Have Kurdish Pride Gang and 24 Members Collectively Declared a Public Nuisance

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Apr 14 at 2016 10:50 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 22:50:04 -0400

And you notice they aren' t doing the refugee thing. But choose to fight for their lands. Impressive!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2016 6:04 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 May 2016 18:04:08 -0400

We rescued the Kurds in the late 70s or early 80s and put many in Guam and later resettled them and later when we needed them for helping us for the Invasion of Iraq, they were there and they had kept in touch with the locals. If only Turkey was going actually Democratic. I am worried they are going slowly Sharia. The Kurds accept all Christians and if you mentioned Armenian genoicde by Turkey in 1913 , you won't go to jail! Turkey and some elements of the Kurds need to stop fighting and work toward autonomy of the Kurds in Turkey!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2016 6:08 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 May 2016 18:08:50 -0400

The point person of this Kurdish infantry unit looks like a young Sandra Bullock!