Rise of the Kurds

February 19^th 2011

The 2003 Transitional Administrative Law agreements and the 2005 permanent constitution of Iraq included several articles regarding governance of Kurdish areas and the resolution of disputes over boundaries for Kurdish territories. Specifically, Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution requires that referendums on a provincial level in disputed areas will determine if said areas will cede to Kurdistan Regional Government jurisdiction or remain under Iraqi Federal control. The deadline for completion of this process was November 15^th, 2007. Over three years later, following consistent delays and postponements- the most recent of which elapsed on December 31^st, 2010, the KRG refused to be paid lip service any longer.

On the evening of Friday, February 18, 2011 in a gesture of Kurdish solidarity, the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament unanimously passed a resolution declaring sovereign independence from Iraq. This act echoed the sentiments of KRG Prime Minister Barham Salih who has repeatedly said that failure to address issues of governance over historically and culturally Kurdish areas was a “recipe for civil war.” Consecutive delays have revealed the powerlessness of the semi-autonomous KRG and that independence is vital to Kurdish self-determination. Local law enforcement and impassioned civilians have joined forces to secure the new Kurdistani border, including the annexation of Kirkuk.

US intelligence showing satellite imagery of steady mobilization of Turkish military personnel towards the Turkish-Iraqi border has been leaked to international press.

Many states are concerned for possible offshoot secessionist movements in Iran, Syria, and Turkey and resulting compromises of regional security. The impact on oil production of the highly lucrative oil fields in Northern Iraq, as well as the destabilization of relations among Turkey, Iraq, and Iran may draw regional and international powers into conflict.