Mosul

[abaris]

Battle for Mosul exposes fractures that threaten to haunt post-ISIL Iraq

That's actually a no shit Sherlok moment, since the fractures were always there for anyone to see with a working pair of eyes and a basic level of curiosity. Even before Bush and cronies took the lid from the kettle.

[abaris]

 

A failed state in the next 10 years cast out by the west. Erdogan hates Putin too, so maybe Turkey will become the next Iran? I feel desperately sorry for the secularists, some of whom I know.

It's not as simple as Erdogan being an Islamist. He's also a nationalist with strong nostalgic tendencies for the Ottoman empire. Also, Erdogan and Putin had their one on one at Petersburg quite recently with a lot of kiss, kiss involved. I guess one democrator values the other when he sees them.

[Minimalist]

I support the Kurds 100%. Probably the only group left in the ME worth supporting (or who haven't been entirely genocided).

The Turks won't though.  Syria is out of action as a regional force for a generation.  Iraq will probably not survive as a viable nation.  Who's left?

[account_inactive]

I support the Kurds 100%. Probably the only group left in the ME worth supporting (or who haven't been entirely genocided).

Agreed.

[abaris]

Iraq will probably not survive as a viable nation.

Iraq never was a nation. A nation is something where people choose to live together willingly. Not some artificial construct drawn up at a cozy office at London by throwing three Ottoman provices together and calling it a state.

[The Grand Nudger]

There's gonna be a lot of money in restoration after this is all over (regardless of who's left grasping the gold ring).  Makes a man wish he was a contractor.

[abaris]

Makes a man wish he was a contractor.

I bet you that Goldwater will be coming out on top. By the way, a splendid example of why certain things shouldn't be privatized. Unless you want crook nation, of course.

[The Grand Nudger]

OH IDK, I think that you guys could trust me to lay some irrigation and mains without skimming.

[Minimalist]

Iraq will probably not survive as a viable nation.

Iraq never was a nation. A nation is something where people choose to live together willingly. Not some artificial construct drawn up at a cozy office at London by throwing three Ottoman provices together and calling it a state.

Actually many nations were cobbled together after long, violent, struggles.  The exception seems to be Africa where those lines on a map result in constant ethnic tension because they all seem to hate each other.  Sooner or later, they will have it out.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

 

A failed state in the next 10 years cast out by the west. Erdogan hates Putin too, so maybe Turkey will become the next Iran? I feel desperately sorry for the secularists, some of whom I know.

It's not as simple as Erdogan being an Islamist. He's also a nationalist with strong nostalgic tendencies for the Ottoman empire. Also, Erdogan and Putin had their one on one at Petersburg quite recently with a lot of kiss, kiss involved. I guess one democrator values the other when he sees them.

My understanding of that meeting was more of necessity (due to Turkeys imminent de facto rejection by the EU and NATO) than anything else, though undoubtedly Turkey's list of allies runs thin and has been for several years. May as well get into bed with the Russians if that whole plane shooting incident can be resolved.