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Article: Kurd v Kurd: Iraq. (fighting between Kurdish factions)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- October 17, 1992
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ONE of the rare side-benefits of the Gulf war was the self-rule that descended, almost by accident, on Iraq's Kurds. The Kurds took full advantage of their luck: electing a parliament, setting up an ad hoc administration, attracting Kurdish talent from exiles the world over. But recent events show how heavily this gossamer semi-independence is in bond to the goodwill and self-interest of outsiders.
Turkish support is essential for half a dozen good reasons. To retain it, the guerrilla armies of the two main Iraqi Kurdish factions have allowed themselves to be recruited into an unofficial alliance with Turkey's armed forces to drive Turkish Kurdish guerrillas out of ...