The Death of Saddam Hussein in '76 Newspaper headline.

KURDISH GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE CREATES "LIBERATION ARMY"

A spokesman for the Kurdish National Congress (KNC), now based in refugee camps hastily set up inside Iran, declared the creation of the Kurdish National Liberation Front (KNLF). This irregular army is to absorb the militias of the various organized Kurdish independence movements that are part of the KNC, as well as bands of unaffiliated tribal fighters. Mustafa Barzani, leader of the KDP, the largest of the Kurdish groups, praised the move and said that, "the atrocities in Arbil will be avenged by our new liberation army of freedom fighters, battling for the independence of Kurdistan from all its enemies."

A spokesman for the Iranian army refused comment when questioned about the KNLF's ability to operate from Iranian soil, and rumours that the Shah's government has been arming Kurdish fighters.

"The Associated Press" October 13 1976
 
Which Kurds is the Shah recognizing? He has already recognized the Independent Republic of Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan), and he has no reason to grant the Iranian Kurds their own state, they just got a Kurdish state in Iraq. Now if he was granting them dual citizenship, that might make sense.

As well, thus far, the Shah is actually quite strong, with the protests in '78-79 not occurring yet. The Kurdish crisis has also given the Shah an excuse to crack down even harder on dissidence, which hasn't reached the Western media so much. Also, the Shah is the main patron of the Iraqi Kurds, who take weapons from him on the condition that they don't stir up Persian Kurdistan.
Giving his chunk of Kurdistan could be seen as a goodwill effort that could buy him allies in the Kurdish Government.
 
more allies or posibly a potential to form a puppet government.

The thing is, they kind of ARE a puppet government. It's becoming a lot like the Palestinians in southern Syria, they are really dependent on and controlled to a certain extent by their patron government of Syria. Barzani's KDP, with it's American connections, is the only organization left with any real independence, and it's wholly reliant on Iranian arms.

The other issue with a handover of territory is that Iran is quite a diverse nation. Bowing to political pressure would make the Azeris in the north, the Balochis in the east, etc, all try for a similar thing of peaceful secession. The Shah wouldn't encourage that kind of behaviour. Maybe after a war with Iraq, in which the Iranians gain an Iraqi Shi'a puppet state, they might cede some part of Persian Kurdistan to the Kurds, as a "border adjustment", but its ASB for the Shah to act so blatantly against his own self-interest.
 
ARAB LEADERS ARRIVE IN HAMA

The leaders of our Arab brethren nations of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as the President of Turkey, arrived today in the beautiful city of Hama in Syria for the first summit of the Euphrates Defence Co-Operation Organization. Our great president Izzat ad-Douri has been present in Hama for several days already, discussing matters of urgent attention with our brother leader Hefaz al-Assad. The summit will focus on matters of urgency to the Arab people, such as ongoing Lebanese conflict and the growing Persian, Kurdish and Zionist menaces. Long live the Arab nation and long live Iraq!

The Official Gazette of Iraq, October 14 1976
 
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The thing is, they kind of ARE a puppet government. It's becoming a lot like the Palestinians in southern Syria, they are really dependent on and controlled to a certain extent by their patron government of Syria. Barzani's KDP, with it's American connections, is the only organization left with any real independence, and it's wholly reliant on Iranian arms.

The other issue with a handover of territory is that Iran is quite a diverse nation. Bowing to political pressure would make the Azeris in the north, the Balochis in the east, etc, all try for a similar thing of peaceful secession. The Shah wouldn't encourage that kind of behaviour. Maybe after a war with Iraq, in which the Iranians gain an Iraqi Shi'a puppet state, they might cede some part of Persian Kurdistan to the Kurds, as a "border adjustment", but its ASB for the Shah to act so blatantly against his own self-interest.
It would be interesting to see a pact of co-operation with Turkey against Iraq and Syria, in order to secure the formation of Kurdistan and getting the issue off of their own backs.
 
It would be interesting to see a pact of co-operation with Turkey against Iraq and Syria, in order to secure the formation of Kurdistan and getting the issue off of their own backs.

At the same time, the Turks hold the most Kurdish territory of anyone, with almost a quarter of Turkey that could be conceivably claimed as part of a Greater Kurdistan. The last thing the Turks would want would be an irredentist Kurdish state on their border, acting as a support and safe haven for the PKK and other groups. The KNC has embraced the PKK (I think that was in a previous post, not sure), so the Turks have reason to be worried.

That being said, there are a lot of issues at stake here, and its sort of a mystery as to what anyone will do :D
 
At the same time, the Turks hold the most Kurdish territory of anyone, with almost a quarter of Turkey that could be conceivably claimed as part of a Greater Kurdistan. The last thing the Turks would want would be an irredentist Kurdish state on their border, acting as a support and safe haven for the PKK and other groups. The KNC has embraced the PKK (I think that was in a previous post, not sure), so the Turks have reason to be worried.

That being said, there are a lot of issues at stake here, and its sort of a mystery as to what anyone will do :D
Yeah, but the situation the Kurds are in calls for unlikely allies, and while they may have US support, it's going to be its neighbours that will be most invaluable.
 
Yeah, but the situation the Kurds are in calls for unlikely allies, and while they may have US support, it's going to be its neighbours that will be most invaluable.

Thats true, although they also have Israel on side. Between Israel and Iran, they have the region's two biggest military powers arming and supporting them. Finally, just because they SHOULD ally with Turkey, doesn't mean they WILL. If you were the leadership of the Kurdish National Congress, and you were as close to a real Kurdish nation as you had ever been, would you turn around and ask for help for one of your worst enemies?

The Turks also may not want it. With their exit for the NATO command structure, they've signalled independence from the USA, and with the series of terrorist attacks against Turkey implicitly supported by the KNC, they may not be so trusting of their motives. Why allow a potential future enemy to even get on their feet?

In my mind, Turkey would probably sit this one out, to a large extent.
 
MIDEAST TALKS CLOSE: LEBANON TO JOIN ALLIANCE, ALL NATIONS PLEDGE "FRIENDSHIP AND UNITY"

The first summit of the Euphrates Defence Co-operation Organization finished today, after three days of talks. The conference's official statement said that Lebanon, currently under Syrian occupation, had accepted an offer to join the alliance, while the other Arab states and Turkey had refused. The statement also spoke of an agreement signed promising "friendship and unity among the Arab peoples and their brothers the Turks".

"The Associated Press" October 18 1976
 
Nasser's Ghost: Why Arab Unity is Back

A Washington Post Editorial

As it was clear at the first EDCO conference this weekend, Arab unity is on the rise. Even though Nasser is dead, his ideas continues to speak to the Arab street and to the leaders of the Arab world, urging them to fight together. Many in the defence establishment, who considered Pan-Arabism to be a spent force, must be befuddled by this newest outbreak of an ideology that has been a force since the 19th century. Yet even as our best minds are stumped, nations as different as Ba'athist Iraq, monarchist Saudi Arabia, and even our close ally of non-Arab Turkey are sitting together and singing kumbaya. The reason for Arab unity, and a Turkish government willing to go along with it, is the crisis in Kurdistan, and a perception among many Arab leaders that Iran and Israel, two enemies of the Arabs, are gaining more and more control in the region.

The United States' government has done little to help. With our own recognition of Kurdistan, and our unyielding support for Israel and Iran, we have ceded the friendship of the Arab world to a coalition of socialists and radicals of every stripe. While some of our allies, like Saudi Arabia and Turkey will swallow their reservations and go along with us, the crisis in Kurdistan scares even those nations without a Kurdish population. Every Arab nation has large minority groups that are often less than welcome in broader society. If the Kurds go, thinks the Arab leadership, why can't the Copts, or the Arabian Shi'a, or the Bedouin?

The United States should do three things. First, it should rescind its recognition of the Independent Republic of Kurdistan, while proposing an alternative solution, likely a real autonomous region within Iraq, policed by peacekeepers with a referendum on Kurdish sovereignty. Second, it should, together with the Soviet Union, call on all nations in the region to decrease military mobilization and restore peace. Third, it should call for a regional and international peace conference, with the power to impose sanctions, disarm militias and even redraw borders if necessary. The Arab nations are once again awakening, and the United States must realize this, or be surprised by the sleeping giant of Nasser's Ghost

October 19 1976
 
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TRIAL DATE FOR IRAQ ASSASSIN ANNOUNCED

An spokesman for Iraq's Ministry of Justice announced today that the suspected killer of Saddam Hussein would be brought to trial, with proceedings beginning on the 4th of November. The suspect's named, previously unannounced, was given as Agrin Tîr, a young Kurdish man from the city of Arbil. A Mukhabarat spokesman refused comment as to whether or not the assassination was the work of a 'lone wolf' or of an organized conspiracy.

"The Associated Press" October 25 1976
 
FORD WINS: CARTER CONCEDES DEFEAT

In a spectacularly close election, President Gerald Ford narrowly won re-election over Governor Jimmy Carter. Carter conceded defeat shortly before 3 AM, saying that he "wished to serve because he loved [the] nation, but that the American people have spoken". The election is widely believed to have been swung to the more experienced Ford on the basis of the ongoing upheaval in the Middle East since the assassination of Iraqi Vice-President and strongman Saddam Hussein.

The election results however, leave President Ford in a difficult position. Congress continues to be dominated by the Democratic Party, making it difficult for the President to enact his agenda without extensive bi-partisan support. Outgoing House Majority Leader and possible Speaker Tip O'Neil said that "the Democratic Party will work with President Ford, but as an opposition, not as faux Republicans. We will propose when possible, and oppose when necessary."

The New York Times
November 2 1976
 
"WE STAND STRONG WITH KURDISTAN AND IRAN"

The President announced yesterday, that despite any grievances about war, that he will stand strong and support Kurdistan. With the increased shipping of weapons through Persia into the Kurd state, it is expected the nation will continue to push back Iraqi forces in an insurgency. With this in mind, could an official war in Iraq commence?

New York Times
November 17th, 1976
 
HUSSEIN'S ASSASSIN FOUND DEAD IN PRISON CELL; GOVERNMENT CLAIMS SUICIDE

The suspected assassin of Saddam Hussein, Iraq's late vice-president, was found dead of self-inflicted wounds this morning, says Iraqi state media. Agrin Tîr, a young Kurd and the prime suspect in Hussein's death, had been arrested over two months ago, and had been on trial for only a few weeks. A Iraqi government spokesman refused to comment on rumours that Tîr was murdered, and said that, "It comes as no surprise that the assassin of our dear leader Saddam Hussein would end his life in this cowardly way, refusing to be brought to true justice for his crimes."

"The Associated Press" November 20 1976
 
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