An end to the storm...Soothing the Middle East

Founded by the Turks, the Ottoman Empire was the dominant power in the Middle East for centuries. Its power peaked in the 16th and 17th centuries but it wasn't cut up until after World War I, where it had fought with the losing side. At that time, the Ottoman Empire wasn't cut up geographically, or religiously, or politically. It was drawn up by Britain and France, the victors of the war. The resulting nations of Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Palestine, Turkey, and Syria were a fight waiting to happen. Britain and France had purposely built instability into the region to keep their enemies week…A good move to keep themselves in powerful positions, but not a good move for world peace.

One example of such built in failure is Kurdistan...a country that doesn't exist...but should. It comprises an area shared by Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. This area where the Kurds live has its own language, related to but distinct from Persian (Farsi). They have a different monetary system, their own army, and more or less their own governmental structure. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims, although Iran's are more likely to be Shi'ite. They follow a less strict form of Islam as the women don't wear the traditional clothing.

At several times they have tried to form their own country. From 1922 to 1924 there was a Kingdom of Kurdistan in Iraq but it was crushed by British and Iraqi forces. Another country with the same name lasted only two months in Turkey. One other attempt in Turkey lasted four years. The U.S.S.R. helped establish a Kurdish state in Northern Iran to destabilize Iran but then pulled out and left them to be massacred by the Iranians. The U.S. then tried the same thing in Iraq, causing a Kurdish uprising then leaving. Saddam Hussein who was at the time running Iraq, went and smothered the rebellion eventually killing as many as 200,000 Kurds...as would have any leader of any country. Then, after not giving the Kurds support in the uprising the U.S. incited, the U.S. declares Saddam Hussein as committing genocide and starts a War on Terror (War on Saddam's Iraq). I'm not trying to say that one side was right or wrong, I'm just saying the whole thing was a bad situation that could have been avoided through a simple restructuring of badly placed boundaries. Of course the Kurds want to rule themselves...and of course the Leaders of the several countries want to put down rebellions and stabilize their countries.

Today we will be meeting with Britain, France, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and most importantly the Kurds, to clear up this problem area. We will not close this meeting until we have found a feasible way to make Kurdistan a reality, creating a more peaceful Middle East, and a more peaceful world.

Love to all,

Your companion,

The King