Oh, yeah, one SIDE BENEFIT, America: YOUR TROOPS will be STAYING LONGER (like they were ever really leaving; you don't build permanent bases if you plan on leaving)!!!!
"Kirkuk dispute may delay Iraq elections" by Rebecca Santana, Associated Press | November 2, 2009
BAGHDAD - Iraqi politicians are dueling with new hostility over the fate of Kirkuk, the oil-rich city that both self-ruled Kurds in the north and Iraq’s central government want to control.
The dispute has caused a deadlock over an election law, threatening to delay Iraq’s nationwide parliamentary elections set for mid-January. Any vote setback could, in turn, disrupt American plans to withdraw troops from Iraq, scheduled to increase after the vote.
“The problem is that we are getting to a crisis,’’ said Marina Ottoway, director of the Middle East Program at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace....
Every frikkin' time you turn around -- CRISIS!!!!
“Now, it is becoming a problem for the United States,’’ Ottoway said.
Why? Are not IRAQ'S ELECTIONS and PROBLEMS IRAQ'S BUSINESS?!!!!
We sure as hell don't seem to care about the fraud that was perpetrated in Afghanistan!
“There is real pressure on the US military to draw down as soon as possible.’’
The United States has been watching the debate intensely for any repercussions it may have for the American military withdrawal. New violence in Iraq recently has raised the stakes....
And CUI BONO?
WHO wants to SPLIT UP the COUNTRY?
WHO BENEFITS?
See: Occupation Iraq: Insurgents Want US to Stay
Oh. Pffft!
Kirkuk sits on a political and cultural fault line among ethnic Kurds and smaller groups of ethnic Arabs and Turkomen, or ethnic Turks. Kurds consider Kirkuk a Kurdish city and want it part of their self-ruled region. But during the rule of former dictator Saddam Hussein, tens of thousands of Kurds were displaced under a forced plan by Hussein to make Kirkuk predominantly Arab.
Of course, ISRAEL ISN'T FLOGGED for the LONGEST-RUNNING DISPLACEMENT in HISTORY in my ZIONIST WAR DAILY!
But they WILL PISS on the GRAVE of Saddam Hussein (obviously, Israel never liked him plus he sat on oil fields and wouldn't allow western corporate access)!
Regaining control of the city is thus symbolic for Kurds, and many Kurds have returned since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. But other groups say Kurds have packed more Kurds into the city than before. The immediate dispute centers on voting rolls listing who can vote in Kirkuk in the January national election. That has delayed the necessary deal on the election law. Long-term, money also plays a role.
No kidding?
Because of the surrounding oil fields, whoever controls Kirkuk stands to benefit enormously.
Interesting, huh, considering WHO WROTE IRAQ'S CONSTITUTION, 'eh?
Under a plan by President Obama, all US combat troops will be out of the country by the end of August 2010, leaving about 50,000 trainers and support troops in Iraq. Those remaining troops would leave by the end of 2011. US military commanders say the majority of the troop departures would come about 60 days after the planned Iraqi election, the idea being to get the country on stable footing before making any major troop changes. Any delay in the election date could possibly push back the troop withdrawal.
Are you TIRED of that CARROT out in front of you, America?
--more--"
Also see: Occupation Iraq: False Flags Flying High
