Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"The Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq has officially opened a D.C. lobbying office, which is headed by Qubad Talabany," reports O'Dwyer's. "His goal is to mobilize grassroots support for Kurdish interests," including by establishing a Kurdish Congressional Caucus and a Kurdish-American business council. Talabany, the son of Iraq's president, will also "promote Kurdish educational and cultural links with the U.S." The regional government, through its public / private partnership the Kurdistan Development Corporation, previously launched "The Other Iraq," a PR and ad campaign to encourage investment and tourism in the region. That campaign was led by the Republican-associated PR firm Russo Marsh & Rogers, as the Center for Media and Democracy and others noted. Back in 2004, the Kurdish Democratic Party hired the Barbour, Griffith and Rogers lobbying firm, "to ensure that Iraqi Kurdistan maintains its autonomy from Baghdad," according to O'Dwyer's.
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stephane mot replied on Permalink
That definitely beats "The Other Other Vietnam"
I do feel sympathy for Iraqi Kurds and I do hope they will leave in peace. It really depends on how you do it, and whether you use it as a tool to infuriate and exacerbate...
Like the invasion of Iraq, for instance : let us not forget US theocons planned the parting of Iraq from the start. This proof of concept Kurdistan could not only strengthen Iran but also give a boost to Turkish nationalists and fundamentalists. And should it fail, the only "kind-o-quiet" region of Iraq would be forced to join the party.
Remember : the radicalization of Turkey is key to the revival of Christian fundamentalistm in Europe.
This initiative perfectly mirrors the lobbying before the invasion of Iraq : there were different approaches of the liberation of the country and US theocons deliberately favored the factions that were bound to make maximum damage. In general, the Bush administration has a gift for ruining every attempt from moderates in the region and to help radicals reach power. And if I were a fundamentalist, I surely wouldn't want a peaceful Kurdistan to emerge in the middle of my playground.
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Stephane MOT -
http://e-blogules.blogspot.com
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stephane mot replied on Permalink
This definitely beats "The Other Other Vietnam"
I do feel some sympathy for Iraqi Kurds and I do wish them a peaceful future. Yet, I'm not so sure this is the way those people want it.
There were different approaches for the liberation of Iraq and US theocons deliberately favored the factions that were bound to cause maximum damage. The parting of Iraq was planned from the start, and also meant to strengthen fundamentalism in Iran.
If I were a US fundamentalist, I surely wouldn't want a model Kurdistan to emerge in the dead middle of my playground.
A failed proof of concept Kurdistan could not only strengthen radicals in Iran but also infuriate and exacerbate fundamentalists in Turkey.
The radicalization of Turkey is key to the revival of Christian fundamentalism in Europe.
Don't mistake this initiative as an attempt to put a lock on Kirkuk oil fields : the aim of the game is to get rid of secularism in Turkey.
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Stephane MOT -
http://e-blogules.blogspot.com
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