The Kurds in Post-Saddam Iraq

Abstract

The Kurdish-inhabited regions of northern Iraq are relatively peaceful, development is proceeding there, and long-repressed Kurdish leaders now occupy senior positions, including the presidency. However, there are concerns that the Kurds are using their political strength to serve their own interests at the expense of a unified Iraq, in the process inflaming long-standing Turkish concerns about Iraqi Kurdish autonomy. There are several major issues of concern to the Kurds -- almost all are interrelated. The Kurds' greatly enhanced political strength in post-Saddam Iraq also poses challenges for stability in Iraq and in the region. The major issues of concern are as follows: participation in the Central Government, autonomy and independence, Kirkuk, control over oil resources/oil laws, and safe haven in northern Iraq for fighters from the Turkish Kurdish opposition Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). This report will be updated. See also, CRS Report RL31339, "Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security," by Kenneth Katzman.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 12, 2007
Accession Number
ADA470032

Entities

People

  • Alfred B. Prados
  • Kenneth Katzman

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Congress
  • Elections
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Governments
  • Insurgency
  • International Organizations
  • Iraqi-War
  • Kurds
  • Language
  • Law
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.