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Terror List Exposes U.S. Hypocrisy
Our Opinion
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Commentary
America has declared its intent to fight terrorism across the globe by attacking extremists wherever they exist. The war on terror extends from the sands of Iraq to the cities of Europe, and in order to combat terrorism effectively, America has placed many extremist groups on its "terror list." Groups that are on this list - which counts al Qaeda, the Irish Republican Army, and Hamas among its members - are severely restricted with regards to their international financing and movements of supplies and people. The long arm of American law has reached out to help Turkey in its recent battles with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), as the group is on the terror list. Other Kurdish rebels, however, don't have the same black label and that is hypocritical.
The Party for Free Life in Kurdistan - also known as the PJAK - is a violent Kurdish militia that operates along the border between Iraq and Iran. Similar to the PKK, the PJAK draws Kurdish nationalists to its cause from Iraq, Iran and Turkey. It is well armed and nearly impossible to corner because of the rugged, mountainous regions it operates in. Just like the PKK, the PJAK violently demands an independent Kurdistan.
The PKK gets a lot of publicity because it constantly bombs targets inside Turkey and ambushes Turkish soldiers along the Iraq - Turkey border. Because Turkey is one of America's few Muslim allies in the war on terror, America is sure to publicize every Turkish death caused by the terrorists.
On the other hand, the PJAK is not on the terror list. Its constant attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran go unnoticed, and America has no care for the number of Iranians killed by these terrorists. Since August, the PJAK has killed hundreds of Iranian soldiers and shot down an Iranian helicopter that was patrolling the border between Iraq and Iran.
The PJAK also routinely bombs targets inside Iran. Unfortunately for Iranian authorities, the group is based in Iraq - essentially an American protectorate - so any move by Iranian troops to crush the terrorists would be seen as aggression against Iraq. Ironically enough, America recently added Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard fighting force to its list of terrorist organizations. The PJAK still remains off the list, and Iran is now accusing the United States of funding and equipping the PJAK.
Recently, Turkish and Iranian leaders have come together and vowed to ally and defeat the Kurdish terrorists. It's time for America to stop the hypocrisy and label the PJAK a terrorist group. If the U.S. is serious about fighting terrorism, it ought to fight these extremists wherever they exist, not just where it's politically convenient.
The Party for Free Life in Kurdistan - also known as the PJAK - is a violent Kurdish militia that operates along the border between Iraq and Iran. Similar to the PKK, the PJAK draws Kurdish nationalists to its cause from Iraq, Iran and Turkey. It is well armed and nearly impossible to corner because of the rugged, mountainous regions it operates in. Just like the PKK, the PJAK violently demands an independent Kurdistan.
The PKK gets a lot of publicity because it constantly bombs targets inside Turkey and ambushes Turkish soldiers along the Iraq - Turkey border. Because Turkey is one of America's few Muslim allies in the war on terror, America is sure to publicize every Turkish death caused by the terrorists.
On the other hand, the PJAK is not on the terror list. Its constant attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran go unnoticed, and America has no care for the number of Iranians killed by these terrorists. Since August, the PJAK has killed hundreds of Iranian soldiers and shot down an Iranian helicopter that was patrolling the border between Iraq and Iran.
The PJAK also routinely bombs targets inside Iran. Unfortunately for Iranian authorities, the group is based in Iraq - essentially an American protectorate - so any move by Iranian troops to crush the terrorists would be seen as aggression against Iraq. Ironically enough, America recently added Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard fighting force to its list of terrorist organizations. The PJAK still remains off the list, and Iran is now accusing the United States of funding and equipping the PJAK.
Recently, Turkish and Iranian leaders have come together and vowed to ally and defeat the Kurdish terrorists. It's time for America to stop the hypocrisy and label the PJAK a terrorist group. If the U.S. is serious about fighting terrorism, it ought to fight these extremists wherever they exist, not just where it's politically convenient.
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Kim O'Brien
posted 11/02/07 @ 9:35 PM EST
"Terror List exposes US Hypocrisy" when you consider that a right wing Miami Cuban Contra brags openly on Miami TV about bombing a Cuban commercial airliner walks the streets of Miami and that five Cubans convicted of espionage for monitoring rightist terrorist organizations in Miami sit in federal prison. (Continued…)
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