• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Kurdistan: A Summary

Jun 17, 2015 1:56 am By Hugh Fitzgerald

ErbilHow strange it is that the American government continues to regard as a desideratum the survival of the state of Iraq. Why? Modern Iraq, it needs to be repeated, was concocted out of the three Ottoman vilayets of Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra. Kurds and Arabs and Assyrians were in the vilayet of Mosul, the Sunni elite ruled over a heterogeneous Baghdad of fellow Sunnis, Shi’a, Christians, and even Jews (a large and prosperous Jewish class made Baghdad the second Jewish city in Asia, after Jerusalem), and the vilayet of Basra was, and remains, almost entirely Shi’a. Iraq is a state of minorities, Sunni Arab and Shi’a Arab, and Kurds, who are mainly Sunni but treated by Sunni Arabs like the Shi’a, along with (ever-diminishing) Christians, Turcomans, and others. Were it the practice of Muslims to treat minorities well, then such a state could work without a despot to hold it together. But they don’t.

Look at what happened to the Jews of Iraq, and more recently to its Christians. The Jews of Baghdad, who once constituted one-third of the city’s population, lost their wealth and security. In 1941, the Farhud or pogrom of June 1-2 resulted in hundreds of Jewish casualties; the widespread anti-Jewish riots and attacks in 1948, when Israel was established, led by the 1950s to the end of Iraqi Jewry. The Christians had not quite the same dramatic fate, but in the 1930s, after the British left in 1932, a large-scale massacre of Assyrians in the north took place. William Saroyan wrote a book about that mass murder: 70,000 Assyrians. That is the country in which the Iraqi Kurds found themselves, as non-Arabs.

The old Sunni Arab elite were the chief beneficiaries of the British decade (1922-32) of rule, when a Sunni monarch was put on the throne. They continued to rule until the American invasion, despite constituting less than 20% of the population of Iraq. They did so through guile and force. The Ba’athist movement offered a secularist alternative to pure Islam that  was “open to all” — Christians, such as Tariq Aziz, and Kurds, and Shi’a Arabs — but the ruling majority were Sunnis. Ba’athism camouflaged Sunni rule in Iraq, just as in neighboring Syria Ba’athist rule served to disguise rule by the military caste, the Alawites.

Which brings us to the Kurds, and their place within that history of modern Iraq. They exist, nearly 40 million of them, the largest stateless group in the world, divided among Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. In Iraq, the Arabs have a history of suppressing the Kurds; the poison-gas at Halabja was only the most notorious episode in the “Anfal” campaign conducted by Saddam Hussein’s willing Arab troops, in which 182,000 Kurds were killed.

The air cover that the Americans provided to the Kurds before 2003, so that Saddam Hussein could not attack them, allowed them to get a head-start on constructing an autonomous region. They have built a society that is friendly to the Americans — American soldiers would take their in-country rest at Lake Dokan, a resort in Kurdistan, beginning shortly after the 2003 invasion and temporary occupation, knowing they would be safe. Kurdistan is the place Americans are still safe.

Kurdistan has its own oil reserves, and doesn’t need money. Its people are eager to have more dealings with the West, with America, and even with Israel. Some Kurds talk of Kurdistan as “another Israel” — a non-Arab entity in an Arab sea. This has not gone unnoticed among those who want Israel to have friends in the region. In the past it was the odd men out — Kemalist Turkey, and the Shah’s Iran — that allied informally with Israel. Their peoples’ identities — Turk, Persian — worked against, not with, their Islamic identity. As a minority in four majority-Muslim countries, the Kurds have endured what minorities endure in Muslim lands, even when they are Muslim themselves. Most Kurds are Sunnis, but that did not protect them from Sunni Arab fury.

An independent Kurdistan would be a safe harbor in a turbulent sea,  an outpost and ally of the West, the only one between Israel and India. It might show the Arabs how to construct a modern and decent state. An independent Kurdistan would be a natural ally of Israel.

Why has the preservation of Iraq remained a stated goal of the Americans? The Shi’a regime is not going to share with the Sunnis the oil wealth, and the political power, that naturally devolved to it when the regime fell in 2003. Some think the Shi’a desperately want to retake Anbar and Diyala. I would argue that in Ramadi and Tikrit and Mosul, the Shi’a want revenge on the Islamic State hyper-sunnis, and don’t care about keeping them in the same state of Iraq.

Nor would the Shia fight to keep Kurdistan. The Shi’a don’t need Kurdish oil; they have their own oil; the Kurds would fight; why bother?

Finally, pressure on Turkey from an independent Kurdistan is likely to force the Turkish government to treat the Kurds more fairly, lest they attempt to break off large parts of Anatolia to swell the size of Kurdistan. In Iran, the rulers will be as worried about their western border, as they are now about their eastern one.

It is not necessary to do anything to bring about an independent Kurdistan. The Kurds have done it. A visit in early May by the rulers of the Kurdistan Regional Government (see the report by Michael Knights here)  to Washington was a success, though it was military aid, not independence, that was discussed. But when the move is made, the Kurds ought to be supported by the U.S. government; an independent Kurdistan would be the single most useful geopolitical result, and most moral result, too, of what otherwise has been the Iraq fiasco.

There may be an argument against an independent Kurdistan. But what is it?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Featured, Hugh Fitzgerald, Iraq, Kurdistan Tagged With: Anfal campaign, Ba'athism


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. Reyhan says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 2:20 am

    Very happy to read this.

  2. Fabian says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 2:31 am

    Whereas the article is 100% true, and an independent Kurdistan truly seems like a great idea, it’s a great idea to reduce islamic fanatism in the region.

    Other than that, there are very basic problems. Most of the kurds grew up or favor leftist ideas. Socialism, communism, liberalism. The first two would bring no hope for an emerging independent state, and the last one would eventually lead to what we are witnessing in the West: a bunch of liberals crying bigotry/hatred, which would leave a door open for islamic fanatism to lurk inside a supposed Kurdistan.

    Finally, the geographical problems. The kurds are asking for too much land, land that doesn’t belong (in any way) to them, including Niniveh and other major historical chaldean lands. As many assyrians will point out to you, kurds go and “kurdify” something that isn’t theirs.

    The idea of an independent Kurdistan sounds good from a strategic point of view in the war against ISIS, al-Qaeda, and an ally to Israel and the US, but that’s it.

    The idea of a large, independet chaldean nation suits the region much better, in history and strategy, than a supposed Kurdistan, which would also serve as a Safe Haven for all christians in the Middle East, with western support.

    I do support the idea of an independent kurdish region, i guess. But not the amount of land they are asking.

    Let’s not rush into another mistake, just because of the momentum. If a nation, any new nation is to be raised, that should be Assyria, Babylon, whatever they want to call it. A chaldean/mesopotamic nation, for the people who are indigenous to the region.

  3. qedlin says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 3:01 am

    Much appreciated decoding of this huge mess, the result of bad religion and devious/foolish imperialism. Whatever is needed to secure a stable ally and stop the pogroms, genocide, and islamic depravity and preserve human life should be pursued. The Kurds deserve more.

  4. IQ al Rassooli says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 3:26 am

    Excellent article

    As an Iraqi, I concur and agree with all that HUGH FITZGERALD has reported

    The Arabs do NOT only hate Jews but also Kurds & Persians whose lands they plundered, humiliated and occupied since the seventh century

    In a recent visit to Arbil in Kurdistan, I found a very modern city, vibrant, secular, safe and more westernised than anything found in most Muslim countries

    They LOVE the USA and are grateful to Israel who supplies them with medical, agricultural and military help as well as intelligence

    The Kurds DESERVE their own state

    Iraq is FINISHED as a state and will not be reconstituted just as the report explained

    The USA should support the Kurds and approve of an INDEPENDENT Kurdish country in the north of what used to be Iraq

    IQ al Rassooli
    Kafir & Proud!

  5. dsinc says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 3:53 am

    Thanks Hugh, so nice to see an article by you posted on Jihad Watch again, and your name amongst, and not separated by a blank space, from the growing list of contributors. You were missed.

  6. Baucent says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 4:12 am

    A useful article, and in answer to the question; there is no good reason why the Kurds shouldn’t be given a homeland in “Northern Iraq”.

    As pointed out, most Kurds are friends of the West, but let’s not be fooled, some are Islamists. Also It’s a fact that during the Armenian genocide the Kurds helped in the slaughter.

    An interesting point in the article about the Jews in Iraq. They were expelled when the Jewish state was declared and the outbreak of the first war in 1948. In fact MORE Iraqi Jews were expelled than “Palestinian Arabs” were expelled from Israel. The Jews likewise received no compensation and most were resettled in Israel and the US. But unlike the “Palestinians” they have moved on with their lives and are not constantly whinging and demanding history be reversed.

    • SteveinSC says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 4:17 pm

      Actually, I understood that the Arab League told the “Palestinians” to leave newly-founded Israel so that their armies could drive the Jews into the sea unencumbered by innocent Arabs being in the way. So about 400,000 “Palestinians” left Israeli territory of their own accord to “get out of the way.” Then, the Arabs lost the war. The Arabs that remained in Israel are still in Israel and are citizens while the “Palestinian Refugees” are just out of luck, screaming about their “right to return.” So, the Israelis didn’t “expel” any “Palestinians.” Logically, why expel some and not all. That makes no sense.

  7. Angemon says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 6:12 am

    Welcome back, Mr. Fitzgerald 😀

    • R Cole says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 7:02 am

      Ditto!!

  8. Wakeup says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 6:44 am

    Finally somebody has got it but we need a president with the balls to support an independent Kurdistan then hopefully we can convert them to Christianity because the end goal has to be getting rid of islam altogether. Totalitarian systems need to lose their power to intimidate the freedom to dissent lead to the fall of the Berlin wall soviet union etc. We need the same thing to happen to islam the nutcases will continue to fight each other until they self exterminate the remainder will then become apostates of one form or another.

    The times they are a changing I like the look of Jeb Bush for president quote “we cannot just had the presidency from one liberal to another” dissent from the whole liberal agenda.

    I am not an American but Americans died in their thousands in two world wars to save my country, many even before America officially entered the second world war, so here is my dissent.

    I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

    Capish!

  9. ElderlyZionist says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 7:26 am

    Well said, Mr. Fitzgerald. But, Kurdistan remains a land-locked nation, with no seacoast. How are we going to get heavy military equipment to Kurdistan, resupply them with munitions or open extensive trade with them, unless their Iraqi or Turkish neighbors allow us to ship through their ports and across their road net?

    Today, the Turks barely allow any war supplies through to Kurdistan, while Iraq also sharply limits what they allow us to deliver. Both governments fear losing territory to an independent Kurdistan, so they act to limit Kurdish armament This attitude is likely to continue.

    Fantastic maps of a Greater Kurdistan give the Kurds a seacoast by annexing vast tracts of land populated mostly by Turks and Arabs. If the Kurds could take these territories, they would have much trouble controlling them against the inevitable rebel guerillas. The only solutions to a hostile population that harbors guerillas are constant, punishing, attritional warfare or to ethnically cleanse the hostile population.

    Besides being liberal and pro-western, the Kurdish leadership also appears to be wise and moderate. They do not rush to annex hostile populations or commit class A war crimes. Rather, they keep in mind that Kurds will always be a minority, and will always have powerful Turkish, Arab and Persian states for neighbors. While they quietly strengthen their own position where they can, they build trade and military relations with their neighbors and avoid open conflict.

    This is the argument against an independent Kurdistan any time soon: the Turks, Arabs and Persians won’t allow it.

    An independent Kurdistan would be greatly to the advantage of the west, but we are not powerful enough to create one over the objections of all the neighbors, and the present Kurdish leadership is too wise to try the adventure.

  10. Aton says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 7:38 am

    Why?

    Because if they admit that Iraq is not working because of social and ethnic divisions, then they will be forced to admit that multiculturalism is a complete failure. And yet multiculturalism has been the cornerstone of liberal politics and propaganda for the last 50 years. But Liberals simply cannot admit to the failure of their dream, and so they make Iraqis suffer to assuage their liberal consciences and prove that they are ‘right’.

    Its like Global Warming fanatics, who still will not admit that there has been no Global Warming for 18 years. They are forced to keep saying the same old warming mantra, otherwise they will have to admit to a mistake. There is nothing quite so intransigent as an educated liberal with a nice idea……

    • Alarmed Pig Farmer says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 10:22 am

      But Liberals simply cannot admit to the failure of their dream.

      In wealthy countries making that admission is put off by showering the problem with money, keeping it under wraps to continue living the dream. That’s what going on in Europe, Down Under, in Canada and here. When the money runs out, the fundamental flaws of multiculturalism will emerge, and there will be no more money with which to drench it to quell the group of Others. When that happens, the Others, in particular the Moslem imports, won’t be so nice to their hosts.

      Right now the United States has gone all insane on this, with the globo-socialists, who are closet racists, *and* the RINOs, who are certantly racists, are set to further overthrow the Constitution and bring in 40 or 50 million native Americans (called “Hispanics, a racial fiction) from Mexico, Central and northern South American. This will permanently alter the country, its culture, and impoverish both its white people and its blacks. But it will be great for the newly imported native Americans. Don’t believe the fictive 11 million number, which has not wavered in twenty years, even with droves pouring over our southern border every year, an odd statistical phenomenon, a *dastistickal* phenomenon, I call it.

      Bigger trouble is ahead for us, and low down worthless turncoats like Boehner and McConnell won’t be around to explain themselves, and the globo-socialists (aka Democrats) will never be in a mood to offer anybody explanations.

  11. pongidae rex says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 9:14 am

    Why is the author of this article not running for President of the US? Why are we left to choose among buffoons when intellects like this are around?

    • Alarmed Pig Farmer says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 10:27 am

      Why is the author of this article not running for President of the US? Why are we left to choose among buffoons when intellects like this are around?

      Fitzgerald could never do that; he’d have no chance. He has a long paper trail of telling the truth, and being blunt about it, and that is unacceptable. The news entertainers would have a field day on him; a candidate Fitzgerald would make the candidate Trump look moderate. The unvarnished truth is just not acceptable.

      But

    • Jack Diamond says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 11:52 am

      The first unphotographed President. I like it. Of course you’d have to put up with music from the 1920s at the Inaugural and at every Fireside Chat. It might even become cool to be smart again. Run Hugh run!
      (what a pleasure to see an new piece by Hugh Fitzgerald at JW).

  12. Sam says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 9:14 am

    Very informative and factual account of events in Middle East. The only problem with the article is that it is appealing to common sense and rational thinking which do not exist in Islamic cultures. We have to fight the enemy ISLAM by FORCE. I do not see it any other way. Sorry!!

  13. Alarmed Pig Farmer says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Look at what happened to the Jews of Iraq, and more recently to its Christians. The Jews of Baghdad, who once constituted one-third of the city’s population, lost their wealth and security.

    How is it that when the news entertainers bemoan the poor Palestinians who displaced by incoming Zionist Jews, they never mention that many, perhaps most, of the incoming were fleeing from pograms aimed at them? Never a mention of what happened to the Jews of Baghdad, and many other venues. As with so many “narratives” around Moslems, a one-sided story.

    Now add Christians to that.

    Speaking of elided “narratives” why is it never mentioned that the Kurds are Moslems? Watching TV or reading mainstream print media, you’d think the Kurds have no association with Islam. I think most Americans think they worship Kurdiligion, an acrane exotic belief system.

    So we’re gonna arm them, along with the Sunni tribes in Anbar.

    Name me one time when arming or funding Moslems paid off for an Infidel nation or alliance. One.

    • Mirren10 says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 10:32 am

      ”Name me one time when arming or funding Moslems paid off for an Infidel nation or alliance. One.”

      Whilst it is **very** excellent to see Mr Fitzgerald back, and it is a very interesting article, I must agree with you, APF.

      The Kurds are muslims. Like all muslims, they will eventually bite the hand that feeds them. Arming, or funding them, would be, in my view, a gargantuan mistake.

      Leave them alone to get on with it, themselves.

      • Alarmed Pig Farmer says

        Jun 17, 2015 at 11:28 am

        Our shared foreboding qualifies us as Islamophobes. So what? I’m an Islamophobe and dang proud of it. What else can a rational Infidel be?

        Included in our group of Islamophobes are the Hindus, but they significantly suffer a heavy infection of Moslems inside India. Still, with Modi in charge now, the opportunity exists to form a meaningful relationship with an Infidel power nation. After all, no such thing exists with our allies in EUrabia, which is loading up on their own infection by way of mass Moslem importation.

        The EAD demographic program is one of the great mysteries in the history of Western Civilization. It was, and still is, the juncture at which the paths of Karl Marx and Mohammed cross.

  14. umbra says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 10:35 am

    An independent kurdistan covering parts of iran, iraq, syria and turkey would be beneficial, in the short to medium term, for non-islamic countries since these five islamic countries (kurdistan plus the other four host countries) will be pointing their spears at one another for a period of time. Once things have settled down, one fears that in the long term, Armenia may be targeted since she is the only country in the immediate vicinity that is non-islamic. In the end, islamic countries will do that which is islamic. It is the islamic way.

    • mortimer says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 11:13 am

      An independent Kurdistan would not be interested in a genocide of Armenians. Armenia’s military would stop them from thinking about it.

      The obstacles to an independent Kurdistan are Turkey and Iraq. The superpowers are not able to force Turkey to give up a large tract of land where Kurds presently live. Turk nationalists would love to commit a genocide and/or ethnic cleansing of Kurds from Turkey. They would expel the Kurds to the new Kurdistan inside Iraq.

      But what about the Christian Assyrians…the indigenous race of Iraq? They get nothing! An semi-independent Assyria around Mosul would not work. To be secure, Assyrians would need their own military to dissuade genocide.

      • Alarmed Pig Farmer says

        Jun 17, 2015 at 12:51 pm

        But what about the Christian Assyrians…the indigenous race of Iraq? They get nothing!

        And the beat goes on (to quote Sonny and Cher). The fundamental flaw of Christianity, or secular humanism descended from it, is not an aggressor ideology. Aggressor vs. non-aggressor = aggressor wins. It’s like a cockeyed clock where the pendulum swings in only one direction. You can perform cosmetic surgery on Cher and it works, but perform it on dhimmi governance and the stitches are wound so tight that the visage explodes, revealing the ugliness it had covered.

        Which brings up an important national security question: will Nancy Pelosi’s face ever explode? And, if it finally does, what will be revealed?

      • umbra says

        Jun 17, 2015 at 2:28 pm

        A weak kurdish nation may not be interested in committing genocide against Armenia. However, that does not mean that it would not try to infiltrate and/or strong-arm Armenia once it has gain sufficient strength. Armenia is a very small country with a population of ~3 million, today. Her defense force, while reasonably large for a small nation, is focused on the azerbaijan front to support the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. She has very limited capacity to confront foes on two fronts. Her relationships with both turkey and azerbaijan are poor for obvious reasons. At present, Armenia sees azerbaijan and turkey as the two primary threats – turkey supports azerbaijan on the karabakh issue. During the karabakh dispute/conflict turkish forces moved towards the Armenian border in what was understood then as a threat of turkish intervention.

        If kurdistan gain independence and eventually (decades later) settle all territorial disputes with iran, iraq, turkey and syria, then its attention may very well turn to Armenia – its only remaining immediate neighbour. islam does what islam does, it spreads and infects.

        Non-islamic population in the iraq (and the whole middle east) have suffered the scourge of islam for the past 14 centuries. They are in the circumstances that they are in primarily because of islam. For some at least, as APF has pointed out, their lack of aggression (determination, conviction) has also led them to the position that they are in today. Bearing in mind that many of these non-islamic groups have been conditioned socially and psychologically to be submissive over the many centuries of islamic rule. Perhaps they no longer have no will to fight anymore. If that is indeed the situation, then it is impossible to establish a state for the non-islamic population in the middle east, especially when those who constitute such as state appear unable (incapable/unwilling) to stem the tide of islamic aggression directed toward them. In any case, would the progressive UN and EU allow such a transgression against the islamic world. Just look at Israel today. She can beat any islamic army, but her most poisonous foes are progressive political transnational bodies like the UN and the EU.

        History has witness cultures being erased by islam, some slowly while others were faster. Today, the elimination of non-islamic groups are gaining pace in the middle east. Though many governments may condemn this, no government in the world has the will to put a stop to this (Realistically, no government would intervene in the middle east without US leadership and US leadership has gone AWOL for quite a while). This unfortunate reality may very well lead to the extinction of many historical non-islamic cultures in the region. And that is what islam is striving towards.

  15. Richie says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 11:09 am

    Superb article, I have a sense the western politicians are utterly clueless about the complexities of any of this- I think as long as Islam holds any power, there will never be freedom or liberty for anyone. Islam is at its core a fascist death cult, and they will continue to kill and oppress. Western style democracy cannot thrive in Islamic hellholes. There is the reality the west refuses to confront, best exposed by the refusual to even name the enemy. The enemy is Islam. (not ‘Radical’ islam, just islam)

  16. Wellington says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 11:15 am

    Interesting article by Fitzgerald. Aside from APF’s concern about the benefit of ever funding Muslims, I have to wonder if Turkey (probably Iran too) would ever allow a de jure independent Kurdistan to come into existence in the first place.

    • umbra says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 2:41 pm

      At present, an independent kurdistan will like come as a result of prolonged bloodshed. If/when turkey, iran, iraq and syria have been bled dry (either in conflict against kurds or other regional forces). The most promising route for building an independent kurdistan is perhaps by parts. Start with iraqi kurdistan with it oil resources. Then bring syrian kurdistan into the fold followed by iranian (quite difficult) and finally turkish (the most difficult) kurdistan. The bloodshed would likely be the heaviest in the final phase.

  17. Alarmed Pig Farmer says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 11:21 am

    pressure on Turkey from an independent Kurdistan is likely to force the Turkish government to treat the Kurds more fairly, lest they attempt to break off large parts of Anatolia to swell the size of Kurdistan.

    Turkey is a fake ally; any pressure on them should be welcomed by the United States. If fighting breaks out between the Kurds and the Turks, that would be an opportunity to remove Turkey from NATO.

    In Iran, the rulers will be as worried about their western border, as they are now about their eastern one.

    Persia’s eastern border includes nuclear Pakistan. But, serious question, doesn’t Iran desire a conflagration to raise the Twelfth Imam up from the mythical well so they can all go to Moslem porno heaven Jannat? The focus is always on the danger of a nuclear conflict between Pak and India, but one between it and Iran is just as great, now that Prez Barack Hussein and Secretary War Coward have pretty much sealed the deal of guaranteeing that Iran will become a nuclear state.

  18. Krishan Bhattacharya says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    The return of Hugh Fitzgerald! Where has he been?

    Also, Alarmed Pig Farmer: Why use this archaic spelling ‘Moslem’ ?

  19. voegelinian says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    “(a large and prosperous Jewish class made Baghdad the second Jewish city in Asia, after Jerusalem)”

    and

    “The Jews of Baghdad, who once constituted one-third of the citys population, lost their wealth and security. In 1941, the Farhud or pogrom of June 1-2 resulted in hundreds of Jewish casualties; the widespread anti-Jewish riots and attacks in 1948, when Israel was established, led by the 1950s to the end of Iraqi Jewry.”

    These factual descriptions (I don’t doubt they rely on facts; but as we know in historiography, facts alone only form part of the story — they also need to be interpreted) imply that Jews (or certain Jews) were well treated by the Ottoman Caliphate. This cannot be; however, from all we know (or should know) about Islam. When then we encounter a fact like this, we are obliged to surmise a reasonable interpretation for them that have the result of damning Islam, and never of commending Islam. Thus, the facts which Hugh Fitzgerald described (quoted above) cannot point to what they ostensibly imply (that Jews, or some Jews, were well treated by an Islamic Caliphate), but must be understood in the following framework:

    1) the Ottoman Muslims only permitted certain Jews to thus prosper because they found those Jews useful for various purposes (while horribly mistreating other Jews they didn’t need to use)

    2) those Jews, by prospering in that context, were betraying their fellow Jews (and fellow non-Muslim humans), as surely as the Jewish Kapos under German Nazi rule.

    • Angemon says

      Jun 17, 2015 at 8:20 pm

      voegelinian posted:

      “as we know in historiography, facts alone only form part of the story — they also need to be interpreted”

      This reminds me of a joke:

      A scientist was interested in studying how far bullfrogs can jump. He brought a bullfrog into his laboratory, set it down, and commanded, “Jump, frog, jump!”

      The frog jumped across the room.

      The scientist measured the distance, then noted in his journal, “Frog with four legs – jumped eight feet.”

      Then he cut the frog’s front legs off. Again he ordered, “Jump, frog, jump!”

      The frog struggled a moment, then jumped a few feet.

      After measuring the distance, the scientist noted in his journal, “Frog with two legs – jumped three feet.”

      Next, the scientist cut off the frog’s back legs. Once more, he shouted, “Jump, frog, jump!”

      The frog just lay there.

      “Jump, frog, jump!” the scientist repeated.

      Nothing.

      The scientist noted in his journal, “Frog with no legs – lost its hearing.”

  20. ElderlyZionist says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    “Thus, the facts which Hugh Fitzgerald described (quoted above) cannot point to what they ostensibly imply (that Jews, or some Jews, were well treated by an Islamic Caliphate), but must be understood in the following framework:

    1) the Ottoman Muslims only permitted certain Jews to thus prosper because they found those Jews useful for various purposes (while horribly mistreating other Jews they didn’t need to use)

    2) those Jews, by prospering in that context, were betraying their fellow Jews (and fellow non-Muslim humans), as surely as the Jewish Kapos under German Nazi rule.”

    I heard it was more complicated than that.

    Historically, the Ottomans were relatively (note the qualification) liberal Muslims. They were self-indulgent when they could afford to be; they liked their hashish and their wine, their concubines and dancing boys.

    The Ottomans believed that each ‘race’ had natural talents. They believed that Balkan Christians, like the Serbs, made the very best infantry soldiers, if they were converted young (Janissaries). They believed that Turks and Kurds made the best cavalry. They thought Arabs made very bad soldiers, they tried to keep Arabs out of the army, but thought Arabs made the very best ulama. And they thought Jews made the very best boot-leggers, bar-tenders, pimps and whores, and they liked to keep some of us around for those purposes.

    I can say that I have achieved a measure of worldly success by making use of my own natural talents and inclinations, and I recommend that course to all young people who are seeking a direction in life.

  21. Champ says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 8:02 pm

    Hugh Fitzgerald is in the HOUSE! Wow welcome back!

    I haven’t even read his essay yet but I just had to state that first …

    🙂

  22. Uncle Vladdi says

    Jun 17, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    People should remember that after the Arabs had helped the British defeat the Turks during WWI, the Arab leaders (see Lawrence of Arabia) WERE REWARDED with their own choice divisions of the spoils and booty.

    Nobody forced these “false geographical divisions” upon them, only on their rivals.

  23. john S says

    Jun 18, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    I hope and pray that….
    1 . A kurdish state will be established in the near future……..
    2 . A tactical Nuclear attack will be performed on the underground nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran……..

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • janicevanguilder on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Boycott Turkey on Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and UAE conduct joint military exercises amid rising Turkish threat
  • Yogi on EU Parliament members call for firing of border agency director for preventing illegal migrants from entering Europe
  • Hoi Polloi on Why so many Muslims can’t wait for Biden to get inaugurated
  • Hoi Polloi on EU Parliament members call for firing of border agency director for preventing illegal migrants from entering Europe

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.