BY ISMAIL KAPAN
TURKIYE- Massoud Barzani who began to lead Kurdish Autonomous Administration in northern Iraq has been off the ground as if... For some time, he is making remarks contrary to reasons. His statements cause an increase in hostility not only with Turkey, but also with all his neighboring countries. But he is not aware of that or doing it purposely! On the other hand, Jalal Talabani who advanced from leadership of tribe and local party in northern Iraq, similar to Barzani, to Iraq's presidency, is talking more carefully and rationally. Because Talabani can follow world's political equilibriums closer. Moreover, he can evaluate recent historical developments healthier. Barzani, on the other hand, on the contrary, is trying to present his rule of tribe in northern Iraq as if an independent state. He thinks that his temporary comfort due to his back to the US invasion will last forever. For that reason, through the statements of sovereignty, he is trying to strengthen his local authority.
All these show that Barzani has forgotten the past very fast. For example, he forgot how and by whose support he could survive in a local power fight only a few years ago... Furthermore, he doesn't want to remember which country had embraced some 500 thousand of Kurds including women and children fleeing from Saddam's soldiers in 1991. I wonder where were Barzani's so-called friends who lend support to him openly or secretly today, during that terrible days? Did they anyhow give hand to those people struggling against cold and hunger? There are some other Americans who think differently from Barzani's so close American friends. US Philosopher Santayana of Spanish origin says, 'Societies which don't remember their past have to account for repeat of it very often..."
Barzani's father Mustafa Barzani had also experienced ebbs and flows between the US and Russia. He drew near Russia or the US depending on the changing equilibriums. He had shelter in the US in 1975 and died there, while he fled to Russia in 1946.
Why doesn't the son Barzani, who knows these developments very well, take lesson? Why doesn't he see and evaluate Talabani's stance? Barzani, as Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, is making statements which go too far. Unfortunately, poor
people in the region always suffer from their faults. We hope Barzani comes to his senses and ends to act under US provocations. If not, he can be in a position in the future looking for the current peaceful situation in northern Iraq.