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The article explores the epidemic violence in Mosul, Iraq wherein the Kurdish military force comprising three brigades from the Peshmerga forces entered Mosul city without government approval and had exercised power on residents with the aim of Kurdizing them. It notes that a suicide truck bomber had killed two policemen and wounded 45 others, and in a separate incident, gunmen had killed a woman and a generator operator. It indicates that a bomb hidden in a street stall had killed five children and injured two others. Moreover, the Kurds emphasize that they will not abandon the city until they reclaim five areas in Nineveh Province, putting them on the political collision course with the central government.

The article reports on issues related to the upcoming provincial elections in Iraq, which is scheduled on January 31, 2009. It notes that the Kurdish Alliance is seeking to put off provincial elections in the city of Mosul. It notes that the elections are expected to rid the Kurds of the current majority they have in the provincial council of Nineveh. With help from foreign friends, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) managed to get Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission to open an office in Dohuk, allowing Kurdish refugees to vote in the provincial elections.

The article focuses on the condition of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in 2008. It offers information on the projects pledged by foreign investors for the autonomous Kurdish region which amounted to $16 billion including Germany's opening of a consulate-general, according to Kameran al Mufti, head of the KRG project evaluation and license department. It highlights the regional government's promotion for the region's tourism as a mainstay of the Kurdish economy, with hotels and upscale housing projects which are under construction. It explores various incidents showing violence for the local people as well as discusses their demand for better water and electricity services. It also highlights threats and assassination attempts against journalists and writers in Kirkuk.

The article discusses the political and social situation of the Kurdistan region. It is said that Kurds are struggling to survive while money are discharged into private pockets of officials who dominates the entire region, a report in contrast to the statements claiming that Kurdistan is progressing. As accounted, Kurds are experiencing rampant inflation, high unemployment and erratic water and electricity supplies with no transparent government. According to one Kurdish representative, the Kurdish government could be sensed as nepotism, with high officials favouring those whom they stay closed into without giving any regards to people who have less in life and powerless.

The article reports on the international relations between Iraqi Kurdistan and the U.S. In 1991, Iraqi Kurdistan was placed under the protection of the U.S. and, after the Gulf War, the province of Kurdistan distanced itself from Iraq's central government. In the new Iraqi Constitution, it is named as the Kurdistan region, which possesses almost all the attributes of an independent state; it has its own constitution, its own parliament and its own flag. Kurds, who count for 20% of the 26 million Iraqis, hold central roles in new Iraqi institutions, including Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who is a Kurd. There are 53 Kurdish Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Iraqi parliament. However, the Kurds still rely on the U.S. for protection.

The article reports on the impact that Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerillas have had on the relations between Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey. Ankara's public setting was chaotic as PKK militants continued to attack Turkey from bases in Iraqi Kurdistan. The U.S. stopped the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, from retaliating. Turkey was dismayed with this action and Nabi Sensoy, Ankara's ambassador to the U.S., complained that U.S.-made weapons were turning up in the hands of PKK guerillas. Reluctant to connect the U.S. with directly supplying the PKK with weapons, Sensoy blamed the Kurdish regional government for allowing the group to operate in Northern Iraq and to stage cross-border attacks into Turkey.

An excerpt from a paper titled "The Gulf Between Rhetoric and Reality" that was published in a previous issue of "Kurdish Life" is presented.

The article discusses how has the Iraqi Kurdistan improved over the years of American policies. The author presents insights to the upsurge or American troops deployed in Baghdad. Kurdish forces now issued a different name called "Iraqi military" were sent out to pacify the capital. Leaders Barzani and Talabani were in agreement with the plan but most civilian Kurds did not affirm of it. Iraqi Army brigades in Kurdistan were sent off to operate under Iraq's Ministry of Defense. The implications of these moves are discussed.

The article discusses the outcome of the American ideas proposed for Turkey. It focuses on the developments since the policies of America were set for Turkey. A report has been published that U.S. Secretary of State Condolleeza Rice and Abdullah Gul, Turkey's Foreign Minister has not settled issues amicably during a meeting because of a published new map showing parts of Turkey and Armenia marked as "Kurdistan." This led to bitter suspicions and mistrust. America is thought to be planning on destabilizing regimes. Ankara and Yerevan, Armenian capital prepared to go against Kurdistan. Following the bitter activities and suspicions, America has affirmed its position in the unselfish trustee of humanity and civilization.

The article discusses the proposal to include Karkuk as a future Sunni federal state. It is the author's view that the proposal is the most outrageous idea to pacify Turkey and all other enemies of the Kurds that don't want to see the Kurds controlling oil from Karkuk, for it would enhance the Kurd's desire to push through with Kurdish independence. Rashid Karadaghi states that for the Baker-Hamilton commission to recommend that Karkuk be given to the neighborhood tribes, is a complete act of arrogance and ignorance.

The article focuses on an article by Andrew Lee Butters in the January 2006 issue of "TIME" magazine, which cited observations on the status quo in Iraqi Kurdistan. It argues that the presidents of the universities, the university council, the deans and heads of the departments should all be members of one of the main parties, the KDP or PUK. The KDP and PUK do include some smaller parties in their governing coalitions and on their electoral lists, especially those composed of ethnic and religious minorities such as Assyrians Christians and Turkomen.

The article discusses the struggle for independence of the Kurdish. It offers information on an essay for the Daily Star wherein David Ignatius touched on the issue of independence. He mused that U.S. President George Bush along with other officials continue to tackle the democracy of Iraqi yet response from the military remains unheard. The Kurdish right to suffrage is not only their moral right but also a national interest, and if they want to achieve national independence, they should go out, vote, and speak for what they want. Meanwhile, Talabani spokesman Azad Jundiyani, triggered the fire by stating that now is the time for the United Iraqi Alliance and the coalition of the Kurdistan to study the stepping aside from post of their Prime Minister Ibraham al-Jaafari.

The article focuses on events involving politics and government in Kurdistan. Events involving the placement of Jalal Talabani as President of Iraq is presented. Jim Muir states that Talabani as a pragmatic leader as Saddam Hussein. It is suggested that Saddam Hussein tried to divide the Kurds and solicit the support of Jalal Talbani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) into a ceasefire that lasted over a year because of fear of Iranian-Kurdish alliance, at the height of Iraq-Iran war in 1983. It is inferred that the end of that ceasefire agreement has inspired the union of Kurdish campaign against the Baathist regime.

The article discusses the decision made by Kurdish government to participate in the U.S. military attacks and its consequences to Kurdish society. The author mentions that hundreds of Kurdish families had a hard time resettling in the northern Kurdish areas. He explains that Kurds received a cold welcome from the local people who treated them with suspicion. The author explains that many Kurds lived for decades in Arab regions but they were discriminated after KDP and the PUK were involved in U.S. military attacks.

The article focuses on the plans of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in working with secular forces for Iraq. It states that the PUK has released reports which notes that a barrage of US cruise missiles and many Kurdish soldiers discharged the fighters of Ansar al-Islam from northeast Iraq from where they had blighted the Kurds for a period of time. Moreover, it also reports that a PUK official had notified that they can be utilized to launch operations against the Americans while William Mayville, commander or the U.S. Army's 173rd airborne brigade, believes that there has always been an apprehension that there is the presence of terrorists in every village of city.

The author comments on the inspections, reports and judgments being carried out by U. N. inspectors on Iraq's weapons sites. It is suggested that these inspections, reports and judgments are being carried out by U. N. inspectors due to the strong influence of the United States. The United States wants Saddam Hussein to admit inspectors at all weapons sites, to produce a report, and allowing Iraqi scientists to be interviewed. These hurdles are meant to humiliate deliberately Saddam Hussein and put him in a position where his fellow generals will remove him without a need for an invasion.

The article discusses the great expectations of the Iraqi Kurds for the city of Kirkuk should the United States invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein. While 600 Muslim Kurdish clerics in the Baghdad controlled city of Kirkuk declared their loyalty to the present government, Kurdish clerics in the Kurdish administered region issued their own statement praising Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Massoud Barzani. As this develops, the Turkish government is becoming nervous by such talks, fearing that Kurdish federation in Iraq would incite Kurds in Turkey to make more demands for their rights.

An interview with Kurdish Government President Massoud Barzani is presented. When asked about his plans to declare independence in the U.S. campaign against Saddam Hussein, he states that he was working along with other officials for the betterment of mutual relations in Iraq. Barzani believes that it is easy for the United States to attack Iraq but he thinks that Saddam is not easy to topple.

The article discusses the decision of the Partiya Karker Kurdistan (PKK), known better as Kurdistan Workers Party to change the name of their organization. In response to this news, the U.S. State Department said that the change will not make any difference on their terrorist list. Richard Boucher, U.S. State Department spokesman, also warned PKK that they have a procedure that will not allow organizations to change their name in order to evade previous penalties. PKK first denied this news and instead, said that they are planning much more than a name change, but for a new structure. But several weeks later, PKK published a resolution stating that the name of their group has been changed to Kongreya Azad Demokrasiya Kurdistan (KADEK) or Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress.

The article offers insights on Iraqi Kurdistan's aspiration for self-determination. Two Kurdish political parties, the Democratic Solution Party (DSP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are both calling for Kurdistan's independence. Experts express their sympathy over the Kurdish dream for independence, but they also believe that Kurds will have difficulty having a state of their own. It argues that if would be much better if Kurds will be able to achieve a kind of recognized basis where they will be allowed to operate as Kurds, within the already existing states.

The article reports that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Jalal Talabani has set upon a party known as the Jund al-Islam, charging that it was a terrorist cell belonging to the al-Qaida of Osama bin Laden. Among the prominent persons of the Arab group is Abu Abdulrahman who represents Osama bin Laden in Kurdistan. As the PUK prepared for battle, they accused the Jund of trying to expand territories under their control, taking over the Kakai village of Hawar, demanding that villagers convert to Islam.

The article comments on U.S. efforts to implement more sanctions in Iraq. Hamoudi Hameed, a senior Iraqi official, stated that out of $204 million allocated for the health sector under the oil-for-food deal, Iraq has received materials worth only $45 million for the last five phases of the deal. He continues that this is part of the efforts of the U.S. to keep Iraq down and out. The U.S. and Great Britain are trying to put a new face on the same sanctions by calling it 'smart sanctions.' A London tabloid ran a report claiming that Iraqi troops are preparing for a strike inside Iraqi Kurdistan.

The article discusses the reasons behind the mass migration of Iraqi Kurds to other countries. Kudish asylum cases began to capture media attention, and there are no shortage of attempts to explain the reasons for the exodus. One reason cited, is to escape poverty in their homeland and seek better opportunities in Europe due to a steady growing web of contacts with the west. This raises the question of why Iraqi Kurds flee their land where Westerners and Kurds in power have been issuing glowing reports of freedom and prosperity under Kurdish rule and U.S. protection.

The article focuses on the condition existing in Iraqi Kurdistan. A Kurdish Media carried an opinion piece from a Kurd from Iraq stating that the economy of Kurdistan has no direction, unemployment is at fifty percent, the people still live in tents and mud houses, and electricity, water and the healthcare system is extremely in poor condition. Comments like this does not appear in news organs of the ruling Kurdish parties. For example, Jalal Talabani announced further development of holiday resorts in the PUK controlled region his party terms the Kurdish Regional Government.

The article focuses on the defense of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan before the European Court of Human Rights scheduled for August 2001. A sample of Ocalan's statement was disseminated by his lawyers on July 10. In his submissions, Ocalan express his desire to illuminate his Third Sphere Theory. Ocalan believes that the Kurds are merely a pawn in the broader sphere of politics. He states that the United States is telling Greece to solve the Kurdish problem by any means they see fit. He believes that the PKK is not an actor in America's war, but merely a pawn.

The article reports on the role of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on the statehood of Kurdistan. It looks into the PKK's rejection of the Treaty of Sevres and the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne due to their lack of citation and representation of the Kurds on their programs. Sheri Laizer, advocate of Kurdish rights stresses the need for Kurdish groups to observe and recognize the practice of freedom of expression within their organizations. An overview of the party's claim concerning their continued political struggle following the capture of Abdullah Ocalan is offered.

The article reports on the immigration of Iraqi Kurds to other countries to escape from conflicts in Kurdistan. It argues that the U. S. and its allies should protect the human rights of Kurds from dictator Saddam Hussein and the Kurdish government. The article also comments that the U. S. aimed to protect the Kurds from Saddam Hussein while influencing its European allies to accept Kurdish asylum applications to justify its presence in the country. An overview of Kurdish immigration to European countries is provided.

The article focuses on Iraqi Kurdistans' better conditions according to journalists including Loius Meixler, Mehmet Ali Birand and Alan Makovsky. The author mentions the report of Louis Meixler of the Associated Press, which states that Kurds are benefiting from being one of the largest violators of the sanctions imposed on Iraq and that the economy in the Iraqi Kurdish areas is booming. He presents the article of a Turkish journalist, Mehment Ali Birand, which is captioned "Northern Iraq has Become Oil Rich." He also agrees to the statement of a member of Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Alan Makovsky, which is "It's black and white between the Kurdish areas and Iraq. But the contrast isn't that stark politically."

The article discusses the conflict between the Kurdish political party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) lead by founder Jalal Talabani and the Kurdish militant group Partiya Karker Kurdistan (PKK), better known as Kurdistan Workers Party, lead by founder Abdullah Ocalan, which led to the killing of Kurds by Kurds. Talabani was reportedly attacked by Ocalan for leading "a primitive nationalistic feudalism line." PUK reportedly received aid and intelligence assistance from the Turkish military while assaulting the PKK in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The article highlights PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan was captured and is now in prison at the island of Imrali. While in prison, it said that he is engrossed in theological studies. He is writing an essay on the history of religions and relationships between Kurds and Islam. He is also studying Zoroastrianism. Former PKK spokesman Kemal Kara called Ocalan a miserable wretch. Kara states that Ocalan no longer represents the Kurds who are reorganizing in Europe and Iraq to renew their fight for the Kurdistan.

The article discusses the foreign policy of the United States regarding Kurdistan. Frank Ricciardone, the State Department official in charge of the opposition to Saddam Hussein, gave a speech to a conference at American University. In his speech, Ricciardone emphasized that there is no overarching U.S. Government policy toward the Kurds. He goes on further to state that the U.S. interacts with Kurds precisely as it does with other citizens of their various countries. The Clinton administration deals with Kurds only within the parameters of existing states.

The article discusses the fall of 1999 testified by several letters dispatched. Chairman Comrade Abdullah Ocalan issued a directive from his prison cell on September 22, 1999 ordering the termination of the armed struggle and the withdrawal of their forces to territory outside the borders. At the same time, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) leadership council had dispatched a letter to the President of Turkey, Sulayman Demirel, mentioning the reconstruction of Anatolia and Mesopotamia. With this letter, Kurds puzzled over the moves of PKK and one Kurdish commentator came up with an assessment of the situation. Being interviewed by Jung Welt on September 25, 1999 regarding the PKK's lexicon, it is inferred that only journalist Selahattin Celik offered details hitherto undisclosed.

The article discusses about PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, the issues surrounding the Turkish court's decision to sentence him by hanging and the renouncement of his aspirations for Kurdistan's independence and his allegiance to Turkey. According to the article, the decision to hang Ocalan was released on June 29 and it did not come as a surprise, especially for the Kurdistan Workers Party and the ERNK, the political arm of the workers party. PKK claimed that the proceedings are illegitimate and without any legal basis. Despite opposition from Europe, Turkey Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit introduced a law two days after the verdict which was aimed at having PKK destroyed. The article also focuses on the KDP-PUK connection and the effect of the earthquake on Turkey to the problem on insurgency.

The article focuses on the assassination of the second Kurdish leader from Iran Dr. Sadeq Sharafkandi, head of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. It has been reported that Iran's main non-Kurdish opposition, accused the Iranian secret service. Neither Sharafkandi nor his murdered predecessor Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou deviated from the party platform, which focused entirely within Iran and assiduously avoided involvement with outsiders, including Kurdish parties outside Iran. The charges filed by Iraqi Kurdish leaders Jalal Talabani and Masoud Barzani against Iran are discussed.

The article discusses Necmetin Erbakan's plan to build 100,000 planes and tanks as part of his declaration of intent once elected as prime minister. It is suggested that after Erbakan's holding public office in July, his deeds did not match to his declarations of intent. Also included are statements he made in the past that include his comment on the European customs treaty, the liberation of Checknya, Bosnia and Jerusalem and Turkey's withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is the author's view that the statements made by Erbakan remains to be proven.

The article discusses the destruction of the Kurdish heritage as a result of massive dam constructions. According to the author, the plentiful occurrence of rainfall in Kurdistan prompted the creation of dams to prevent river overflows. It is suggested that dams are naturally built in river valleys to benefit other people outside, and not the Kurdish inside the land. It is inferred that whenever a river valley becomes flooded behind a dam and a historic Kurdish valley turns into a lake, a part of the history of Kurdistan is drowned.

The article reports on the foreign affairs of Turkey. The control over the city of Kirkuk has raised conflicts between Turkey and Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Territorial wars are also reported between Turkey, the Iraqi National Congress, and the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). The article also describes efforts of Turkish troops in stopping terrorist actions by the PKK. It reports on the role of the U.S. in supplying Turkey with arms and on the failed talks between Turkey and the PKK. A discussion on U.S. attitudes towards the foreign policies of Turkey is also provided.

The article offers information about the efforts of Kurds to achieve autonomy. They are the fourth most prominent nation in the Middle East but they are still not unified and is considered as a nation without a sovereign state. Kurds are sequestered from each other by countries that house them including United States and the British Empire. Kurds have launched numerous revolts in Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, but they are answered by local governments with harsh steps with the goals of inhibition and assimilation. The article also discusses different Kurdish proverbs in regards to their situation including "The fox cannot live without chickens," and "What is under the blanket today will be over the blanket tomorrow,".

The article discusses the cultural origins of the Kurds people. The author states that Kurdish ethnic identity is the product of years of internal migrations, immigrations, cultural innovations and cultural importations. He explains that studying the origins of the Kurds calls for a deep exploration of human movements and cultural influences. He presents five distinct layers of human movements and cultural influences in an effort to shed light on the Kurdish origins, including the history of Halaf Culture, Ubaida Culture, Hurrians Culture, Kurdistan culture and Aryan culture. He also tackles the potteries of Halafian people, ethnic affiliations of Ubaidian people, cultural expansion of Hurrians, Kurdistan civilization and Aryan cultural legacy.

The article discusses reports about the collaboration of Iraqi Kurdish forces with the Turkish military against the Turkey's Turkish opposition. This paper focuses on the issues of conflict of interests in the U.S. and its allies. Barham Salih, the representative in Washington of the Jalal Talabani said that the leadership voted for the autonomy of federated states. In October, the parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan favored the independence of the states. Turkey's support for federated Iraq is discussed.

The article reports on the plans of the Kurdish Regional Government to embark an archaeological project in Kurdistan. It states that the project, which is funded by the U.S. and revenues from oil, will excavate the citadel in the ancient city of Erbil in order to gain the approval from the United Nations as a World Heritage site and to attract tourism. However, local authorities argued that the citadel has been the site of human habitation for more than 7,000 years, but, Kurds hope to do more. The 19th century history of Erbil from the pen of Major E. B. Soane is also presented.

The article discusses the political economic relations of the Kurdistan region to Israel. It is noted that in the history of Iraq, the Kurdistan region is strengthened through economic relations between Kurds and Israel. However, according to some political experts, the strengthening of Israeli influence in the region permits Israel to take control over Iran's security belt and puts pressure on some other Middle East countries. It is noted that while there are speculations of the emergence of new independent states, Kurdistan's proclamation of independence is still deemed as an inevitable process, as Israel continues to gain hegemony at Kurds.

The article reports on the international relations between Israel and Kurdistan. It notes that while the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is covertly financing and arming the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), the Israelis also show covert support for the PJAK movement. Israel has not only invested in business ventures in Iraqi Kurdistan, it has also extensively trained Kurdish special commandos. In an interview, Beryar Gabare, a top PJAK commander in Iraq, denied that PJAK was getting any money or weapons from the U.S. or from Israel. He pointed out that the strong relationship between Israel and Kurdistan is distressing to Turkey.

The article discusses the attempts by the Iraqi Kurds to appear neutral while siding with the U.S. in the Iraq conflict. According to the author, the Kurds see Americans as their allys, not the Arabs, putting them also in a delicate position with Iran. He cautions that if the U.S. were to attack Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan will become a battlefield despite their attempt at neutrality.

The article reports on the increasing number of Iraqi Kurdistans in Turkey. Three-hundred fourteen Turkish companies have signed contracts for projects valued at more than 1 billion dollars. Visitors to Kurdistan regions can fly into one of two airports built by Turkey-based companies. Turkish companies like Cevikler can be found everywhere in Kurdistan and claim more than 100 million dollars construction contracts in Kurdish government. The confidence of Iraqi Kurds to their autonomy due to Ankara's goodwill is also presented.

The article reports on the human rights violations of Kurdish authorities, particularly the Kurdistan Democratic party (KDP) and of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Kurdistan leaders exercise corruption which is evident through their huge capital grounds and business connections. The Kurdish government doesn't have supremacy of law and democracy because the Kurdish courts are controlled by KDP's and PUK's dictatorship and tribalism . KDP and PUK suppressed the freedom of speech and individual freedom in Kurdistan for the past 14 years. The records of human rights violation in Kurdistan region also include murder, child-laborers and unlawful treatment for workers.

The article reports on the reasons of Iraq's suspicion that Kurds participated in Sunni and Shia violence through the United States and Israeli support. The determination of Kurds to separate from Iraq is the main reason for the suspicion of its participation in Sunni and Shia violence. The agents from Mossad or Israel which had operated in Kurdistan in 2004 to set up a strong Kurdish commandos in opposing Iraq's Shiites in the South also imply Kurd's partnership with Israel. The suspicion is also tightened by the United States' campaign against Shi'ite militias known as Iraqi Special Operations forces (ISOF) which is commanded by Kurdish officers.

The article reports on the Kurdish decisions on improving their position in Iraq which implies pragmatism. Kurdish deputies in the Baghdad parliament criticized penetrations of Iranian forces to Pejak (PKK) because the attacks occurred in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi Kurds are willing to use their ethnic religious sect which reside in Turkey and Iran as an exchange for their improved position in Iraq. Iraqi Kurds join forces with the other Kurds in the region for the campaign of independent Kurdistan to avoid opposing Ankara, Tehran and Damascus.

The article discusses the condemnation of Abdullah Ocalan, founder of Partiya Karker Kurdistan (PKK) in 1884, to his brother Osman Ocalan. According to the author, Osman Ocalan announced that he has formed a break-away group aiming to overcome the Kurdish liberation movement. Ocalan's announcement made his brother, Abdullah Ocalan, condemn him even though they are brothers. The author mentions that the issue between the brothers is not surprising since there is nothing new in the condemnation to the members of PKK.

The article focuses on the accusation that Israeli officers served to the Northern Iraq force as spies against Iran and Syria. According to a report from "The New Yorker," Israeli officers trained Kurdish commandos in Northern Iraq to enter Iran and spy on its nuclear installations. The author explains that Israel has denied the accusation but Turkey did not completely believe that no Israeli agents are present in Northern Iraq. The author also discusses that Israeli and Kurdish people have similarities in their determination to live in freedom which is a good reason for Israel to ally itself to Kurdistan.