Reaction: Kurdistan becoming a reality?

Iraqi Kurdistan is making a lot of big moves towards securing an independent nation it seems. Flying under the radar and behind the shadow cast by Shia-Sunni sectarian violence, Kurds have begun a campaign both at home and here in the United States to establish their own Kurdish homeland. They have even established their own group of political lobbyists here in the United States. While I think this is an excellent opportunity for the Kurds and the Kurdish people, the threat of destabalizing the region, especially in Turkey, is something to be taken seroiusly. However, on the flip-side by keeping the Kurds a part of Iraq it adds more instability to Iraq. This is evidence that the divide-and-conquer tactics used by the imperial powers all those years ago still have long-lasting effects and will continue to affect the region. Righting the wrongs of improperly established borders all those years ago will have to come to the forefront of our conciousness eventually and plans to deal with it should begin now.

John McCain has no "Plan-B" for Iraq

John McCain has fumbled once again on the goal line. After staying a strong and steady course over the last few months using his "straight talk" tactics he's suddenly fallen victim to his double talk again. This time it was on the front page of the New York Times. Slate.com reports it as a "self-destruction" but I think I would avoid calling it anything more than another folly. However, McCain is quickly becoming the GOP-version of John Kerry. Not quite a flip-flopper, but one step back towards a coward who avoids confrontation of the real issues by saying whatever his audience wants him to say. This is pretty harsh criticism, but the harsh reality is going to be even worse for McCain if he doesn't step up and stick to his guns. And let's be honest, at least he didn't sing "Bomb Iran" again...

Reaction: Iraqi Parliament Attack

A suicide attack rocked the Iraqi Parliament Cafeteria today killing 8, including 2 members of parliament, and injuring over 20. Besides the obvious human losses, the scariest aspect of the attack is that it occurred in Baghdad's "Green Zone," which is the most secure area in Iraq. According to CNN.com, there are five different security checkpoints that must be passed to get into the Parliament building, including bypassing bomb-sniffing dogs. BBC reports that many of these checkpoints occur within meters of one another.

My first reaction to this is obviously one of sadness. Anytime innocent human lives are taken it is a great loss for individuals and families, regardless of their political beliefs, ethnicity, religion, etc. My second reaction is one of concern. US occupying forces have been unpopular in the region for several years running now and for an infiltration of this magnitude to occur in the Green Zone almost certainly requires help from the inside. If some of the most trusted security forces can no longer be trusted it shows just how widespread this resentment really is. My third reaction is one of pride and admiration for the Iraqi lawmakers who have stood up in the face of these attack and claimed it will not stop them from doing their job and an emergency meeting has been called for Friday to drive this point home. Their strength and resolve in the face of their friends and coworkers deaths and injuries sends a message louder than any President Bush or Tony Blair could.