Plight of the Kurdish People

Observing the plight of the Kurdish people brings home a lesson in human suffering. The global indifference to misery, bordering on genocide, is very frightening. It seems that the Kurdish people of northern Iraq were asked to help with the monumental task of ridding Kuwait of the Iraqi invaders and oppressors but now have been left betrayed and abandoned.

During the Desert Shield campaign the world news showed Kurdish rebels busily training with soldiers of the united Allied forces for battle. The Kurdish fighters were noted for acts of bravery and keen understanding in desert warfare. The Kurds helped and then were enticed to take a major active role in the campaign. During the height of Desert Shield the Kurds were most active and rightfully expected to be rewarded.

Strangely, the Kurds have now become the oppressed victims. Instead of being rewarded, they are punished, persecuted and killed in numbers beyond belief. It is very incongruous that after the battle and the taste of victory they are becoming the victims of this ongoing sage. As these words are being written, over 500 to 1,000 Kurdish children die daily.

Trust in the Allied leaders had prompted the Kurdish population to continue the revolt expecting help from the allies. But, to their consternation, none had come. The only real organized response to the Kurdish plight has been some hastily organized relief camps and daily food supplies. "Humanitarian aid to the Kurds" has become the slogan of the day. However, reasons for the continual misery are ignored. This is a classic case of disloyalty. Nothing is being done to prevent the slaughter of the Kurds while hundreds of thousands of allied and American soldiers are still deployed in the gulf region. Where is the 'international peace and security' the United Nations Security Council acts on? Where is Secretary of State Baker? Refugee camps are not the answer.

More shocking is Secretary of State Baker's remarks during his recent visit to Israel. Baker stated the land must be sacrificed in order to bring a peaceful settlement to the Middle East. The American government now demands that Israel sit down and discuss a land-for-peace exchange. After all, according to Baker the land is labeled "occupied," and "occupied" land should be given back for peace. Sacrifices must be made by Israel in the name of international peace. He completely disregards the fact that if the land will be returned to the Arabs, the virtual territorial continuity will be destroyed and an internal Arab-Israeli revolution may begin.

Now is the time for the state of Israel to pay attention. It must learn from these recent events. Israel must be tough in its negotiations with America; its existence is at stake. Israel's Foreign Minister, David Levy, was quoted in the press as saying, "It is shocking that nations do no more than parachute food to the suffering Kurds. What does this mean? It means that the Kurds will die of full stomachs!" The foreign minister then promised the population of Kurdish Jews in Israel that they will send humanitarian aid to help prevent the genocide of the Kurdish people.

Israel must realize that by returning any land they are compromising their own security. In allowing the world to see that they can be coerced by the American and Allied forces they lose control of their destiny. By realizing the gravity of the Kurdish fiasco they protect the state of Israel. It's become obvious that it's easy for America to promise peace but very hard to deliver. Saddam Hussein is still in power and it's the Kurds who are on the run.

If anything, the land is needed to settle the Russian immigrants. Let's hope and pray that the government of Israel will learn not to put its faith in the promises of James Baker. The living proof to this is the death of the unfortunate Kurdish people.