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Kurds dont trust us motives { March 25 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.bonitanews.com/03/03/naples/d910260a.htmhttp://www.bonitanews.com/03/03/naples/d910260a.htm
Conflict with Iraq: Kurds distrust U.S. motives for the Iraqi war
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
By CHRIS SCHNEIDER, Scripps Howard News Service
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — In thousands of teahouses in Southeast Turkey, Kurdish men smoke, sip tea and watch as the war unfolds. Perhaps they play a Kurdish game of cards, called Pishti, or sit in silence. But eventually their attention reverts back to the images of conflict playing constantly on the screen.
In Dyarbakir, there are nearly 1,200 teahouses, where men while away the hours with tea and conversation. Unemployment is high in this Kurdish city so people have plenty of time to spare.
The teahouses serve the vital function of a neighborhood social. Men come and go but the murmur is constant. Now all talk is about the war and few here seem to be in favor of it.
Their antiwar views are varied. Many feel that the war against Iraq is motivated by a U.S. desire to control oil. Some see the United States targeting Muslims. Others simply want to see peace rule the day.
Mehmet Yoldas, 28, is married with four children. He works as a driver. "I don't agree with the U.S.," he said. "Nobody knows what they are fighting for. They aren't fighting for democracy. They're fighting for oil."
As soon as Yoldas starts to speak it's as if a dam has broken. Other men join in to give their view of the war. Public opinion in Turkey is almost entirely against the war.
Ahmet Balfour has no love for Saddam Hussein but he sees the war as an example of U.S. bullying. "In Halabja, Saddam Hussein killed 4,000 Kurds with chemical weapons. It was a very big tragedy. We hate Saddam Hussein but we hate Bush because he didn't go through the U.N."
Turkey is a Muslim nation and many are troubled by a war against a fellow Muslim nation, even if it is ruled by a dictator who has killed thousands of Kurds. "Saddam Hussein is a dictator and everyone knows this," said Yoldas. "But the Iraqis are Muslims. I am a Muslim and I don't want to see Muslims die."
The Turkish Kurds endured a bloody civil war and have enjoyed only a few years of a fragile peace. Many lost friends or family and they are weary of war. "For 15 years there was war here," said Saif Akdag. "In 15 years 50,000 people died. We know war and we don't want it."
In Dyarbakir there is a deep sense of unease about if and when the war will touch their lives.
Ultimately, they fear the intentions and power of the United States.
Ahmet Baytimur looks down briefly and then at the television in the corner of the room. "After the Iraq war which country will America kill?" he asks.
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