Encouraging separatism

Letters

The Washington Times

Washington, D.C.

November 5, 2007

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071105/EDITORIAL/111050008/1013/EDITORIAL&template=nextpage



Encouraging separatism



As Turkey is currently embroiled in fighting Kurdish
separatists and the United States risks losing a NATO ally in the process, we
(and Turkey) would do well to re-examine Western support for Kosovo's Albanian
separatists, lest we further encourage separatists the world over
("Kurdish terror and the

West," Op-Ed, Tuesday).

There are many deep symmetries between the Albanian
and Kurdish irredentists in their efforts to wrest control of territory from
sovereign nations, except that the Albanians already have a homeland —

Albania — whereas the Kurdish people (who live in portions of Iran, Iraq and
Turkey) do not. In both cases, illegally granted independence would unravel

both the Balkans and the Middle East, inciting far worse conflicts and
instability for generations.

Illegal independence will also create economic and Islamic
extremist black holes/safe havens wherein unstable governments will be unable
to fully control "their" territories (such as in Afghanistan) and
tribal laws will go into effect, creating further confusion and chaos.

Turkey and the United States should support Serbia's
sovereignty over Kosovo, as the Kurds, with

no recognized homeland, have an even stronger case for their independence and
we risk far greater consequences in violating sovereign nations and

international law. We also risk destroying our relationship with Turkey.



MICHAEL PRAVICA

Henderson, Nev.

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