Re: [Marxism] Mahabad Republic

["Sancar K. Olcay" <skolcay@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

acpollack2@xxxxxxxx wrote:

NPR yesterday had a segment on the independent Kurdish Republic (called the 
Mahabad Republic) of 1945-46. I missed some of the segment, but it was 
commemorating some kind of anniversary of that Republic. In any case they 
mentioned the role of Soviet troops in making the Republic possible -- and a 
quick Google search shows that the Mahabad area itself was not occupied by 
Soviets, the claim is rather that their presence was seized as an opportunity 
by independence forces (so no-one can claim it was a case of Soviet 
occupation). The flip side was that once Soviet troops disappeared after Truman 
threatened Stalin, Iran reconquered the area.

Needless to say had the Soviets not betrayed this revolution the Kurds today 
would not be so thoroughly under imperialism's thumb -- and their leadership 
such willing puppets.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I[m sorry but his is plain stupid.

There was no betrayal by Soviets. Soviet troops were there under
agreement to protect the land lease route, not to help Kurds form a
republic nor did they promise any such thing; and they left when they
had to, after completing their task. If they had not done so they would
be invading a "sovereign" country, and breaking the Tehran agreement.
One can argue that Soviet had the moral obligation to support a
feudal-bourgeois national independence movement, (which is a solid
argument) but their refusal to do so, at a time when US was planning to
pave a path to Moscow by using atomic bombs, and when Soviet Union was
desperately trying rebuild after a devastating war hardly means
betrayal. If it does then I think that the betrayal rap sheet of
acpollack2 would reach the moon.

USSR gave support (but not probably not as much they could) when it come
to weapons, or trade, and gave refuge to Barzani and his followers from
Iraq. If on the other hand they had stayed in Iran and fought the
Anglo/Iranian troops to protect Mahabad republic I sure acpollack2 would
be writing here about how Soviets were supporting nationalism, and
betraying Iran.

By the way just to clarify Mahabad is in Iran not Iraq.

Ofcourse one can wish that they had done more, But I dont think failure
of materialization of ones wishes hardly means betrayal. If acpollack2
has higher standards I would like to see him implementing them,
preferably in Iraq. Or is he betraying the Iraqi Kurds now. See I
believe in armed struggle, but if I accuse my friends  here of betrayal
(or myself for that matter) because they didnot take arms and went to
Santa Cruz mountains to stage a guerrilla war against US imperialism I
would only look like a fool. Unfortunetly thats a task which acpollack2
easily accomplishes.

Secondly there was no revolution of the Kurds. Especially not in any
economical-political sense. Mahabad although was influenced by the
Soviet Union was not  a socialist republic, nor was a socialist
movement. Even if they had succeeded their position would not be any
different KDP of Iraq today, which by the way is headed by Mesut
Barzani, son of Mustafa Barzani one of the major political figures of
Mahabad republic. It was a semi-feudal (at best) national liberation
movement very similar to what we are seeing in Kurds of Iraq today.
Which they had every right to stage, but it was not a revolution. If
they had succeeded, they would only be an another peripheral country in
the capitalist world like Turkey (which received lots of help from USSR
during its "independence" war, and afterwards when it was trying build a
national economy) And lets not forget  they were not themselves united
on whether they want a sovereign state or just autonomy within Iran.
Thats the main reason why the movement collapsed without much major
resistance, with some Kurdish tribes siding with the Iranian government,
after the Iranian goverement gave them some democratic and cultural
rights; not that the Soviets withdrew.

Finally who are these Kurds who are thoroughly under imperialism's thumb
with puppets as leaders. I dont think you can categorize Kurds in Turkey
like that, although PKK is defeated and ceased the armed struggle. Their
main  leader - Ocalan is in a Turkish prison, caught in Kenya with US
help. (Well I saw him when they brought him to Turkey, and yes maybe he
looked like a puppet, mainly because his hands and feet were tied with
ropes, and they were pulling and pushing him around). Some of the other
leaders, and core of its forces are hiding in south Kurdistan. Turkey is
trying to convince USA that in its in best their interest to attack and
wipe out PKK/(now named KADEK I believe) camps there, which is labeled a
terrorist group by the USA. And they would have done so but the problem
is PKK/KADEK still has 5000 to 10000 armed and pretty well experienced
guerrillas in these camps entrenched in very difficult terrain. Also I
doubt leadership of Kurds in Iran are willing puppets of imperialism. If
you refer to Barzani/Talabini, of Iraqi Kurds, you have to understand
you are only referring to a segment of Kurds. Not  wanting to enter to a
different argument, but to call Barzani and Talabini "willing puppets"
is a very simplistic understanding of the whole affair anyway. They
might be willing but they are not puppets.

Soviet Union was by no means beyond criticism, they had done many
wrongs, many fatal errors. But I'm kind getting sick of hearing Soviet
betrayal of this and Soviet betrayal of that. One's analysis must go
beyond swearing at the USSR at every chance, and uttering simplistic
slogans as part of a religious ceremony.

See some of these claims can be explained with influence of Trotsky and
how Stalin dealt with him,  lack of experience in any kind of material
struggle, undeveloped class consciousness ..etc. But I cannot find an
explanation to this specific example other this is beeing the left punch
of imperialism. If thats the case, it is time to wake up and smell the
coffee. USSR collapsed long time ago. Now the new target to punch is the
national liberation movements resisting imperial domination. But old
habits are hard to change I guess

Sancar


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