THE PUBLIC MIND: WE CAN NOT IGNORE PLIGHT OF THE KURDS

To the Editor:

Nobody wants the Kurds ... and perhaps, the Kurds don't really want anybody. They occupy an extensive area involving five countries in the Middle East ... Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Russia and Syria. They have lived their same lifestyle for the last 4,000 years and have made little effort to assimilate themselves into the cultures in which they live. Their hostility often has provoked the authorities of these countries to take repressive measures against them. They speak their own language. They were promised an independent state in a post WWI treat concluded by the Allies with Turkey, but this promise was not kept. Their sporadic revolts since that time have been successful.

George Bush probably has not made a direct promise of aid to the Kurds in their struggle with the Iraq army. At the same time ... after the bravado of our leaders about annihilation of Saddam Hussein's military capacity, the sudden cessation of hostilities obviously left him to retain a certain war-making capacity ... helicopter gunships, missile launchers, etc. Subsequent messages to the Kurds and Iraqi people to rid themselves of Saddam Hussein in the face of this has, indeed, the subliminal flavor of "let's you and him fight."

Certainly, it is vital that we do not become involved in the fracas that has prevailed endlessly in this part of the world, but we cannot ignore what contribution our policies may have made.

It will be interesting whether the foregoing will surface to "spice up" the 1991 presidential campaign. Already, a group, based in Florida is mounting a Schwartzkopf for President effort.

Gil Degenhardt

Cape Girardeau