Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect (36 page)

4
. Mohsen Milani, “Why Tehran Won't Abandon Assad(ism),”
Washington Quarterly
, December 1, 2013.

5
. Ibid.

6
. Ibid.

7
. Hossein Ruyvaran, interview with the author, Tehran, June 11, 2013.

8
. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, “Testimony before the US Senate,” May 15, 2013,
http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Sherman_Testimony.pdf
.

9
. Professor Foad Izadi, interview with the author, Tehran, June 13, 2013.

10
. Ibid.

11
. Alex Vatanka, “Syria Drives Wedge between Turkey and Iran,” Middle East Institute, May 16, 2012,
http://www.mei.edu/content/Syria-drives-wedge-between-turkey-and-iran
.

12
. Izadi, interview with the author.

13
. Robert F. Worth, “Effort to Rebrand Arab Spring Backfires in Iran,”
New York Times
, February 2, 2012,
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/world/middleeast/effort-to-rebrand-arab-spring-backfires-in-iran.html
.

14
. Ibid.

15
. Sayed Mohammad Husseini, interview with the author, Tehran, June 12, 2013.

16
. Izadi, interview with the author.

17
. This story first appeared on the public radio program
The World
in June 2007.

18
. Ruyvaran, interview with the author.

19
. Fadi Burhan, interview with the author, Tehran, June 12, 2013.

20
. Farnaz Fassihi and Jay Solomon, “Top Iranian Official Acknowledges Military Role in Syria,”
Wall Street Journal
, September 16, 2012,
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390443720204578000482831419570
.

21
. Farnaz Fassihi, Jay Solomon, and Sam Dagher, “Shiite Militiamen from across the Arab World Train at a Base near Tehran to Do Battle in Syria,”
Wall Street Journal
, September 16, 2013,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323864604579067382861808984.htm
.

22
. Ibid.

23
. “Iran to Sign Oil Deal with Iraq while Friendship Pipeline Still Underway,” Albawaba Business, July 21, 2013,
http://www.albawaba.com/business/iran-gas-export-iraq-508114
.

24
. Abbas Abdi, interview with the author, Tehran, June 14, 2013.

25
. Transcription of mobile phone recordings of Rafsanjani's August 31, 2013, speech are available in Farsi at
www.bloghnews.com/news/21183
.

26
. Alireza Nader, “What to Do Now? Iran Torn on Syria,”
Iran Primer
, US Institute of Peace,
http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2013/sep/11/what-do-now-iran-torn-syria
.

27
. Reese Erlich,
The Iran Agenda: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis
(Sausalito, CA: PoliPoint Press, 2007), p. 28.

28
. Sherman, “Testimony before the US Senate.”

29
. Karen DeYoung and Scott Wilson, “Goal of Iran Sanctions Is Regime Collapse, US Official Says,”
Washington Post
, January 10, 2012,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/goal-of-iran-sanctions-is-regime-collapse-us-official-says/2012/01/10/gIQA0KJsoP_story.html/washingtonpost.com
.

30
. “Yusuf Abdi,” interview with the author, Tehran, June 9, 2013.

31
. Tahereh Karimi, interview with the author, Tehran, June 9, 2013.

32
. Dr. Khodadad Asnarshari, interview with the author, Tehran, June 10, 2013.

33
. Siamak Namazi, “Sanctions and Medical Supply Shortages in Iran,” Wilson Center study, February 2013,
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/sanctions-and-medical-supply-shortages-iran
.

34
. Ghader Daemi Aghdam, interview with the author, Tehran, June 10, 2013.

35
. Asnarshari, interview with the author.

36
. Mohammad Sadegh Janansefat, interview with the author, Tehran, June 10, 2013.

37
. Ibid.

38
. Abbas, interview with the author, Iran, June 2013.

39
. Hassan Rouhani, “What Iran Wants in 2014,”
Project-Syndicate
, January 8, 2014,
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/hassan-rouhani-on-iran-s-new-moderation
.

40
. AIPAC, “Congress Must Act to Ensure Iranian Compliance,” AIPAC, January 14, 2014,
http://www.aipac.org/~/media/Publications/Policy%20and%20Politics/AIPAC%20Analyses/Issue%20Memos/2014/AIPAC%20Memo%20-%20Congress%20Must%20Act%20to%20Ensure%20Iranian%20Compliance.pdf
.

41
. Scott Stewart, “The Covert Intelligence War against Iran,”
Security Weekly
, STRATFOR, December 8, 2011,
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/covert-intelligence-war-against-iran
.

42
. Erlich,
Iran Agenda
, pp. 17–18.

43
. Sayed Mohammad Marandi, interview with the author, Tehran, June 12, 2013.

44
. Reza Marashi and Trita Parsi, “The Wrong Path to Peace with Iran,” CNN, December 31, 2013,
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/31/opinion/marashi-parsi-iran-peace/index.html
. NIAC is the largest Iranian American political group, and it favors normal diplomatic relations with Iran.

45
. Thomas Erdbrink, “President-Elect of Iran Says He Will Engage with the West,”
New York Times
, June 29, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/world/middleeast/president-elect-of-iran-says-he-will-engage-with-the-west.html
.

46
. Izadi, interview with the author.

47
. Robin Wright, “Iran's Foreign Minister Says Sanctions Would Kill Nuclear Deal,”
Time
, December 9, 2013,
http://world.time.com/2013/12/09/exclusive-irans-foreign-minister-says-sanctions-would-kill-nuclear-deal/
.

48
. Mehdi Khalaji, “Syria as a Spoiler in Iran's Foreign Policy,” Washington Institute, August 27, 2013,
http://washin.st/18YcyLw
.

CHAPTER 9. WILL THE KURDS HAVE THEIR WAY?

1
. Barkhodan Balo, interview with the author, Moqebleh Camp, Kurdish region, Iraq, September 15, 2011.

2
. “The Peace Treaty of Sevres,” HR-Net, Section III, Article 64,
www.hri.org/docs/sevres
.

3
. Mufid Abdulla, “Mahabad—The First Independent Kurdish Republic,”
Kurdistan Times
, June 12, 2011,
http://kurdistantribune.com/2011/mahabad-first-independent-kurdish-re/files/16/95/33/f169533/public/
.

4
. Ibid.

5
. Jordil Tejel,
Syria's Kurds: History, Politics, and Society
(London: Rutledge Group, 2009), p. 48.

6
. Human Rights Watch, “Syria: The Silenced Kurds,” October 1996.

7
. Becky Lee Katz, “Turkey: Kurdish Teenager Convicted as Terrorist for Attending Demonstration,”
Los Angeles Times
, July 10, 2010,
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/07/convicted-of-terrorism-a-young-kurdish-girl-is-serving-her-seven-year-and-nine-month-prison-sentence-in-turkeys-prison-e.html
.

8
. Reese Erlich, “Brad Pitt and the Girl Guerrillas,”
Mother Jones
, March/April 2007,
www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/03/brad-pitt-and-girl-guerrillas
.

9
. Anonymous PKK women, interview with the author, Qandil Mountain camp, Kurdish region, Iraq, November 26, 2006.

10
. Soner Cagaptay, “Arab Spring Heats up Kurdish Issue,”
Washington Institute
, March 2012,
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/arab-spring-heats-up-kurdish-issue
.

11
. Abdullah Ocalan,
Prison Writings: The Roots of Civilisation
(London: Pluto Press 2007), p. 243.

12
. “The Kurdish Democratic Union Party,” Carnegie Middle East Center, March 1, 2012,
http://carnegie-mec.org/publications/?fa=48526
.

13
. “KNC Leader: Syrian Kurds Are Disappointed by PYD's Actions,” Rudlaw online news, July 1, 2012.

14
. “Can Med,” interview with the author, Erbil, Kurdish region, Iraq, September 11, 2011.

15
. Tejel,
Syria's Kurds
, p. 50.

16
. “Annual Human Rights Report 2008,” UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, p. 167.

17
. Bashar al-Assad, interview with the author, Damascus, June 14, 2006.

18
. “Syria's Assad Grants Nationality to Hasaka Kurds,”
BBC
, April 7, 2011,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12995174
.

19
. Christian Sinclair and Sirwan Kajjo, “The Evolution of Kurdish Politics
in Syria,” Middle East Research and Information Project, August 31, 2011,
www.merip.org/mero/mero083111
.

20
. Balo, interview with the author.

21
. Tejel,
Syria's Kurds
, p. 116.

22
. “Factbox: Why Small Producer Syria Matters to Oil Markets,” Reuters, August 27 2013,
www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/27/us-syria-oil-factbox-idUSBRE97Q0JW20130827
.

23
. Stanley Reed, “Iraqi Government and Kurdistan at Odds over Oil Production,”
New York Times
, November 14, 2012,
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/business/global/delicate-balancing-act-for-western-oil-firms-in-iraq.html
.

24
. Julian Borger and Mona Mahmood, “EU Decision to Lift Syrian Oil Sanctions Boosts Jihadist Groups,”
Guardian
, May 19, 2013,
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/19/eu-syria-oil-jihadist-al-qaida
.

25
. “Ciwan Rashid,” interview with the author, Erbil, Kurdish region, Iraq, September 13, 2011.

26
. Mohammad Farho, interview with the author, Erbil, Kurdish region, Iraq, September 11, 2011.

27
. Hassan Saleh, interview with the author, Erbil, Kurdish region, Iraq, September 10, 2011.

28
. “Interview with Syrian Kurdish Politician Mish'al at-Tammo,”
Kurdwatch
, July 21, 2011,
www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/7/syriakurd342.htm
.

29
. Ibid.

30
. Farnaz Fassihi, “Kurds Look beyond Assad, with Dream of Autonomy,”
Wall Street Journal
, September 29, 2011,
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424053111904491704576572114191429564
.

31
. “Interview with Syrian Kurdish Politician Mish'al at-Tammo,”
Kurdwatch
.

32
. “Iraqi Kurds Blame Syria for the Death of Kurdish Figure Mish'al Tammo,” CNN, October 11, 2011,
www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/10/syriakurd367.htm
.

33
. “Can Med,” interview with the author.

34
. “Liberated Kurdish Cities in Syrian Kurdistan Move into Next Phase,”
Rudlaw
, July 25, 2012,
http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd554.htm
.

35
. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, e-mail interview with the author, September 25, 2013.

36
. “Mr. Saleh Mohammed the Head of the Democratic Union Party Said in an Interview with
Al Jazeera
,” official PYD website in English,
www.pydrojava.net/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94:mr-saleh-mohammed-the-head-of-the-democratic-union-party-said-in-an-interview-with-al-jazeera&catid=34:news&Itemid=53
.

37
. Mustafa Karasu, “The Third Way in Syria,” Official PKK,
www.pkkonline.com/en/index.php?sys=article&artID=196
.

38
. “Davutoğlu Says Turkey Not against Kurdish Autonomy in Post-Assad Syria,”
Today's Zaman
, August 29, 2012,
www.todayszaman.com/news-289023-davutoglu-says-turkey-not-against-kurdish-autonomy-in-post-assad-syria.html
.

39
. Ibid.

40
. Ben Hubbard, “Kurdish Struggle Blurs Syria's Battle Lines,”
New York Times
, August 1, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/02/world/middleeast/syria.html
.

41
. Erika Solomon, “Special Report: Amid Syria's Violence, Kurds Carve out Autonomy,” Reuters, January 23, 2014,
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/22/us-syria-kurdistan-specialreport-idUSBREA0L17320140122
.

42
. “Interview: Rights Official Speaks of Situation in Rojava, PYD Challenges,” Rudlaw, March 2, 2014,
http://rudaw.net/english/interview/02032014
.

43
. Solomon, “Special Report.”

44
. Saba, interview with the author, Zahle, Lebanon, May 31, 2013.

45
. Tracy Shelton, “Kurds in Syria: A Struggle within a Struggle,”
Global Post
, March 25, 2013,
www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/130324/kurdish-forces-syria-war-third-party
.

46
. Ibid.

47
. C. J. Chivers, “Defying Common View, Some Syrian Kurds Fight Assad,”
New York Times
, January 22, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/world/middleeast/some-syrian-kurds-resist-assad-defying-conventional-views.html
.

48
. “Rebels Team up with Nusra Jihadists against Syria Kurds,”
Middle East Online
, August 12, 2013,
www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=60674
.

49
. Ibid.

50
. “Among the Kurds,” Syria Comment, August 2, 2013,
www.joshualandis.com/blog/problems-for-syrians-in
egypt/.

51
. Omar Mushaweh, interview with the author, Istanbul, August 8, 2012.

52
. Emrah Ulker, “US Warns Kurdish Autonomy in Syria Could Be Slippery Slope,”
Today's Zaman
, July 30, 2012,
www.todayszaman.com/news-288108-us-warns-kurdish-autonomy-in-syria-could-be-slippery-slope.html
.