Joe Lauria returns to update the situation in Iraqi Kurdistan after the referendum for an independent Kurdish state passed. Lauria describes the escalating tensions, explains why believes the referendum was a mistake, and how despite the vote, the Kurds are no closer to independence than they were before. Lauria details the history of Kurdish suffering throughout the decades and suggests that this referendum could lead to another precarious situation for the Kurds. Then Lauria touches on how the Kurdish referendum compares to the ongoing situation in Catalonia. Finally Scott and Lauria discuss the most contentious point of Kurdish independence, the disputed city of Kirkuk.

Joe Lauria is a contributing writer at Consortium News. He is a former UN correspondent and wrote at the Boston Globe and Wall Street Journal. You can follow him on Twitter @unjoe.

Discussed on the show:

• “Iraq imposes flight ban on Kurdish region after poll” (Al Jazeera)
• “Kurdistan votes for independence from Iraq with 93% saying ‘yes'” (The Telegraph)
• Masoud Barzani
• “Iraq refuses talks with Kurds about referendum results” (Al Jazeera)
• Treaty of Sèvres
• Iraqi-Kurdish Conflict
• Iraqi Kurdistan-Israel Relations
• Halabja Chemical Attack
• “Kurds in Turkey atone for their role in the Armenian genocide” (PRI)
• Kirkuk
• “Hundreds injured as Spain cracks down on Catalan referendum” (CNN)
• Battle of Tal Afar
• “Kurdish Paramilitary Forces Now Control City of Kirkuk as Iraqi Civil War Escalates” (Slate)
• Israel endorses independent Kurdish state
• Montivideo Convention
• Joel Wing: “Oct 3 2005 Pres Tabalani accued UnitedIraqiAlliance of not giving Kurds govt positions neglecting Kurd ministries not dealing with Kirkuk” (@JoelWing2)

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