April 20, 2011

How to solve the Kirkuk problem?

Harun Akyol *

The staffroom fell silent as my colleagues all looked at each other, not sure if I was joking. The normal end of term conversation as to where people were going for their summer holidays had fallen flat when I mentioned my forthcoming trip to Iraq.

Even worse, I was heading off to Kirkuk, the oil-rich center of deathly ethnic conflict. Jokes were made about life insurance and blessings for a safe return given. I, despite numerous warnings from friends and colleagues, remained excited and keen to carry out my fieldwork.