Blood and Belief : The PKK and the Kurdish Fight for Independence

An in depth and scholarly report on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an essential actor on behalf of modern-day Kurds The Kurds, who number some 28 million people in the Middle East, have no country they can call their own. Long ignored by the West, Kurds are now highly visible actors on the world's political stage. More than half live in Turkey, where the Kurdish struggle has gained new strength and attention since the U.S. overthrow of Saddam Hussein in neighboring Iraq. Essential to understanding modern-day Kurdsand their continuing demands for an independent stateis understanding the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers Party. A guerilla force that was founded in 1978 by a small group of ex-Turkish university students, the PKK radicalized the Kurdish national movement in Turkey, becoming a tightly organized, well-armed fighting force of some 15,000, with a 50,000-member civilian militia in Turkey and tens of thousands of active backers in Europe. Under the leadership of Abdullah Ocalan, the war the PKK waged in Turkey through 1999 left nearly 40,000 people dead and drew in the neighboring states of Iran, Iraq, and Syria, all of whom sought to use the PKK for their own purposes. Since 2004, emboldened by the Iraqi Kurds, who now have established an autonomous Kurdish state in the northernmost reaches of Iraq, the PKK has again turned to violence to meet its objectives. Blood and Belief combines reportage and scholarship to give the first in-depth account of the PKK. Aliza Marcus, one of the first Western reporters to meet with PKK rebels, wrote about their war for many years for a variety of prominent publications before being put on trial in Turkey for her reporting. Based on her interviews with PKK rebels and their supporters and opponents throughout the worldincluding the Palestinians who trained them, the intelligence services that tracked them, and the dissidents who tried to break them upMarcus provides an in-depth account of this influential radical group.

the Kurds, Who Number Some 28 Million People In The Middle East, Have No Country They Can Call Their Own. Long Ignored By The West, Kurds Are Now Highly Visible Actors On The World's Political Stage. More Than Half Live In Turkey, Where The Kurdish Struggle Has Gained New Strength And Attention Since The U.s. Overthrow Of Saddam Hussein In Neighboring Iraq.

essential To Understanding Modern-day Kurds—and Their Continuing Demands For An Independent State—is Understanding The Pkk, The Kurdistan Workers' Party. A Guerilla Force That Was Founded In 1978 By A Small Group Of Ex-turkish University Students, The Pkk Radicalized The Kurdish National Movement In Turkey, Becoming A Tightly Organized, Well-armed Fighting Force Of Some 15,000, With A 50,000-member Civilian Militia In Turkey And Tens Of Thousands Of Active Backers In Europe. Under The Leadership Of Abdullah Ocalan, The War The Pkk Waged In Turkey Through 1999 Left Nearly 40,000 People Dead And Drew In The Neighboring States Of Iran, Iraq, And Syria, All Of Whom Sought To Use The Pkk For Their Own Purposes. Since 2004, Emboldened By The Iraqi Kurds, Who Now Have Established An Autonomous Kurdish State In The Northernmost Reaches Of Iraq, The Pkk Has Again Turned To Violence To Meet Its Objectives.

blood And Belief Combines Reportage And Scholarship To Give The First In-depth Account Of The Pkk. Aliza Marcus, One Of The First Western Reporters To Meet With Pkk Rebels, Wrote About Their War For Many Years For A Variety Of Prominent Publications Before Being Put On Trial In Turkey For Her Reporting. Based On Her Interviews With Pkk Rebels And Their Supporters And Opponents Throughout Theworld—including The Palestinians Who Trained Them, The Intelligence Services That Tracked Them, And The Dissidents Who Tried To Break Them Up—marcus Provides An In-depth Account Of This Influential Radical Group.

the Washington Post - Quil Lawrence

it's An Achievement Of blood And Belief That Despite The Bloodletting, Marcus Still Generates Empathy—not For The Murderous Ocalan, But For The Desperate Kurds Who Joined The Pkk Revolution Feeling They Had Nowhere Else To Turn. The Book Is Not Always An Easy Read. It Suffers From The Lack Of A Decent Map, And Sometimes The Narrative Becomes Disjointed Among All The Changing Names And Factions Of The Pkk. On The Other Hand, Marcus Is Compelling As She Describes The Pkk Fighters Who Continued With The Cause, Believing It Was Greater Than Ocalan's Obvious Flaws. She Conveys The Trapped Feelings Of Kurdish Boys And Girls Who Train Under A Mural Of Ocalan's Face Painted On A Cliff. And She Brings Home The Most Important Point: The Pkk Hasn't Been Rousted From Its Mountains In Two Decades Of Fighting, And There's No Reason To Think Another Turkish Incursion Will Bring The Rebels Down.

The Kurds, Who Number Some 28 Million People In The Middle East, Have No Country They Can Call Their Own. Long Ignored By The West, Kurds Are Now Highly Visible Actors On The World's Political Stage. More Than Half Live In Turkey, Where The Kurdish Struggle Has Gained New Strength And Attention Since The U.s. Overthrow Of Saddam Hussein In Neighboring Iraq. Essential To Understanding Modern-day Kurds--and Their Continuing Demands For An Independent State--is Understanding The Pkk, The Kurdistan Workers' Party. A Guerilla Force That Was Founded In 1978 By A Small Group Of Ex-turkish University Students, The Pkk Radicalized The Kurdish National Movement In Turkey, Becoming A Tightly Organized, Well-armed Fighting Force Of Some 15,000, With A 50,000-member Civilian Militia In Turkey And Tens Of Thousands Of Active Backers In Europe. Under The Leadership Of Abdullah Ocalan, The War The Pkk Waged In Turkey Through 1999 Left Nearly 40,000 People Dead And Drew In The Neighboring States Of Iran, Iraq, And Syria, All Of Whom Sought To Use The Pkk For Their Own Purposes. Since 2004, Emboldened By The Iraqi Kurds, Who Now Have Established An Autonomous Kurdish State In The Northernmost Reaches Of Iraq, The Pkk Has Again Turned To Violence To Meet Its Objectives. Blood And Belief Combines Reportage And Scholarship To Give An Account Of The Pkk. Aliza Marcus, One Of The First Western Reporters To Meet With Pkk Rebels, Wrote About Their War For Many Years For A Variety Of Prominent Publications Before Being Put On Trial In Turkey For Her Reporting. Based On Her Interviews With Pkk Rebels And Their Supporters And Opponents Throughout Theworld--including The Palestinians Who Trained Them, The Intelligence Services That Tracked Them, And The Dissidents Who Tried To Break Them Up--marcus Provides An Account Of This Influential Radical Group. --from Publisher's Description. 1. The Origins Of The Pkk, 1949-1976 -- 2. Abdullah Ocalan, Leader, 1975-1980 -- 3. The Flight To Survive, 1980-1982 -- 4. On The Road To War, 1982-1984 -- 5. Loyalty And Violence, 1985-1990 -- 6. The Struggle To Succeed, 1985-1990 -- 7. The Deluge, 1988-1991 -- 8. War In The Streets, 1991-1992 -- 9. Fueling The War, 1992-1993 -- 10. Mixing War And Politics, 1991-1993 -- 11. Change In Fortunes, 1993-1997 -- 12. The Decline, 1995-1998 -- 13. Searching For A New Way, 1995-1998 -- 14. Ocalan, Caught By Surprise, 1998-1999 -- 15. The Pkk Saves Itself, 1999-2007 -- Conclusion. Aliza Marcus. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 335-342) And Index. Contents......Page 6 A Note to Readers......Page 8 Acronyms......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 Prologue......Page 20 I Ocalan, Kurds, and the PKK’s Start......Page 26 1 The Origins of the PKK, 1949–1976......Page 28 2 Abdullah Ocalan, Leader, 1975–1980......Page 46 3 The Flight to Survive, 1980–1982......Page 65 4 On the Road to War, 1982–1984......Page 89 II The PKK Consolidates Power......Page 100 5 Loyalty and Violence, 1985–1990......Page 102 6 The Struggle to Succeed, 1985–1990......Page 120 7 The Deluge, 1988–1991......Page 144 III PKK Militants Fight for Control......Page 166 8 War in the Streets, 1991–1992......Page 168 9 Fueling the War, 1992–1993......Page 188 10 Mixing War and Politics, 1991–1993......Page 213 11 Change in Fortunes, 1993–1997......Page 234 IV Ocalan’s Capture and After......Page 250 12 The Decline, 1995–1998......Page 252 13 Searching for a New Way, 1995–1998......Page 267 14 Ocalan, Caught by Surprise, 1998–1999......Page 282 15 The PKK Saves Itself, 1999–2007......Page 299 Conclusion......Page 314 Timeline......Page 320 Notes......Page 326 Bibliography......Page 348 Index......Page 356 About the Author......Page 364