Iraqi Kurdistan

>>1072553
Not trying to go there until isis is gone... Which is probably not for a while...

>>1072557
It's safe inside KRG unlike other parts of iraq, especially in cities from what I read

Spent a week there, pretty boring to be honest. Kirkuk was exciting, but not at all safe so I don't recommend it.

Spent a week in Erbil last January.

Pretty cool. Bazaar and the Citadel were exciting. Felt pretty safe the whole time, honestly. Learn some basic Kurdish and Arabic phrases before you go. Turkish might help too.

>>1072562
Sure, but is anything there?

All the best stuff is in the rest of Iraq, and now it's either been destroyed or is just a warzone.

>>1072553
I'm trying to go to Rojava but they want you to stay at least 6 months and I can only afford 5 so they said no. Urgh. Still hoping to convince them.

> the Peshmerga played a vital role in security for Kurdistan and other parts of Iraq. Not a single coalition soldier or foreigner has been killed, wounded or kidnapped in Kurdistan since the invasion of Iraq in 2003
~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Kurdistan

Sounds good anon. Though Erbil is pretty close to Mosul

>>1072623
>I'm trying to go to Rojava
I would think the risks outweigh anything you'd see there, but I imagine it could be an experience.

Where would you be staying? There are few parts of it that aren't near a danger zone.

>>1072671
Erbil is relatively safe from what I know, but this is honestly a terrible time to visit the area. I'd try in a few years OP.

>>1072671

I went in June of 2013. Erbil isn't too close to Mosul, but you do have to pass by relatively close if you're traveling overland from Turkey rather than flying in directly. I didn't have any problems whilst there and found the people to be amazingly hospitable, kind, and curious. I'm not sure whether I'd go back now, but I don't think the area is dangerous to such an extent as to consider travel in the KRG to be inherently dangerous.

What there is to see in Kurdistan besides Erbil's citadel?
Seriously question

>>1072761
This. I'm planning a trip overland from Istanbul to Bandar Abbas and I was thinking about popping down into Kurdistan for a while, but this and a Christian monastery a 2 hour drive away from Erbil seemed to be the only interesting features I could find.

>>1072761
>>1072868

Nothing, honestly. When I went I don't even think you could get into the citadel. There are some nice historical sites scattered around, but most of them are a ways outside the city. IMO, the biggest draw is the people, culture, and hospitality.

>>1072683
>the trip isn't a waste of time so long as people are nice

>>1072868
There aren't many highlights in Kurdistan, but if you're heading East anyway you might as well go through Kurdistan to Iran instead of staying in Turkey all the way. More variety.

>>1072553

Diaspora Iraqi Kurd here. Both Erbil and Sulaymaniyah are worth visiting, especially during the summers. Both are very safe cities so there's not much to worry about. Sulaymaniyah is considered a bit more liberal, there's clubs and stuff like that. Iranians often cross the border to party.

>>1073161
>clubs and stuff like that

are kurdish girls qt? they do one night stands?

>>1073174
There are still honor killings in that part of the world, m8. Wouldn't particularly bet on it.

>>1073084

>implying Kurdistan wasn't a side-trip
>implying that you aren't a knuckle-dragging moron

>>1073174

Kurdish girls are one of the best appearance wise imo., very similar to Iranian ones. And some of them do, yeah. I haven't been there for a few years but a friend of mine who visited recently said that there's some really slutty ones, but discretion is a big thing there.

They adore western culture and try to imitate as much as possible.

>>1073178

Honor killings in big cities such as Erbil and Sulaymaniyah are very rare, it's much more common in backwards villages where the Arab influence still persists.

>>1072553
went to irbil for a couple of days once, was ok bit like turkey.

>>1073703
>was ok
>bit like turkey

Make up your mind

>>1072623
I don't understand, were you attempting to join the YPG? If so food and stuff is provided

>>1073853
Not necessarily. They also offer civil work. BUT I mean I cannot stay more than that. I get married in July.

>>1073857
ah, yeah that might conflict a little...

I know of some guys that only stayed 5 months, 4, even 2 I think. It's possible but they kinda don't like it

>>1073861
I understand their reasoning mind you, it's just annoying.

>>1073861
>>1073857
>>1073853
What, what, what? Is this some kind of FFL thing?

>>1073894
FFL?

>>1073864
I'd imagine so, I heard rumour that they pay the Iraqi visa fees for you when you want to head back, so not doing a full stint is really rather rude imo

>>1073894
Well.. sorta not really

Rojava is in northern Syria, or as the locals would call it, Western Kurdistan. They're currently fighting against the Islamic State and for independence of sorts. They have some pretty unique political views and are after people to help them setup a secular, autonomous, stateless, region within Syria and they're after anyone that can help them(doctors, engineers, information specialists, etc) but they're open to anyone who wants to come. Most foreigners go to fight alongside the YPG (People's Protection Units) against IS and soon AQ's Syrian branch - Jahbet alNusra - in the coming campaign this spring where they'll attempt to link up the Kurdish pockets once and for all along the Turkish boarder.

I may or may not be travelling there later on this yeah with a bunch of /k/ommandos :^)

>>1073909
French Foreign Legion.

>>1073918
Sounds wild. Is there a website with information?

>>1073909
French Foreign Legion. Basically, you go and fight for them.

>>1073921
http://thelionsofrojava.com/
That's their official website with all the info, if you want updates and pics check out their facebook and the facebooks of some of the fighters as well as the Middle East (M.E.) threads on /k/ and /pol/ for regular updates on the happenings
There are currently two LoR FB pages, don't know which is legit, only contact them through the email given on the site if you're interested, and if you're interesting in coming along with us:

[email protected]
(make a new email account)

>>1073921
If you don't want to join the fighting forces but prefer doing civilian work, you can contact RojavaPlan,

>>1073925
When are you going mate?

>>1073927
we're aiming at May, maybe spill over to June

>>1073930
I'm february batch (hopefully), maybe we'll see you guys there. Good luck anyway.

What do you, as foreigners, hope to accomplish?

>>1073931
Sweet! We'll be the oddly ethnically diverse group of meme-sprouting faggots, come say hi!

>>1073934
racist much?

>>1073940
>new government is formed
>people on 4chan decide to join its armed forces
It is highly unusual. What do you all hope to accomplish?

>>1073934
>>1073942

http://rojavaplan.com/join-1-what-can-you-do.html

http://thelionsofrojava.com/index.php/what-you-can-do-here/

Mostly grunt work on the front, A LOT of translation, some specified skill if you have them (open source programming, bioengineering), PR work with your home country and teaching.

>>1073937
Oh, I'll be the one who likes map if we ever meet.

>>1073948
People on 4chan can speak Arabic (or is Persian)?

>>1073949
Why not?

>>1073949
Kurmanji Kurdish, I'm learning

>>1073956
Same here.

>>1073948
>>1073967
Maps? Are you a cartographer?

Do you know of anywhere I can learn Kurmanji that has some audio? Purely from text is a little difficult and tedious

>>1073988
On my free time :)

Never look for it to be honest. A quick search seems to show some website more or less legit. I'm kinda hoping for good teachers.

are you serious guys ?

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>>1074009
>are you serious guys ?
Go to /k/

They have threads every so often where tripfags tell their soldier of fortune stories in Kurdistan, and show pics of shit like holding RPGs and SVDs, along with timestamped images of themselves to prove it.

Shit, we actually had one tripfag posting during a motherfucking battle from a satellite internet connection near Kobani, including showing us almost real-time shifts in the front line using a combination of screenshots of google maps and Microsoft paint.

>>1072553
Hey /trv/, got linked here from /k/.

Visited Duhok during my tour in Iraq (06/07), was mostly around Mosul and Tal Afar though.

Duhok was awesome, beautiful and the people were very friendly. The worst thing that happened was we got flipped off, seriously.

We had a great lunch with our Terp's family, grabbed some supplies we were sent up there for and headed back.

My guys went back up there for a couple days while I was on mid-tour, apparently they had a damn good time.

>>1074038
Well that's not very OPSEC

How does Syrian Kurdistan differ from Iraqi? In terms of women, security/safety and shiet

>>1074000
Ah that's cool, certainly different lol, Yeah me too I guess, not looking forward to the 8 weeks of bad econ and feminst theory though haha

Are you a /k/ommando? What are you taking with you? Gear, medical supplies, comforts etc? I'm have a loose packing list in my head but it's great to hear other's ideas, completely stumped on what bag to get

>>1073918
>I may or may not be travelling there later on this yeah with a bunch of /k/ommandos :^)

Good luck to you /k/omrade, I tried organising a trip in late 2014 with about 35 others but everyone bar one Canadian dude backed out at the last minute. As much as I like that board, they're mostly all talk so don't trust them til you meet them. Take pictures if you do go!

>>1075065
was it the former combat eng canadian guy?

>>1075294
Yeah thats the one, he was from alberta I think

>>1075065
Oh damn, didn't realise others had attempted the same thing!

We're only a small group, 4 core guys plus about 4 more satellites who I'm not counting on tbqh, but I'm quite confident about the main group, we're organizing to meet up and get some training at the moment. If you're still interested in heading over (or anyone else for that matter), hit us up at:
[email protected]

>>1073467
>They adore western culture and try to imitate as much as possible.


Every time someone says this I die a little inside. Will ISIS prevent Western degeneracy?

>>1076164
Thanks for the offer but I don't think I could, not unless I get fired and dumped by gf within the next month.
I wish you luck though /k/omrade!

>>1076550
haha, understandable!
And thanks :)

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>>1077047
Still trying to convince fucking LoR to let me go but they closed the admissions so I jumped on the Rojava Plan ship but they take forever to answer and my visa expires in one week. FUUUU

Wasting good potential there... [spoiler]I even made a website for the french branch ;____;[/spoiler]

>>1077153
They closed admissions? When? My group is in contact with them right now

>>1077725
http://thelionsofrojava.com/

>=== IMPORTANT ===
>Due to difficulties in bringing people over the border we do not take any applications at the moment. The war in northern Kurdistan and the embargo are taking their toll.
>We will update you on the situation here within two weeks time. Until then our recruitment service is closed. Please be patient and do not send any applications.
>If you want to come and participate in Rojava, then please check out the group Rojava Plan.

Even Rojava Plan is having troubles with their contact on the ground, pushing some mid-Frebruary groups to early march.

It's related to that I guess:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-kurds-spain-idUSKCN0V515F

>>1077942
What the fuck. Why are people joining a terrorist group on 4chan? This actually freaks me out. You people are indoctrinated as fuck.

>>1077947
Terrorist is the israeli state
Fuck off

>>1077947
>terrorist group
Says the ISIS supporting Turk...

>>1077947
>you people are indoctrinated as fuck
Maybe its you thats brainwashed, if you even bothered researching the topic before posting this ignorant pile of shit you'd realise that YPG is a Kurdish militia directly opposed to the Islamic state. The YPG is supported by many western nations alongside the Peshmerga. These are the good guys or at least as good as your going to get in the war.

Why should you give a shit about what some anon does anyway?

>>1077992
>>1078066
>>1078077
>They're not ISIS, so they must be pretty swell guys!
If three world governments, including two of the largest, declare them as terrorist groups, they are terrorist groups. You are indoctrinated as fuck and are thinking, "it's all politics, maaan, fucking politics. These are good guys, but fucking politics paints them as criminals." That is the indoctrination speaking.

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>>1078105
>mixing PKK and PYD
>being a Turk
Get out.

>>1078105
Turkish shill detected

>>1078105
>That is the indoctrination speaking
You don't know what that word means do you?

Stop this god damn foreign fighter circlejerk. Go to /pol/, /int/, /k/, wherever. This is a travel thread you knobheads.

Serious question: Anyone been to Kirkuk recently? Is it safe for a westerner? I'm thinking in regards to terrorism, kidnapping and violent crime. I'd only stay for a day, max two, and I'd get contacts there beforehand. I've lived in the Middle East and I speak intermediate Arabic, so I won't be completely out of my depths (I think).

>>1079001
Not recently, but I was there a few years ago when it was under central government control. I just rocked up speaking little to no Arabic and having no contacts, and ended up getting kicked out by the army on my first night there due to safety reasons. It was definitely not safe then (suicide bombings the day I was there) but I don't know if it's improved at all.

>>1079081
Did you get to do any sightseeing? Is there anything to do or see besides the citadel?