WITH MARINES IN 0    TiON PROVIDE COMFORT                              81


                                      Photograph courtesy of MajGen Jay M. Garner, USA
MajGen Jay M. Garner, CG, JTF Bravo, center, and Col James L. Jones, Jr., CO, 24th MEU
(SOC), meet with Kurdish leaders Jalal Talabani, second from left, and Moussad Barzani, d~ird
from right, in Zakho. Talabani was leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Barzani headed
the Kurdish Democratic Party. These long-tinie political rivals joined forces as the Kurdistan
United Front during Operation Provide Comfort.

consolidated defensive positions, and worked on civic action projects. The U.S.
Army's 284th Military Police Company patrolled Zakho, and the 18th Engineer
Brigade built refugee camps, maimed fuel and water points, and participated in
numerous civic action projects. In Joint Task Force Bravo's area all was well and
the allies awaited the return of the refugees.

                                The Kurds

    The major stumbling block to a successful campaign was Dohuk. Most
Kurds still in the mountains were from Dohuk Province and wouldn't budge until
it was liberated and secured. More than 1,500 Kurds demonstrated in Zakho,
asking the allies to retake Dohuk on 12 May.   Discussions with the Kurds
revealed they would not return unless the allies opened the city of Dohuk,
worked out a political settlement for an autonomous Kurdistan, and agreed to
protect them from Saddam's wrath. General Garner relayed this information to
General Shalikashvili, and patiently waited for further guidance.
   The Kurds have never been noted for political unity. Kurdish politics was a
confusing labyrinth not easily explored by the uninitiated. There were six major
political parties: the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), the Party of United
Kurdistan (PUK), flie Kurdistan Socialist Party (KSP), the Socialist Party for