Vice season 6 episode 13 recap: 'A Kurdish State' and 'Out of Space'

On the latest episode of Vice, the show took a look at the state of the Kurdish people and their independence movement, as well as the growing attention on potential conflict in Outer space.

The first segment of Vice went in-depth to explore the state of Kurdish independence. The Kurdish people are located on the border between Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, all of whom oppose Kurdish independence. In a referendum on whether to become independent from Iraq, the Kurdish people voted overwhelmingly for independence. This is just the latest saga in the long, perilous, messy path to independence for the Kurdish people.

The Kurds have a long history of being subjugated by their neighbors, most notably in 1988 when Saddam Hussein conducted chemical warfare against them, employing Mustard Gas in the infamous Halabja attack that resulted in thousands of deaths. The gassing of the Kurds is one of the very few acknowledged acts of genocide to take place since the Holocaust. After Saddam’s defeat in the 1991 Gulf War, no-fly zones were put into effect to protect against further attacks against the Kurds.

More from HBO

After Saddam’s ouster in 2003, there was a sense of hope that a Kurdish state would be realized, but that was short-lived. Despite the fact that the Kurds have also been a reliable U.S. ally in the region, international reception to a Kurdish state is, to say the least, unenthusiastic.

The other segment featured a look at the state of space and what competition is resulting from increased traffic heading towards Outer space. This is because rocket technology is becoming cheaper and more widespread than ever before. But the increased exploration has resulted in an increase in unwanted debris in the space around Earth.

Debris from rockets and satellites have become not only a space issue but a national security issue. Because if rockets and satellites from other nations collide, that can result in major issues, particularly if the rockets are from nations hostile to each other. As a result, numerous objects in space are being monitored for the risk of collision.

A debris field is so critical because the resulting particles can make it impossible for certain countries to launch satellites into orbit that are critical for a modern nation’s national defense, modern telecommunications, and commerce. As a result, nations like China are already exploring the implications this has. The U.S. Army is also preparing for such a situation, training for how to prevent jamming to American satellites that would proceed an attack.

Next: Hache: Netflix orders new Spanish language drama to series

The two stories are directly connected because it is explicitly mentioned that the U.S. Army is preparing to prevent jamming to satellites, citing Saddam Hussein’s use of jamming to protect his palace during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Both stories provide a look into how warfare has evolved from a chemical and technological standpoint.

Home/HBO

Vice season 6 episode 13: A Kurdish State and Out of Space recap

By Grant Butler | Jul 13, 2018

On the latest episode of Vice, the show took a look at the state of the Kurdish people and their independence movement, as well as the growing attention on potential conflict in Outer space.

More from HBO