Turkish PM to ask approval for Iraq incursion

Reuters Africa ^ | Thursday, October 11, 2007 | Paul de Bendern

[SunkenCiv]

Washington fears an offensive could destabilise Iraq's most peaceful area and potentially the wider region, but Erdogan has been under mounting pressure to act after Wednesday's vote on the highly sensitive issue of the killings in 1915 of Armenians. The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution branding the killings genocide -- a charge Turkey hotly denies. The resolution was proposed by a politician with many Armenian-Americans in his district. The United States relies heavily on Turkish bases to supply its war effort in Iraq... The Turkish government cautioned that relations with its NATO ally would be harmed by the U.S. committee's decision... The Bush administration repeated its position that the bill would harm U.S. efforts in the region by straining ties with NATO-ally Turkey... Potential unilateral moves could include blocking U.S. access to the key Incirlik air base, cancelling procurement contracts, downscaling bilateral visits and joint military exercises, diplomats say... The committee's decision is expected to weaken U.S. influence over Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army, at a time when the government ponders whether to push for the military operation into mainly Kurdish northern Iraq... Faruk Logoglu, an influential former Turkish ambassador to Washington, told Reuters... "the U.S. should, and may, do something against the PKK to please the Turkish state and its people," he said.

[SunkenCiv]

(Additional reporting by Hidir Goktas and Evren Mesci in Ankara, Emma Ross-Thomas and Daren Butler in Istanbul, Tabassum Zakaria in Washington, and David Brunnstrom in Brussels)

[SunkenCiv]

A protester shouts slogans against the U.S. during a demonstration in Istanbul, October 11, 2007. Turkey warned on Thursday that relations with its NATO ally the United States would be harmed by a U.S. House committee's approval of a resolution calling the 1915 massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks genocide. The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee approved the resolution on Wednesday and it now goes to the House floor, where Democratic leaders say there will be a vote by mid-November.

[SunkenCiv]

Democrats Find Way to Stop War - Get Soldiers Killed
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Posted on 10/11/2007 11:33:06 AM EDT by PurpleMountains
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1909754/posts

Turkish PM, president push for abolition of headscarf ban
AFP | 07/19/2007
Posted on 09/19/2007 1:11:58 PM EDT by Republicain
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1899041/posts

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AFP | 09/20/2007
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1900269/posts

EU wipes Turkey from the euro map of Europe
Reuters | 09/25/07 | Reuters Staff
Posted on 09/25/2007 5:43:13 PM EDT by Enchante
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1902047/posts

[jrooney]

This is why the resolution to condemn the Kurds for events in WW1 yesterday was done by the democrats. The democrats wanted to piss of the Turks, so they would take action against the Kurds leading to destabilization in the north of Iraq. To all freepers that applauded the move by the democrats, you are foolish! The democrats had 50 plus years of controlling Congress when they could have condemned the Kurds. They only did it now for political reasons, to try and cause defeat in Iraq. Some of you freepers applauded their intent. Shame on the democrats and shame on those of you here that thought it was a good idea AT THIS TIME.

[Wiz]

Condemn Kurds? Wasn’t it about Turks genociding Armenians?

[jrooney]

Yes Turks, my error. But reading furthering into my post would have shown you that. Yes condemning the Turks for events in WW1 which may destabilize Iraq and make victory there harder. Current events on the ground in Iraq where our soldiers are fighting are not as important to you as something that happened 100 years ago? Do you want al Qaeda to have a victory in Iraq? Do you want us defeated in Iraq?

[CPT Clay]

With the stab in the back leading up to OIF, Turkey should be about 2/3 the size it is now.

Kurdish part of Iran should be added to a free and independant Kurdistan.

[Wiz]

The resolution criticizing the genocide againt Armenians by Turkey equivilant to holcaust against the Jews by Nazi was an effort with both parties involved. There were Republicans who vote for, and Democrats who voted against. The real shame is those Republicans who have voted against as well as those Democrats who voted against denying the truth, the fact of genocide was done by the evil imperialistic Islamofascist Turkey. The Armenian Genocide inspired Adolf Hitler, contributing to the holocaust. It is our national interest and has always been our pride for promoting human rights, and that we do not ignore and keeping a blind eye for violation of human rights for political merit. I strongly feel those over here who are rejecting this genocide of the Armenians are secretly trying to justify the holocaust of the Jews and promoting Nazism by criticizing the bill as the job of Democrats alone which in fact there were multiple Republicans who voted for it, and by trying to throw in the Iraq factor.

[SunkenCiv]

The obvious motivation for this resolution — coming as it does NINETY YEARS after the events — is to undermine US effectiveness in Iraq, and was put forward ONLY for that reason, irrespective of who voted for it. It was a brilliant idea, because voting against it could be politically damaging in the 2008 elections, and voting for it will be long forgotten, except by those who will use it to undermine Pubbies.

[CondorFlight]

“With the stab in the back leading up to OIF, Turkey should be about 2/3 the size it is now.

“Kurdish part of Iran should be added to a free and independant Kurdistan”

Amen!

[SunkenCiv]

“the fact of genocide was done by the evil imperialistic Islamofascist Turkey”

Kemal Ataturk was not imperialist — he dismantled the Ottoman Empire — and built the secular Turkish state currently under attack by Islamofascists. This non-binding resolution merely helps the Islamofascists in their drive for single-party state power.

[MaestroLC]

I strongly feel those over here who are rejecting this genocide of the Armenians are secretly trying to justify the holocaust of the Jews and promoting Nazism

That's a serious charge. Back it up.

[CPT Clay]

Maybe “Contantanople” should be returned to the Greeks too?

[dfwgator]

Why did Constantinople get the works?
That’s noone’s business but the Turks.

[jrooney]

You are right and Wiz is wrong. Obviously events that affect our troops on the ground today and tomorrow are not as important as genocide that happened during WW1 to Wiz.

Wiz - No one here is rejecting this genocide occurred or that it should be condemned. It should not have been condemned now, as we are stabilizing Iraq and have al Qaeda on the ropes there. Doing it as a political factor to piss of the Turks, so they invade northern Iraq causing some of our troops to have to move there and stop their offensive against al Qaeda is what is at issue. You do not care about that as you support this politically timed resolution to cause disruption in Iraq. Appeasing the Armenians and pissing off the Turks is of higher importance to you, then helping our troops shape the battlefield in Iraq, defeating al Qaeda there, so we can bring most of our troops home.

This resolution could have been brought and agreed upon by all after we had completed our mission in Iraq.

[Shadow44]

I think that those kind of people want all of Eastern Thrace returned to Greece, not just Constantinople.

[mulder1]

We all know the history of the genocide of the Armenians. No one is denying that fact. What is most important right now is keeping our air bases open to protect and supply our service personnel who are fighting and dying in Iraq. We also do not need another Turkish incursion into an area of Northern Iraq where it has been relatively stable.