Posted on 02/29/2008 8:12:42 AM PST by SmithL
CUKURCA, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey's military said Friday it has ended a ground offensive against Kurdish rebels in Iraq, but said that foreign influence did not play a role in its decision.
At least 200 trucks carrying Turkish troops were seen leaving the Iraqi border area and heading into Turkey's interior.
The move came a day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Turkish leaders during a visit in Ankara that they should end the offensive as soon as possible. In Washington, President Bush made a similar point Thursday, saying Turkey needed to move quickly and get out.
"Both the start and end dates of the operation were decided by us solely based on military reasoning and necessities," the military said in a statement. "Any influence, either foreign on domestic, on this decision by the Turkish Armed Forces is out of question."
Turkey launched the incursion into northern Iraq more than a week ago against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a group fighting for the autonomy of predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey. The rebels have carried out attacks in Turkey from bases in Kurdish Iraq.
It was the first major, confirmed incursion in Iraq by Turkey in almost a decade.
In Washington, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Friday that "it was a targeted and relatively short operation."
"But I would certainly expect that in the future, that unless the PKK gives up terrorism, that we're going to have to continue to work with the Turks and the Iraqis to go after them," Johndroe said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Turkey went Democrat?
Yeah and I got a bridge in Brooklyn that is for sale.......
200 trucks? That’s a pretty big incursion. Brigade-plus or a small division.
Probably two reinforced battalions I would think. Squad per truck (8-12 per company), half to a third of those trucks would be carrying supplies and possibly towed artillery for fire support.
what do you think?
I think that the reporter probably did not count the trucks personally. Therefore I take the "200 Truck" report with a grain of salt. But if this were a 'shallow' incursion designed not to bump into the US Forces, then I would expect a brigade-size operation -- 2 battalions forward, 1 back.
If, OTOH, this was a division-size operation I would think that it would have to be coordinated at some operational-level with the US commander in Kurdistan to prevent an ugly incident.
If we knew, the Kurds knew. If the Kurds knew, the PKK knew. The whole operation would be a waste of time from a military standpoint. Wouldn't be the first time for that. Weigh it all out, and it was probably a small-scale operation.
It would be interesting to see their TOE for a brigade sized force (infantry I presume).
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