Turk General Faces Tough Choice in Iraq

Washington Post ^ | April 9, 2003 | Philip P. Pan

[Paladin2b]

ANKARA, Turkey, April 8 -- Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, chief of the Turkish armed forces, receives a briefing every day about the position and strength of Iraqi Kurdish militias advancing slowly toward the oil cities of Kirkuk and Mosul in northern Iraq. With the help of U.S. airstrikes and Special Forces, these pesh merga fighters have moved within 20 miles of both cities in recent days.

Turkey considers Kurdish control of the Iraqi oil fields a security threat, and if the Kurds enter either city, Ozkok will face the most important decision of his 44-year military career: whether to order an invasion of northern Iraq that could lead to clashes between his troops and those of the United States and its Kurdish allies.

[Paladin2b]

Hoo-boy. After the stab in the back our "ally" Turkey gave us, maybe the best punishment we could dole out would be to kick their tails if they invade the north. But I doubt it would give me much pleasure.

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[Arkinsaw]

Ozkok will face the most important decision of his 44-year military career: whether to order an invasion of northern Iraq that could lead to clashes between his troops and those of the United States and its Kurdish allies.

Yeah, thats a pretty damn important decision.

[Cicero]

Let's get the 4th Infantry up there quickly.

[HarryCaul]

How is this a hard decision?

"Let's see, we can stay here and live or go into Iraq and die....let me think..."

[meenie]

Turkey never had the oil before the war. Why all the concern now? It seems like greed is a uniform condition in most countries. Turkey is supposed to be a democracy until the Kurds want it. Then it becomes a tyrant.

[Arkinsaw]

How is this a hard decision?

I didn't say hard. I said important. I doubt anyone can deny that its a damn important decision.

[Cyber Liberty]

Some decision. Maybe he wants an even bigger can of whoop-ass opened up. Sheesh! Earth to Turk General: Over 250,000 soldiers are activated and in theater waiting for you.

[CatoRenasci]

No pleasure for me either. Especially as it would be very messy, with our air force people at Incirlik and others throughout Turkey. A real cluster-f***, as we used to say. I think the Turks will back down, knowing that they will have to fight the US if they go in. While their troops will fight, and are a whole lot better than the Iraqis, perhaps as good or better as ours in terms of real toughness, they know they don't have the assets to overcome our strategic air and command and control abilities. It's a fight they know they would lose, even if it came to their almost winning and our popping tac nukes. Turkish military is not stupid, and does not like losing gambles. They'll bitch, they may make a minor border incursion, but they'll swallow hard and avoid a war with the US.

[blam]

From last week's Insight Magazine the insider report:

"Keep an eye on Turkey. M16 has reported to London that the top military brass in Ankara have been actively considering a coup to prevent further deterioration of the special relationship between Turkey and the United States and the United Kingdom."

[Paradox]

Turkey considers Kurdish control of the Iraqi oil fields a security threat

Can someone tell me why this is the case? I have heard it several times..

[Paradox]

Turkey considers Kurdish control of the Iraqi oil fields a security threat

Can someone tell me why this is the case? I have heard it several times..

[Cicero]

It went around through the Suez Canal and has moved up to the southern border of Iraq. Courtesy of Turkish treachery.

[Cicero]

They were hoping to seize the oil fields under the pretext of stabilizing the Kurds. But there aren't any Kurdish refugees and they have no excuse for going in. They're still muttering and mumbling in hoping to take advantage of their treachery, but every day that goes by makes it less likely that they'll venture to risk war with the United States. We just need to get a good number of troops up there so it's clear that they will be attacking us, not just the Kurds.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

That would be interesting considering the reports out of Turkey that it was the military after all who was behind their recent political actions towards the US.

[snooker]

>>>"Let's see, we can stay here and live or go into Iraq and die....let me think..."

My thought exactly.

These rug merchants are beginning to annoy me. All they seem to want to do is take the north of Iraq and the oil for themselves. Some ally they are.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

That sounds like an understatement. I hope the Turks will stay on their side of the fence.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Can someone tell me why this is the case? I have heard it several times..

The Kurds are the largest minority in the world that do not have a homeland. They live in eastern Turkey, NE Iraq, and the north of Iran. They are fearless fighters and have suffered under these three countries since the Ottoman Empire. The only thing they lack is money and the Turks know that if the Kurds get the northern oilfields there will be revolution meant to build an Independent Kurdistan.