Posted on 11/11/2004 3:43:19 PM PST by datura
| FOCUS ON TURKEY |
Turkey warns U.S. it plans to invade northern Iraq shortly after elections
ANKARA — Turkey's military has begun preparing for what officials warned could result in a major invasion of neighboring Iraq.
Officials said the Turkish General Staff has drafted plans for an invasion by at least 20,000 troops into northern Iraq in early 2005. They said the General Staff has urged approval from the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and discussed the proposed invasion with the United States.
"The current phase is to show the United States that we're serious," a Turkish government source said. "After the Iraqi elections in January, the Turkish military will be ready to move."
The military has called for a massive operation in northern Iraq to prevent Kurdish militias from controlling the area. The General Staff has been particularly alarmed by the reported Kurdish effort to drive out ethnic Turks from Kirkuk, the oil capital of northern Iraq and long claimed by Ankara.
Under the Turkish plan, the military would deploy at least 20,000 Turkish troops in an enclave south of the Iraqi-Turkish border. The force would focus on eliminating the Kurdish Workers Party and ensure the return of Turkmens to Kirkuk.
About 3,000 PKK fighters are said to be based in northern Iraq and have been sending insurgents and weaponry for attacks inside neighboring Turkey.
The United States has refused numerous Turkish appeals to eliminate the PKK strongholds.
On Oct. 14 Erdogan and his cabinet reviewed the General Staff's plan. That meeting, attended by Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, discussed the rapid deployment of up to 40,000 troops in northern Iraq.
A scaled-down version of the military plan was discussed in the national security council on Oct. 27. The officials said that over the last week some units have already been deployed along the Iraqi-Turkish border.
Officials said the General Staff has sought to prepare two army divisions to cross the Iraqi border within 18 hours of any approval of the operation.
The first goal of the ground operation, supported by fighter-jets and attack helicopters, would be to destroy PKK strongholds in the Kandil mountains in northern Iraq.
The General Staff has warned the cabinet that Ankara could no longer ignore the Kurdish threat. Officials said the military has determined that Kurds from Iran and Syria have bolstered support for the PKK.
Iranian and Syrian Kurds, they said, have participated in PKK attacks against police and military targets in southeastern Turkey over the last week.
Officials said the General Staff has sought to obtain U.S. approval for the operation in northern Iraq. But Washington has not provided implicit approval.
The Erdogan government has sought to delay any Turkish military operation until after the European Union summit on Dec. 17. The government intends to spare the EU any pretext to delay a date for accession.
Officials said the Peshmerga are digging tunnels and establishing outposts outside Dahouk, near the Turkish border.
What to do, what to do?
No, the source is Bill Gertz's site, and Bill Gertz is one of the biggest purveyors of military/intelligence Bovine Excrement on the internet.
The Peshmerga have been sending weapons into Turkey as of late
If they are the target, why are they sending them weapons?
I think this is overblown. Military strategist regularly make plans for the wildest scenarios. There is no way turkey can win against the Iraqui Kurds, they have the home field advantage and the US military at their side.
No way. ....the Turks know better.
Its not stupid. Its the oil.
We cannot allow Turkey to do this! Surely we would use force if need be to stop them. Just what our troops need....IYIYIYIYI
The Kurds are fighting with us in Fallugah(spl.) I trust them over the turks who *ucked up our plan to come in from the North.
One thing is become clearer by the day, Iraq ain't gonna last as Iraq. Too many factions, tribes and divided loyalties. Maybe a good war, some serious rearranging of the map is what the middle east needs. The Turks invading Iraq would certainly get the ball rolling. Might not work out well for the USA, since we not have alot of combat troops there and the supply lines are real long. Nearest dependable ally is UK, not a good situation.
We won't. America has a long tradition of stuffing and roasting turkey.
Agreed. They can kiss their entry into the EU goodbye if the did, and that would be the least of their worries.
Every country fights. It will be the HOLY war we've been waiting for.
LOL! Truth in humor....love it!
How close is Iran to a nuclear weapon?
To be honest, I think if the Turks did this it would be a uniting influence on Iraq, bringing the Kurds and mainline Iraqi's together in a common cause. Assisted by their American allies of course.
Deep fried turkey...yummmmmm.
The Turks are mad. They cant win against the Kurds. We could just stand away and supply the Kurdish Holy Warrios like we did in afghanistan. I think this is just operational planning and some saber rattling nothing serious. But Turkey is a serious military countrie, only those in Old Europe.
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