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.
| 8 | “Turkey's military has begun preparing for...a major invasion of neighboring Iraq.” |
When the U.S. invaded Iraq in March of 2003, Turkey cowardly reneged on promises to allow the U.S. Marine 4th ID to transit through Turkey to invade through northern Iraq. This last minute change in our plans raised havoc with the invasion that we are still dealing with to this day.
Turkey did not care that the terrorist regime of Saddam Hussein posed a serious threat to world peace. Turkey did not care that their going back on their promises resulted in higher casualties for American forces.
But now they want us to have sympathy with their own terrorist concerns over the PKK terrorists? To bad, Turkey, you chose to side with the terrorists. You made your bed, now lie in it. F'em and the horse they road in on.
If they attempt to cross the border, we should blow them to kingdom come.
--Boot Hill
I dislike them almost as much as I dislike the E.U. or the U.N.
I think China will screw America when they think they can pull off the "Big Screw"...Taiwan. I think China loves the fact that we are spread thin between the ME, Korea, and the fact that we have only half an alliance with Europe. It leaves room for them to get creative in all this. But then I reckon that since they don't actually manufacture anything we actually need we could cut them off completely if they went after Taiwan. Our inlfation rate would go up GDP would initially go down but we would get over it. Then maybe Mexico could assume that role which we be mutually beneficial.
Oh yeah, nuke Turkey!
Don't forget, Russia is in it for the money. I hear they have a lot of deals going on with Iran.
Wow! Could be a real opportunity to settle acounts with these jerks!
"Powell should have been replaced a long time ago. The State Department is useless with him at the helm."
The State Department is useless period.
--Boot Hill
Gosh, don't push us too hard. The Peshmerga is an easy choice for lovers of freedom. The Turks are Asiatic barbarians who are the only country currently illegally occupying another state (Cyprus). The Kurds are our co-ethnics as Europeans.
Maybe we could even liberate Constantinople New Rome.
Iran has their fingers in a lot of pies around the ME. They need to be taken care of. PDQ.
HUH?
I like the way you think. It sure would cut down on shipping cost wouldn't it?
:o
hahaha...yeah true...didn't think of that !!
There's something about Russia that doesn't sit well with me. They give me the feeling that should I ever get invited to eat lunch at the Kremlim, I would be thankful for the invite...but bring along a food taster, just incase.
Posted on 11/11/2004
Taipei - Fighter jets from China locked on to a plane carrying Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian during a trip over the Taiwan Strait, it was reported on Thursday.
Chen's Air Force One official plane had been heading for Penghu, an island group in the strait, when it was targeted by the warplanes from China, the United Daily News said, quoting unidentified Chinese defence sources.
The beginning of World War III?
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