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.
this is all brinkmanship. Turkey will do nada zip. Saber rattling will not change the events on the ground. Turkey will not risk their relationship with the US over a non-existent threat. Mosul has never been Turkish nor Arab PERIOD
i agree, is just saber rattling.
Absolutely agree.
i dont. China is our partener in prosperty not our enemy.
That was a swift kick in the teeth.
Agreed. In the short term our imput is vital.
We warned Fallugah(spl?) for weeks that we were going to attack. I'm not military but damn, why did we advertise our next move? Of course they left Fallugah. And headed straight for Mosul.
The peril runs so deep that we, America, will either stare down a major, serious and mortal threat - or - cower to the Communists.
I don't support the PKK. they are indeed terrorist.
If I had to say what country would and could do us the most harm, without a blink of the eye I would say China.
Thanks, I needed a good belly laugh.
honestly, they hates us but trade is the messenger of liberty.
Just look at what China, Germany, and France have been doing lately.
China wants to buy fighters from Europe. The only problem is their human rights abuses have that on hold. China wants Europe to drop that little problem and in return, Europe will make billions from them.
Guess what? That is exactly what France and Germany are trying to pull off.
I can't understand why those sandal clad, back alley gang bangers didn't want to go up against artillery, choppers and a full blown army. (sarcasm.) Should of hit them with unannounced B-52 strikes..Get their attention, gain some long needed respect. Oh well.
Security and intelligence officials of the pro-U.S. Kurdish autonomous region of northern Iraq say they have concluded that Mosul, an ethnically diverse city of 2.5 million near the Syrian and Turkish borders, may be the next battlefield in the war between insurgents fighting the U.S.-led occupation force and Iraqi interim government.
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Sounds to me like the 'autonomous locals' need to grab a hold of reality quickly before they become a victim of it...
Yeah, what you said...I pray the PC part of this War is over and the "Sit. Watch. Learn..." part is beginning...
I know...I know...
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