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Turkey Warns US It Plans To Invade Northern Iraq Shortly After Elections
Geostrategy-Direct.com (Subscription Site) ^ | 11 Nov 04 | Geostrategy-Direct.com

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.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blackhelicopters; geopolitics; hoax; iraq; kurds; southwestasia; tinfoil; turkey
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To: Henchman

The Turks are VERY good fighters -- I wouldn't bet against them in a battle with Kurds.


81 posted on 11/11/2004 4:36:15 PM PST by expatpat
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To: CWOJackson
"What should the US do, shoot them when they come across the border?"

Yes and the Iraqis right along with us.

82 posted on 11/11/2004 4:38:09 PM PST by foolscap
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To: datura
What is this -- an excerpt from MAD Magazine?

The Turks stick one toe into Iraqi without permission and it'll be blown off.

83 posted on 11/11/2004 4:39:13 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: TapTheSource

What is the connection between the PKK and Israel? Are they connected to Hezbollah or a different group?



<< But both the US, Turkey and Israel have a vested interest in routing out the Commie-Terrorist PKK wherever they exist. >>


84 posted on 11/11/2004 4:45:05 PM PST by PatL (It's our country now and we're not giving it back.)
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To: datura

I thought of the Turks as friends, until they stabbed us in the back on the Iraq war.

After what they did to us then, I really don't mind paying some of it back.


85 posted on 11/11/2004 4:45:19 PM PST by EternalHope (Boycott everything French forever. Including their vassal nations.)
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To: elizabetty
What should the US do, shoot them when they come across the border?

Among other things.

86 posted on 11/11/2004 4:48:04 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: datura

Is Turkey a nuclear power?

They won't be for long. Can you say Lake Ararat? [I know..I'm dreaming..]

We need to tell Turkey "Invade and you will be at war with the US"


87 posted on 11/11/2004 4:48:17 PM PST by Indie (Ignorance of the truth is no excuse for stupidity.)
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To: Doe Eyes
Can you imagine a country willing to go to war to stop terrorist attacks against its citizens?Don't go throwing cold water on the anti-Turk fest here. They are having such a wonderful time with their fantasies.
88 posted on 11/11/2004 4:48:30 PM PST by AndyJackson
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To: AndyJackson

Could this be some half-baked attempt by the Turks to gain favor with the EU?


89 posted on 11/11/2004 4:53:47 PM PST by WestVirginiaRebel (George W. Bush IS the right man, in the right place, at the right time.)
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To: foolscap

This reeks of crude..


90 posted on 11/11/2004 4:56:45 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf (I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
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To: datura
Hey Turkey, Have you ever been in an Iraqi prison?


91 posted on 11/11/2004 4:57:27 PM PST by infidel29 (America is GREAT because she is GOOD, the moment she ceases to be GOOD, she ceases to be GREAT- B.F.)
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To: CWOJackson

Maybe if they even head for the border.


92 posted on 11/11/2004 5:05:38 PM PST by Paladin2 (SeeBS News - We Decide, We Create, We Report - In that order! - ABC - Already Been Caught)
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To: WestVirginiaRebel

Believe it or not, the Turks have little territorial ambition. This reeks of the Turks being tired of dealing with Kurdish terrorists. Just because the Kurds are our allies in the war against the other Iraqi's doesn't mean that they should have the right to go create mischief with one of our other allies. Given all else we have been dealing with in Iraq, I doubt we have spent any time on policing Kurdish incursions into Turkey. A lot of folks need to grow up and act like adults in the region.


93 posted on 11/11/2004 5:06:58 PM PST by AndyJackson
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To: Paladin2

On a positive note, I'm sure the Kurds would like the practise and the new Iraqi Army would enjoy trying out some of their new toys.


94 posted on 11/11/2004 5:07:25 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: datura
I guess it would be a turkey shoot.
95 posted on 11/11/2004 5:11:00 PM PST by fso301
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To: ARCADIA

Better to work with the Kurds in Iran.


96 posted on 11/11/2004 5:11:04 PM PST by Paladin2 (SeeBS News - We Decide, We Create, We Report - In that order! - ABC - Already Been Caught)
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To: CWOJackson
Turkey betrayed us by blocking our access at the outset. Turkey's hampering of our war plans no doubt contributed to our casualties and current complications.

The piss-off Turkey incurred with Bank America has been accruing interest--if they attempt early withdrawal the may encounter unexpected dividends.

Or, more likely, the Turkish threat of incursion is so much natural gas.

97 posted on 11/11/2004 5:13:11 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: PatL; Zionist Conspirator; SJackson

PatL wrote: "What is the connection between the PKK and Israel?"


The Marxist-Leninist PKK (as opposed to the Kurds, who are caught in the middle) is part of a much larger global terror network that fights against the US, Israel, all moderate Arab countries, the US, and our European allies. The PKK's area of responsibility focuses on bringing down Turkey. As you can see from the press conference below, the PKK views Turkey, Israel and the US as the main enemy.




Kurdistan Informatie Centrum Nederland

Member of the PKK-Central Committee, Halil Atac, holds a press conference in Beirut

A number of well known media representatives have attended a press conference on 3 June 1997 in Beirut, Lebanon.
During the press conference, Mr. Atac, who is an ARGK (National Liberation Army of Kurdistan) commander, talked about the Turkish invasion of South Kurdistan (North Iraq) and said:"...There is a similarity between this operation and the past operations. Yet, there are also differences. Especially, in the technical fields. This attack is carried out within the framework of the aggreement between USA, Israel and Turkey. Also, there is a possibility of Saddam to be a part of this aggreement and the aim is to end the existence of the PKK. As you all know, 60 thousand Turkish troops, backed with 450 tanks and armoured vehicles together with Cobra helicopters and warplanes, invaded South Kurdistan in collaboration with the KDP. They use the most developed wartechnics..."

Mr. Atac has continued and said: "...This operation have entered into its 19th day, yet, the Turkish army did not get any success. At the moment, they had crippled in a swamp. In my opinion, this operation did not meet with their aims. The first week was very important for us. We can say that we were successful this first week, and now we have entered the second stage of the war..."

"...Of course, it is possible for many people to ask themselves `How can the guerrilla forces stand against such massive scale attack?' One should understand the strength of the PKK. We have been continiously fighting against the Turkish state for the last 13 years, and we know how to fight. Today, we are more experienced and have the possibility to have much successful counter-attacks, Turkish state is heading towards a liquidation, and that is why they use psychological warfare. We can conclude that this attack has been unsuccessful. The state army claims that they have killed 1,800 guerrillas. If one looks at the reality, they can see the false victory. We do not suffer such casualties. The Turkish state has been lying about the war since the beginning of this invasion. This is her character, when she faces difficulties..."

"...The alliance between the USA, Israel and Turkey is against the PKK. Today, Israel is in need of Turkey and vice versa. For this, they have made a strategic alliance. This war is not only against the PKK. In long term, it is against the people of the Middle East. Israel has waged a war against the Arabs in the past and Israel wants now to stab the Arabs from the back..."

During his speech, Halil Atac has called on the peoples of the Middle East to unite all their forces in order to increase their voice for the developments in the region and said:

"...The problem of the people of the region are linked to the Kurdish issue and we see the solution of the Middle Eastern- isues linked to the solution of the Kurdish question..."

"...Elimination of the PKK means that the region will get under the control of the USA, Israel and Turkey. This will create a danger both for the Arabs and the region where the war continues..."

On the other hand, Halil Atac mentioned the KDP's support for this operation and said that this party was in its last days and that the KDP was betraying the Kurdish people:

"... The history of the KDP is full of threachery. The KDP is breathing for the last time as Turkey. The village-guards, who have been brought from the north of Kurdistan are given up their weapons and are going back to their homes..."

"...We will make the withdrawal of the Turkish state more difficult than its advance into our areas..."

In the mean time, Halil Atac has also released the results of the war, both in South and north Kurdistan, for May 1997:

Total number of guerrillas killed: 112 (75 killed in South Kurdistan and 37 in North Kurdistan)
Number of soldiers, village-guards, KDP-members: 791 (including 18 high ranking army officers)
Number of wounded soldiers, village-guards, KDP-members: 591
Number of persons joining the guerrilla: 331
Number of destroyed panzers, tanks and armoured vehicles: 13
Number of sorty made involving many war-planes: 57
Number of civilians lost their lives as a result of air bombings: 13
Number of weapons, different types, confiscated: 60 (including ammunition)
Number of helicopters shot down: 4
- On the 17th of May: a Sikorsky shot down near Kirmizi Hill
- On the 18th of May: a helicopter shot down on Serhat Hill, which crashed on the borderline
- On the 18th of May: a Super Cobra helicopter shot down on Sikefta Birindera Hill
7 KDP-members have been taken as prisoners of war.


Questions raised by the members of the press

Q: Is the PUK also giving support to Turkey?

A: The PUK is keeping its silence. At the beginning, they also allied with Turkey. However, they were not involved in the war untill now. And, they have a positive approach. We hope, this will develop in the coming days. We are aiming to develop a National Front in order to fight against the treachery.

Q: Will the PKK also carry out attacks against the USA and Israeli miltary targets?

A: The USA, Israel, and Turkey are the world's most deadly terrorist forces. These countries have always attacked the national struggles of the people around the world. These countries are in our general targets. If these countries continue their dirty political games towards our national freedom struggle, in return, they will face the hostility of the Kurdish people.

Atac also answered a question in regard to the massacre of civilians in a hospital in Erbil: "In Erbil, there was a hospital, an office of the Mesopotamian Cultural Centre and a press bureau. The KDP and a so called `Peace Force' carried an attack against these institutions killing 9 unarmed civilians in cold-blood."

"...The Turkish state is aiming to eliminate the Kurdish people. For this reason, Turkish colonialism is far more dangerous than both British and French colonialism. The USA might approach in the same manner as she approached Vietnam. We will then continue a long term war. Already, their forces are in the swamp of South Kurdistan..."

Q: Are you planning to carry out attacks against the tourism sector, as your General Secretary, Mr. Ocalan claimed?

A: Turkey is spending the tourism income in the dirty war. The tourism sector is among our military targets. We will not be responsible for any losses.

Link:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kicadam/pers/oud/atac.html


98 posted on 11/11/2004 5:21:44 PM PST by TapTheSource
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To: elizabetty

"What should the US do, shoot them when they come across the border? "

Yes.


99 posted on 11/11/2004 5:22:59 PM PST by Dead Dog
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To: expatpat
I agree the Turks are excellent fighters. I do not doubt that they would attack the Kurds. However, I think the Kurds would acquit themselves very, very, well...then there are the US forces. Iraq, for better or worse, is our protectorate until we pull out. After we are out, I believe the US envisions an IRAQ heavily dependent upon the Kurds who some envision as the buffers between various Iraq factions (personally I say break them up into 4 countries). Finally, I think the story is bogus. The thought of the Turks attacking US, in our protectorate, is absurd.

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100 posted on 11/11/2004 5:31:31 PM PST by Henchman (BORK SPECTER. Email your friends and relatives. PLEASE do it now!)
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