The Peshmerga have been sending weapons into Turkey as of late, while Iran has been forging ties with both sides of the conflict. Officially, Iran has been much more visible in Turkey signing agreements with the government. Unofficially, the Iranians have been a major supplier to the al Qaida network that exists in Turkey - a network formed during the Bosnian war and maintained to send troops and supplies to Chechnya.
This could end up being a real mess. Basically, the continuing legacy of the Clinton administration's decisions in the area are once again coming home to roost - and are putting our forces in harm's way unneccessarily.
Following Turkey's refusal to allow us to use their frontier with Iraq during the initiation of the war, I can't see us doing anything to help them. Quite to the contrary, the Peshmerga have been extremely faithful allies in the Iraq war and we should stand behind them against Turkey. Allies come and go, and it looks like since Turkey is going to join the EU, we may yet be at war with an EU member in the near future.
Interesting times, indeed.
Wow! Could be a real opportunity to settle acounts with these jerks!
The beginning of World War III?
Dear friend and Nato Ally Turkey:
Don't jeapordize those adjectives by confronting our troops in Northern Iraq.
I didn't know they had turkey shoots in Iraq.. I guess we have a lot in common.
Odd that the article doesn't mention water. From what I've heard, Turkey drying up the flow of water into northern Iraq is a major issue for the Kurds.
Yes, france has really been pushing it lately.
The PKK is not mainstream Kurds.
In January 2004 the US Government announced that Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is a terrorist organization. The Coalition Provisional Authority, coalition forces and Iraqi security forces will treat the PKK as terrorists
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/pkk.htm
Partiya Karkeran Kurdistan [PKK] (Kurdistan Workers Party)
"Established in 1974 as a Marxist-Leninist insurgent group primarily composed of Turkish Kurds, by the late 1990s the PKK had moved beyond rural-based insurgent activities to include urban terrorism. . .
"Since 1984 the separatist PKK waged a violent terrorist insurgency in southeast Turkey, directed against both security forces and civilians. . .
"The PKK committed numerous abuses against civilians in northern Iraq throughout 1997. For example, on August 4, five persons were reportedly kidnaped from the village of Gunda Jour by a PKK band. Iraqi Kurds reported that on October 23, a PKK unit killed 14 civilians (10 of them children) and wounded 9 others in attacks on the villages of Korka, Chema, Dizo, and Selki. . .
"In April 2002 at its 8th Party Congress, the PKK changed its name to the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK). . .
"In January 2004 the US Government announced that Kurdistan Workers Party and its aliases, the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress and the Kurdistan People's Congress were terrorist organizations that were designated as such under US law. The Coalition Provisional Authority, coalition forces and Iraqi security forces will treat the PKK/KADEK/Kongra-Gel as terrorists. . .
"Ankara claimed that about 2,000 Kurdish fighters had crossed into Turkey from hideouts in mountainous northern Iraq in early June 2004." [End excerpt, my emphasis]
Turkey has "invaded" mountainous northern Iraq chasing the terrorists a few times before.
On the other matter, Kirkuk, where is the proof that Turkey intends to "take" Kirkuk? Turkey is doing business with the mainstream Kurds.
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 realize that Turkey has a Biblical role to play against Israel at some point.
But I still think it's long past time to tell Turkey--SHAPE UP AND FLY RIGHT OR THE EASTERN/SOUTHERN 1/4TH TO 1/3 OF TURKEY WILL BE GIVEN TO THE KURDS.
Idiots.
No way.
Here is something from Kurd Net -- yes, Kurd Net not Turkey Net.
http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc/cooperatingwithus.htm
As for the original posted article it was very skimpy. People actually pay for that little bit of MISLEADING info? The replies throughout this thread about going to war with Turkey are NUTS!
Here is an excerpt from Kurd Net.
"Early this month Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey's patience was running out over US reluctance to take military action against Turkish Kurd rebels hiding in northern Iraq.
"About 5,000 militants from the PKK, now also known as KONGRA-GEL, are believed to have found refuge in the mountains of northern Iraq since 1999 when the group declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ankara.
"About 1,500 rebels have reportedly infiltrated Turkey recently to engage in renewed violence after the group called off the truce on June 1.
"Turkey has expressed frustration over US reluctance to employ military means against the rebels, which both Ankara and Washington regard as terrorists, since last October when the two sides agreed on an action plan against the PKK.
"US officials have argued that their troops are already swamped with unremitting violence in other parts of Iraq.
"Turkey keeps several thousand soldiers in northern Iraq. They were deployed in the region prior to the US-led occupation of Iraq to counter the PKK, which has waged a 15-year campaign for self-rule in the Turkish southeast that has claimed some 37,000 lives." [End excerpt]
There is also another serious matter that is affecting our friendly relations discussed in the article. But war with our long-time friend and ally?! NO WAY.
Turkey lost all say in Iraq when then turned down our money and became a lap dog of the Germans in the hope of support for EU membership in the future.
They already were caught playing games in Iraq when they attempted to assassinate a mayor in the Kurdish areas with their Special Forces and our Special Forces caught them. Their guys were our "guests" for a while until we returned them. The Kurds are no minor issue for Turkey.
If they do anything in Northern Iraq then it's with our permission, just as we have from the Russians to be in the Rep. of Georgia, Uzbekistan and elsewhere. But I can't forsee that we will let them. If there are issues, we will take care of them since the Kurds are with us and we do not want to allienate them by allowing the Turks in. So if there are bad apples we must take care of them.
The Turks screwed themselves BAAAAAAD and they will eventually figure this out. No say in Northern Iraq. Lost billions of guaranteed money for a "if, possible maybe" from the EU which Germany will back even without popular support of the population (Schroeder made a deal but the people don't support it) and some other countries will block and resist Turkey from joining (Example France). Turkey will be scrutinized by others and after a lot of friction and problems/costs they probably won’t get accepted anyway. On the other hand, had they taken our money and played along there position would not have been that much different, since Schroeder will be gone, the CDU/CSU does not look at Turkish EU membership favorably either and in the end not much would be different even had Turkey supported this war. They lost big when they decided to play for Germany (To get support for future EU membership) and go against us.
Red6
Subscription Site???
Whatever you're paying, it's way too much. We get DEBKA for free around here.