Turkish Claws on Northern Iraq

Hurriyet ^ | 8/8/2002 | N/A

[a_Turk]

The countdown is on for the US attack on Iraq. Turkey has taken position in Northern Iraq in a blitz.

As concerns of an imminent US attack on Iraq grow day by day, Turkey has secured the Critical Bamerni airport in Northern Iraq.

Operational

Turkey has sent heavy machinery and electronic support equipment to the airport along with military and civil personnel who have made the airport available for military use in short order. Ankara, thereby, made it impossible for any other to strategically control the oil rich regions of Mosul and Kirkuk. Turkey has, additionally, established a umber of security checkpoints in northern Iraq.

Talabani explains

This surprize development was reported by PUK leader Celal Talabani, who had been in Ankara on 8/7.

Reports of 5000 Soldiers

The security apparatus inside Iraq was expanded to include a number of forward bases. According to unofficial sources, Turkey has about 5000 soldiers in the region.

Another unofficial report suggests that there are a few Americans who come and go to the Airport.

[a_Turk]

Is this your own translation?

Yup.

When did this news first appear?

Tomorrows paper in Turkey (where it's tomorrow now..) The news broke on 8/7.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Turkey has the gonads to do this on it's own, so don't assume this is a Bush thing. Seems we're securing our interests ahead of your campaign.

Good for you, as securing your interests is not exclusive to us securing ours. Probably one and the same.

America is well aware of Turkey's ferocity when it chooses to fight. It was acknowledged by a Marine General in the Korean war, whose name escapes me now, and will probably be acknowledged by Iraqi's in generations to come..

[Rev. Lou Chenary]

Thanks for posting and translating that.
I'm really starting to like Turkey!

We'll be in to help as soon as congress finishes debating it.

[BOBTHENAILER]

"It is quite safe from Saddam's pitiful little band an Entire Legion of My Best Troops awaits them...."

Those your troops Senator? They appear very capable.

I don't think Saddam's pitiful little band will come into harm's way, however. Their style is to wait and get annhilated, rolled up and rolled over.

[BOBTHENAILER]

"You've got to watch out for that."

Prince Faisal is the one who REALLY has to look out for that.

BTN

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good move if true!

[GVnana]

I, for one, would be happy to see the Turks live-up to their ancient and well-earned reputations!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ping!

[Mortimer Snavely]

Good news. This meams that someone, somewhere, is actually thinking about what's likely to happen after Hussein "faw down go boom," and is doing something to prevent it.

[elfman2]

Hmm, Maybe a year from now there will be no Iraq. Just an expanded Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait…

Who, us? We only "assisted"!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

You combine Turkey with America truly rolling, and things move a lot faster than anyone expects.

[withteeth]

"We'll be in to help as soon as congress finishes debating it."

Whoops, I almost forgot my constitution.

It will be interesting how the anti-war position developes. I don't think Scott Ritter is standing out.

If only there would be a coup now, in Iraq. By good men who know we're coming and that we want democracy, free markets, and an end to the funding of Hamas, etc.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Must be coming quicker than I thought.

Really. I've been wondering if all of this late fall, early '03 was a feint. And the new moon just passed, but who knows?

[Jim Noble]

I totally support restoration of Turkish rule in Mosul-a province of Turkey for 800 years.

[nevergore]

September 11th (or the night of the 10th)......My SWAG....
Bush will come out on the 11th and provide a speech linking all the previous bombings and September 11th to IRAQ....Al Queda was just a pawn...
NeverGore

[El Gato]

I hope Turkey gets to OWN Iraq, as much as it wants. Let Arabia and Iran tremble in fear at the very name.

Indeed, when the Turks ran the place before WW-I, things were much calmer in those parts. The Turks just chose sides badly in WW-I, siding with Germany and the Austro Hungarian Empire, through pre-war alliances, which had nothing do with the factors that brough the US in on the other side. Since then, especially since WW-II, the Turks have been great allies of ours. Maybe it's time they got the reward they've earned, namely the oil in (at least) Northern Iraq, maybe all of the oil in Mesopatamia, Arabia and perhaps Persia.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

This region has effectively become non-Iraqi territory.

Of course, many moons ago, it was all part of the Ottoman Empire. As far as the Turks are concerned, all of these little countries are just splinters (Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, etc.)
The kicker is, if the Brits had let them in on their side in WWI, they would still control the region. Read A Peace to End All Peace and you'll see what I mean.

[Edmund Burke]

Turkey is a member of NATO. If Iraq attacks Turkey, Iraq will, by definition, be at war with NATO. NATO members are bound by treaty to come to Turkey's defense. However, if Turkey is acting as the belligerent, NATO may be off the hook.

[Bahbah]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will read it.

[withteeth]

I think this is true.

How long before Turk's news and helpful translation reaches the mainstream press?

Prizes for the first freeper who finds this on a english language news-site.

My bet is that we don't hear about it until 12 p.m. Eastern.