[a_Turk]

Can you explain how trustwothy this information is?

Out of the mouth of the leader of the PUK (Patrioty Union of Kurdistan), which is one of the clans in northern Iraq.

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.

[Shermy]

"Ankara, thereby, made it impossible for any other to strategically control the oil rich regions of Mosul and Kirkuk."

Hmmm...goes in line with the Kurd/Turkoman autonomous zone ideas, no?

[Dog Gone]

A plan which gives northern Iraq to Turkey (it won't be characterized quite that bluntly) will go a long way toward solving some Turkish strategic goals, and the US should have no objection to that.

Deals are being made, only this time they are being made before the war, not at its conclusion.

[withteeth]

Thanks for the post.

Is this your own translation?

When did this news first appear?

[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..

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good move if true!

[arthurus]

If the Turks are leading this thing I don't mind following the Turks.

[blam]

"Seems we're securing our interests ahead of your campaign."

I assure you that the interests are the same. Peace and stable oil supplies.

[ARCADIA]

Thanks for finding this and translating. I was looking for English-language Turk news sources today, but didn't find anything worthwhile. I just knew the next move would come from Turkey.

A couple of things ....

Turkey's move does not appear to be that of a pawn or a rook. I think they did this independently - to secure their interests. IMO, Washington has not reassured them about the Kurds and is probably playing a double game. Also, they probably asked for the oil-rich areas and did not like the reply they got. Good for Turkey.

Right now the US needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the US. So, the Turks should ask for and get - forgiveness of the $5 billion military debt, the Mosul, etc, and absolute guarantees about the Kurds. A lot of foreign aid and goodies should be thrown in for good measure.

Turkey is the only Muslim country whose history and culture I like. I've been reading a "Peace to End All Peace" and absolutely love the Turks in it. Especially, all the Europeans that assumed the Turks were dim-witted only to be completely bamboozled by them.

BTW, the British, who faced both the Turks and the Germans, thought the Turks were tougher. "Absolutely splendid with his back to the wall."

Don't be offended by the Freeper who refered to Turkey as a pawn. In chess, the first offensive move usually involves a pawn taking control of the center of the board.