Turkey Moves 1,000 Soldiers Into N. Iraq

AP | 3/21/03 | SUZAN FRASER

[kattracks]

Turkey Moves 1,000 Soldiers Into N. Iraq

By SUZAN FRASER .c The Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey moved 1,000 soldiers into northern Iraq on Friday to beef up its forces there, a Turkish military official said. Turkey already maintains several thousand soldiers backed by a few dozen tanks in northern Iraq to chase Turkish Kurdish guerrillas. Turkey is also shifting some 5,000 soldiers to the border region, the military official said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

The Turkish foreign minister said Friday his nation was determined to send its troops over the border into northern Iraq to contain a possible refugee flow and prevent any attempt by Iraqi Kurds to break away from Iraq.

Abdullah Gul's remarks came despite strong opposition in Washington to any unilateral move by Turkey into northern Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday: ``We don't see any need for any Turkish incursions into northern Iraq.''

But ``Turkish soldiers will go in,'' Gul told reporters on his return from a trip from Brussels.

Gul's statement came after Turkey agreed Friday to allow U.S. overflights for a war with Iraq, reversing an earlier decision to block Turkey's airspace because of a disagreement with the United States over a Turkish troop deployment.

Washington has warned that a Turkish incursion could lead to friendly fire incidents with U.S. forces. Iraqi Kurdish groups say the move could lead to clashes.

In Washington, a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Turkey opened its airspace without any conditions attached, adding that the U.S. administration continued to discuss the issue of Turkish troops separately.

Turkey's Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul also said Turkish and U.S. officials would continue negotiations.

Turkey has frequently sent soldiers into northern Iraq to chase Kurdish rebels belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which fought a 15-year battle for autonomy from Turkey.

Gul said Turkey wanted to prevent Iraq's breakup and to contain a possible refugee flow within Iraq's borders.

``Turkey's Iraq policy is ... Iraq's territorial integrity, that Iraq's resources are shared by the whole population ... that a refugee flow is contained within Iraq,'' Gul said.

``Turkey has no designs whatsoever on Iraq's territory. Turkey will take measures in line with these aims,'' he said.

Turkey fears that Iraq could fragment during a war, leading Iraqi Kurds to declare independence, which could encourage Turkish Kurdish rebels.

Turkey's parliament voted Thursday to allow the United States to use the airspace, a measure that would allow strike aircraft on carriers in the Mediterranean to fly more directly into Iraq.

The resolution passed by parliament would also allow Turkey to move its own forces into northern Iraq.

[Turk2]

The Turkish Constitution

[a_Turk]

>> but what terrorist acts did they commit

Horrible acts..

These guys did everything you can imagine, but Al Qaeda certainly trumped them in finesse..

[Amerigomag]

Again I ask you, how do you plan to provide representation to a small minority group without federalizing the government?

[jwalsh07]

If we move from Kuwait (about 800 miles), it would take only one full day. If we airlifted them to those airstrips west of Jordan, it would only take a half of day.

Nope, three days at least with bigtime logitics problems. The airports in question are incapable of handling C130's laden with heavy equipment.

[Southern Vader]

So our tank groups can only go about 400 miles without repairs (about the distance from kuwait to Bagdad). I didn't realize that. What about the airstrips in the west. We seemed to be in an awful hurry to get those secured.

[jwalsh07]

Thanks. I will read it.

[Jorge]

Our military is educated, and pragmatic. There'll be no danger to your troops, nor ours. That's just silly talk.

I hope you're right. In spite of the difficulties in coming to an agreement with the US on their role in the Iraq war...I'm not ready to believe Turkey would do anything as reckless as some suggest here.

[William Terrell]

Thanks for posting this; it answers some question I had regarding the Turkey situation.

Gul said Turkey wanted to prevent Iraq's breakup. . .

``Turkey has no designs whatsoever on Iraq's territory. Turkey will take measures in line with these aims,'' he said.

The resolution passed by parliament would also allow Turkey to move its own forces into northern Iraq.

Code for "Turkey wants to slice off a section of northern Iraq for itself" during the ensuing confusion? Hence the 6,000 troops plus the "several thousand" already there?

Turkey fears that Iraq could fragment during a war, leading Iraqi Kurds to declare independence, which could encourage Turkish Kurdish rebels.

Iraqi Kurds would be hampered in declaring independence if suddenly Kurdistan was a part of Turkey, from Syria to Iran, wouldn't they? Especially with 6,000 troops plus "several thousand"?

As for excursions into northern Irag, if Turkey has no lust for some of Iraq, borders aren't solid steel walls 30 feet high. If they want to chase Kurds, well, Kurds can run all over the place without bumping into any steel walls, 30 feet high. Let 'em chase Kurds. What would be our problem with that?

[FreeTheHostages]

Boy, that post 5 of yours sums it up for me. Thanks for posting.

Turkey has no idea what it just purchased. Sigh, the possible end of its nascent democracy as its military takes it in a direction its civilian leadership may well have not wanted to go in.

[PhiKapMom]

Have come to the conclusion during this Operation that some people on here won't listen not matter how many times you post something. Goes right over their heads.

BTW, I agree with you!

[a_Turk]

You've had my respect and friendship ever since we first met probably a year and a half ago here. And I have noticed your disappointment over the past month or so.

Here's a politician who has been told to keep his nore out of national security matters for the forseeable future, and concentrate instead on the budget.



Going forward there'll be calm, secure men to deal with, ones who honor their commitments and know how to treat their colleagues with the respect they expect themselves..

[Anamensis]

They blew us off when we needed them--now they want to use our military initiative to have their way with the Kurds.

Almost Frenchlike, isn't it?

[RightWhale]

Air transport. As far as moving the heavy tanks, they don't go far before they get beyond the fuel trucks. In the current advance fuel pipelines are being built behind the line of advance and maintenance is done all the time. For long distances the heavy tanks fly or are loaded on transporters or rail. If they advance 400 miles, they won't do it all at once, but spread it out over a few days. 100 miles per day would be good, but a challenge.

[a_Turk]

>> Yeah, the U.S. gov't is inept. Right

You misread me. I was talking about the Turkish politicians.

[a_Turk]

>> Can you link me to your Constitution?

Just do a google or yahoo search.

[MissAmericanPie]

Why not? Our troops will be available for another war before the weekend ends.=o)

[a_Turk]

>> The Turkomen can't be significantly involved unless political divisions are drawn along ethnic lines and they are given disproportional represntation.

Wrong. If you have a Kurdish region and 2.5 milion Turkmen live there, then you can forget about Turkmen representation.

Anyway, we want equal representation. That means rthnic groups are not mentioned at all. Just like the US or Turkish constitution does not explicitly mention ethnic groups.

[lavrenti]

While I understand moves need to made in a vacuum, also that a NATO power with regional concerns needs to have a bigger say in a situation, you have to admit your government is acting like they're attempting a cheap hustle on us.

The Turkish military has had strong ties with the US since Korea, they know better than to tug on Superman's cape. If this is an attempt to occupy Kurdish Iraq, your military will be a grease stain in five minutes.

Also, accept Kurdish federalism under a Hashemite prince. That's possible, considering the position papers I have read.

I think your PM needs to take a cue from Sharon and be very, very humble. We Americans will take care of your immediate concerns.

[a_Turk]

>> I wouldn't stand for it in America but hey Turkey's not America.


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