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.

[a_Turk]

>> There's more here than meets the eye.

If you want to have someting done right, you do it yourself. The UN and EU told you to leave Saddam alone, but you knew what to do.. Same goes for us.

[fifteendogs]

Did the Turks go to the UN to get approval to invade Iraq?

[a_Turk]

>> The fantical Muslims have taken over Turkey.

The Turkish military is not about to have themselves be commanded by ANY civilian, especially by these bungling fools.

[The Wizard]

Turkey better play by the rules....</h1

[BJClinton]

While I'm sure all of the above plus the US could arm a great many Kurds, the Turks have air power. I really doubt the US would actually fight the Turks, despite their deceitfulness.

[rs79bm]

Don't blame the U.S. if some of them get shot.

[The Wizard]

I imagine we will get tanks and material and men enough to slap this down

[Maeve]

No, I didn't mistake you for Scarecrow, and I'm not Toto. You really should avail yourself of a brain.

[blam]

Has US Swallowed Turkish Suprise?

[RightWhale]

Well, the Turks appear to be doing okay in spite of being killed and killed and killed all the time. And EU membership doesn't sound like such a bargain anyway.

[AntiGuv]

I imagine we will get tanks and material and men enough to slap this down.

You imagine incorrectly; I near guarantee it. We will not have a military conflict with Turkey (I'm beginning to feel like a broken record).

[Maeve]

The Turkish military is not about to have themselves be commanded by ANY civilian, especially by these bungling fools.

And BEHOLD, the story of democracy in Turkey is demonstrated to be merely a myth. Adieu, Europe.

[Petronski]

A thousand Turkish troops, but what kind of troops?

Special forces?
Mechanized Cavalry
Conscripts
Reservists

What?

[Itzlzha]

>> Well, I hope the Turks are prepared for the consequences

Why? Are we at war or something? Just relax..

And now, I take back my apology I made to you earlier!

You BASTARDS Played this...you blocked our Military from passing thru and staging on your border, because you WANTED TO INVADE on your own!

So much for 50 years of friendship! Make that move any further, and you are next on the "hit parade"!

I now add Turkey to my official "DIE!!!GET IN THE COFFIN!!!" List!

Like Freddo Corleone, you are DEAD to me if you pull this crap!

Lesson learned, FReepers...never EVER trust an Islamazi!

[Maeve]

No. I'm hundred per cent Irish in heritage, and I am delighted to have garnered the insults of another Turk. Merci beaucoup, Mlle. Turk2.

[a_Turk]

>> the story of democracy in Turkey is demonstrated to be merely a myth

It works. Just ask Bush..

>> Adieu, Europe.

You can have all of Europe after lent.

[Maeve]

Should they engage the Iraqi Kurds that will change swiftly.

[Turk2]

You are lying. Irish people have brains.