Turkey Moves 1,000 Soldiers Into N. Iraq

AP | 3/21/03 | SUZAN FRASER

[a_Turk]

>> You BASTARDS Played this

LOL! What's the old way of dealing with hysteria? Get a grip.. Our politicians don't have the discipline to execute such a plan.

[AntiGuv]

There's obviously an exception to every rule...

[Turk2]

At least ones that are not married to Greeks.

[Maeve]

The only thing Bush encountered was that he was not willing to pay a big enough bribe to your government and its lackeys.

[Maeve]

Cursed be your short hairs.

[RightWhale]

A war between Turks and Kurds in N Iraq would confuse matters no doubt. There are also some Iranian elements in the region. S Iraq, W Iraq, and Baghdad will probably simmer down quickly. N Iraq has had the potential to be less quiescent. It has a long, long history.

[neutrino]

What's your reading of the situation? Is Turkey determined to take territory, or simply to secure their present borders?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Snicker...

[Maeve]

You are lying.

No. That is a Turkish game that I do not play.

[henbane]

I don't see what everyone is so upset about.

Looks like the Turks are timing their troop movement so that they can engage the Kurds right about when our armoured columns come up to Baghdad.

Then, since the American forces will be fairly occupied, the Turks can have their way with the Kurds, despite the fact thatthe bush Administration has expressly stated for Turkey troops to stay on their side of the border.

The Turks are about to create a huge mess in what is now a smooth, well-run operation.

Thanks a lot, Gul.

[jwalsh07]

Well, here is the problem with that. Rumsfiled said today that all parties should make no mistake, the US will assure Iraqi territorial integrity. With all due respect to A Turk, I think Turkeys motives are suspect.

[a_Turk]

Secure our borders and hunt PKK terrorists.

[Turk2]

Get a grip. This was on the table with the US since day 1. The original plan was to move in with US troops, but since your 'superb' diplomacy and our politicians' incompetence prevented the deal, we have to watch out for ourselves. Especially when we have seen that after a 50 year alliance it took the US about 50 seconds to sell us out to a bunch of Kurdish smugglers.

[kimchi lover]

I really think these Turkish troups are a real wild card and I have a bad feeling about this. Not a good move at all.

[Destro]

Turkey Determined Its Policy On Iraq Long Time Ago (Blame the military not the "ruling" party)

[Willie Green]

Why? Are we at war or something?

Apparently not.
But it would be a shame if the Turks were mistaken for an Iraqi column.
Much safer if they just stay on their own side of the border.

[Maeve]

Pro-Iranian elements are a serious concern, but I do not think they will want to escalate the conflict to include Iran.

[Destro]

Don't blame the politicians-that's a cover: Turkey Determined Its Policy On Iraq Long Time Ago (Blame the military not the "ruling" party)

[neutrino]

Secure our borders and hunt PKK terrorists.

I don't suppose your nation's leaders would send a book of instructions on how to do that to us, would they? (/joke)

[marron]

1000 men is not a major deployment. Turkey has had a garrison there for years, and another 1000 isn't going to make any difference in the post-war political situation. I would take it at face value. They are reinforcing their position.

And, in the years they have been garrisoned there, they have had no trouble from the Iraqi Kurds, at all. They are there primarily to keep an eye on the PKK, who have been remarkably quiet the last couple of years.

I don't see a problem; there doesn't have to be a problem as long as no one wants one.