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]

>> 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.