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Fascinating. You do have a lot of knowledge about history and anthropology. You set me straight on the origins of the Slavs if I remember correctly. I was impressed.

Now, I want to mention two things today, one of which pertains to females in Turkey and one of which does not. The second point pertains to incursions on the Northern border of Iraq.

First things first... I am just going to say what I read from memory and not search for the correct facts on the internet to give me a false aura of knowing what the heck is going on in Asia Minor. Here goes...

I read in the Wall Street Journal something about the Military boycotting a recent National holiday because they feared the wife of Prime Minister Erdogan would wear a veil, and since it is illegal, they did not want to be a part of the ceremonies. I am ignorant of what the celebration was about. I apoligize for my ignorance.

Ok, on to number two... Turkish Special Forces agents were intercepted trying to get to Kirkuk. They were in civilian clothes and following a supply train into the city. The US Army thinks that they were attempting to spread unrest through the ethnic Turkish population. This troubles me.

I know I might not have my facts straight as I just posted this returning from a long day at work and have not checked my sources and facts. I will add that my second point is true even if I messed up the details. A Turkish Specops team DID get detained on the Northern Iraq border. It does not surprise me but the US is reforming on the Reagan idealogy of superior Intel with a superior Military. I don't think it is wise for Turkey to be making these gestures.

I know about the Kurds and I understand the situation and it would surprise me if Turkey had NOT done this. Nevertheless, in the long run, it would be wise not to interfere with the US in Iraq.

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can. #2 will have some speculation..

on #1) The first Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey was convened on April 23rd, 1920. Ataturk, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey dedicated this day to the children, as they are our future.

The ruling party has succeeded in pissing off the other branches of government as well as the military with, what turns out to my deep disappointment, their subtle baby steps to islamicize the republic through changes in education, the constitution, foreign policy, etc, etc, etc. Also, they keep parading their oppressed wives around in their turbans.. The other branches of government and the military have started to boycott them. The National Security Council meeting at the end of this month will probably serve the ruling party a discrete ultimatum..

On #2) To think that Turkey would send a measely 12 secial ops guys into Kirkuk with a measely trunkful of weaponry to start some shit s ludicrous. But there are Turkish special forces teams in that city, at the invitation of the US, to observe and verify that the US is keeping its promises regarding the status of the city, and the safety of the people there.

The city is a mess, with the three groups marking their abodes with colors, getting ready for who knows what. If I were a Turkish observer in Kirkuk, I'd want to be armed. Because the shit is going to hit the fan when the PUK and the KDP get brazen enough.. So in fact, a trunk full of weapons would help one defend oneself, should that day come.

As Saddam's army has deserted and their weapons are just strewn about the place being "collected" by the Kurdish troops, there's no need for Turkey to try to smuggle weapons into a place which is already full of them. If the Turkmen want weapons, and believe you me, they have them jsut like the Kurds do, all they have to do is pick them up!

If the story is true, and I am not sure it is since it was reported by Time and affiliates alone, then it is clearly a move by the US to disarm the Turkish observers in Kirkuk, probably in order to convince them to leave..