More Stirring Of The Pot?
Word from Turkey right now is not encouraging. The Turkish government is sending signals that it may act against Kurdish guerrillas operating out of Northern Iraq. While the possibility exists that this is saber-rattling for domestic consumption, it is also getting official US reaction from the State Department.
Turkey is facing increasing domestic pressure to act after 15 soldiers, police and guards were killed fighting the guerrillas in southeastern Turkey in the past week.
"The government is really in a bind," said Seyfi Tashan, director of the Foreign Policy Institute at Bilkent University in Ankara. "On the one hand, they don't want things to break down with the United States. On the other hand, the public is crying for action."
Diplomats and experts cautioned the increasingly aggressive Turkish statements were likely aimed at calming public anger and pressing the U.S. and Iraq to act against the Turkish Kurdish guerrillas. But they also said Turkish politicians and military officers could act if nothing is done.
U.S. officials in Turkey and Washington were in contact with Turkish officials and military commanders to press them to work with Washington to combat the guerrillas and not to act alone, a Western diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.
Turkey's NTV television and Hurriyet newspaper reported the government has told the military to draw up plans for a push into northern Iraq and to advise on the possibilities such an incursion could lead to a clash with Iraqi Kurds or U.S. troops.
Any operation was unlikely before the end of August, when the current military chief of staff is replaced by an officer widely regarded as a hard-liner, NTV said.
Northern Iraq is under Iraqi Kurdish control and is considered quite safe (Michael Totten has been there and filed stories about his visits). The Iraqi Kurds have stated that they, "won't allow anyone to harm our neighbors by using our territory." So it then requires one to ask the question, what is going on? The crucial detail may be in this part of the article:
The Turkish Kurdish guerrillas are mostly based in the Qandil mountains, an area 50 miles from the Turkish border with Iran. From Iraq, the guerrillas infiltrate southeastern Turkey to stage attacks.
Does that sound a bit suspicious to anyone else? It sure does to me. One cannot help but wonder who's hands are in this.
By heldmyw, Tuesday, 18 July , 2006 @ 7:46 pm
Hmmm.. Methinks that if Turkey had let us transit troops into Iraq ‘way back when’ they might get a little bit more enthusiastic support from us now.
As it is… Well… We’re kinda busy right now. Howzabout if we get back to you next week maybe? …Got this Israel thing on the front burner donchaknow?
By Roland Hesz, Wednesday, 19 July , 2006 @ 4:12 am
With the turkish - kurd conflict dating back a long time, it was not as simple as you would think heldmyw.
Sure, you talk easy, it’s not your neighbourhood that would be blown up.
As it is… why don’t you take a look at the country and situation you try to talk about?