Iraq warns Turkey of 'regional war' in row over troop deployment

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: Middle East Eye

Turkey and Iraq have recalled each others ambassadors and Iraq's prime minister warned of a "regional war" as tensions rose over a vote by the Turkish parliament to continue stationing troops near Mosul.

Haider al-Abadi said on Wednesday that Turkey ran the risk of escalating violence in the region if it did not withdraw its troops from their base in Bashika, northern Iraq, where they have been stationed since late last year in what Turkey claims is a training detail for Iraqi soldiers.

Turkey cites the invitation of Massoud Barzani, the president of the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), to justify the presence of its troops in the country's Kurdish-run north. Turkey and the KRG are allies, but Baghdad is opposed to the presence of Turkish forces.

"We have asked more than once the Turkish side not to intervene in Iraqi matters and I fear that the Turkish adventure could turn into a regional war," Abadi said.

Read more: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-warns-turkey-regional-war-ambassadors-recalled-over-troop-deployment-2132654366

[left-of-center2012]

1. My money's on Turkey

Iraq can't even defeat Iraqi insurgents.

[harun]

6. Yeah, they will do what they want.

[Socal31]

2. The Turks could colonize Syria and Iraq.....

Assuming there were no Russia and Iran, of course.

Their military is quite a force.

[turbinetree]

3. And its now being ruled in my opinion by a dictator

and he doesn't like journalist, and other items on his plate.

And Turkey has been at war with the Kurds seeking independence, since who knows when and having it more exposed and come to light ever since the Iranian/ Iraq war

[rafeh1]

4. The iraqi regime prefers isis over turkey

The iraqi regime prefers isis over turkey and so does Syria regime and even pkk. If turk army gets go ahead isis heads will be on pikes in 2 weeks.

Everyone claims to hate isis but when push comes to shove they all prefer isis over turks just cant say it publicly.

The turks would also reorg administration to create a modicum of peace and justice which these arab regimes desperately lack and they know it.

[ColemanMaskell]

5. Come on guys, this is about Turkey trying to prevent a Kurdish homeland

The Kurds are the only competent fighting force on the side of Iraq against ISIS. Iraq is traditionally split between three ethnic groups, Sunni, Shia, and Kurds. What the Kurds are really fighting for is to establish a Kurdish country in their portion of Iraq, which is in the area bordering on Turkey. Turkey has traditionally suppressed the Kurds and have a poweful fear of the Kurdish part of Turkey breaking away from Turkey to make an independent Kurdistan. Turkey thinks that if the Iraqi Kurds can retake their Iraqi Kurdish geographic areas from ISIS, and establish a Kurdistan country there, well then the Turkish Kurds will be emboldened to break away from Turkey and merge with Kurdistan. That's what this is about. That is why Turkey went in. I thought everybody knew that.