Reuters: Turkey's military, govt clash over Iraq, Kurds

[Eugene]

Turkey's military, govt clash over Iraq, Kurds

By Gareth Jones
Reuters
Saturday, February 17, 2007; 8:02 AM

ANKARA (Reuters) - The chief of Turkey's powerful military General Staff accused
Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq of actively backing Turkish Kurd rebels there
and said Ankara must take action, a state news agency said on Saturday.

But, in a sign of growing tensions between Turkey's army and government over
how to combat the guerrillas, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said soldiers should
remain focused on their duties and let the politicians deal with political issues.

"At this moment, two groups are supporting the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party)
in northern Iraq," the state Anatolian news agency quoted General Yasar Buyukanit,
chief of the General Staff, as saying after talks with U.S. officials in Washington.

Buyukanit was referring to the Iraq's main Kurdish parties.

-snip-

Buyukanit hinted that Turkey might be forced to take unilateral military action
against the PKK in Iraq. Turkey has often issued such warnings, though analysts
say a full-scale invasion would be fraught with dangers and is highly unlikely.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021700472.html

[acmavm]

1. How dangerous will it be with the US fighting in Afganistan, Iraq, and Iran?

Like we'd even defend the Kurds anyway.

:sarcasm: