Turkey Disgusted with Americans

[Nottingham]

Turkey Disgusted with Americans
07/08/2003 12:04
Relations between Ankara and Washington have unexpectedly aggravated recently
This is said to be connected with an arrest of 11 Turkish servicemen by US military forces three days ago. It is reported that the people were plotting to assinate the governor of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, a Kurd by nationality. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan had to settle the tension in relations between Turkey and the USA. The prime minister called actions of American military forces disgusting. On the whole, the situation looks rather strange indeed

It is a known fact that Turkey is carefully watching the actions of Kurds in northern Iraq. The slightest impression that an independent Kurd state is about to be created will immediately provoke a reaction from Turkish Kurds. Nevertheless, Ankara realizes perfectly well that interference in Iraqi affairs will irritate Washington. It is hardly likely that the US will let Turks liquidate disagreeable Kurd leaders, even those operating in Iraq. If the Turks were given such a right, this would entail unexpected consequences. Neither Washington nor the occupation administration want one more center of tension in Iraq. This means that further attempts of Ankara to interfere into affairs of Iraq's Kurdistan will be suppressed.

However, it is not clear why the Turkish soldiers were released so quickly if the scandal was connected with elimination of the Kurd governor. This liberalism won't act in favour of the provisional administration in Iraq. So, there are two possible explanations of the situation. First, the Turkish soldiers didn't have a plan to eliminate the Kurd governor, they simply came to a place where they were not welcome. Second, a more probable explanation, is that Washington understood it shouldn't exasperate its NATO ally and make for wider popularity of Islamists (even rather moderate ones) headed by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan. The actions of the US are quite logical in this situation, as mass anti-American protest demonstrations have recently taken place in several Turkish cities. The only way to weaken the tension was to release the detained Turkish soldiers. What is more, there is no sense for the US Administration to spoil relations with Turkey.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/10426_turkey.html


More details on the Turks arrested :bounce:

[caledesi]

1. He's a uniter, not a divider. <barf>

:puke:

[Nottingham]

2. It shows our troops are not fighting Iraqi's,Syrians,Shiites, and Turks

Can you imagine being a soldier in this Freakin Mess

and the Turks will do everything possible to prevent a Kurdish state.

:bounce:

[I AM SPARTACUS]

3. Americans Disgusted with Ammurhikkans

[fshrink]

4. Welcome to the largest club on earth.

Even has millions of members here.

[Punkingal]

5. Who isn't?

I think if would be LBN if someone wasn't disgusted with America.