Turkish-US tensions continue over Kurds in northern Iraq

[Aidoneus]

still some strange things going on there.. it will be remembered that during the early part of the "war" it was lamented by our Loud Little Handful that the Turkish military elite didn't overthrow the democratic government due to its opposition to the invasion of Iraq. It seems that this goal has not been abandoned.

Turkish-US tensions continue over Kurds in northern Iraq
By Justus Leicht
26 July 2003

The role of the Kurds in northern Iraq continues to be a source of considerable tension between the US and its NATO partner Turkey. While the two Kurdish organisations PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and KDP (Kurdish Democratic Party) have developed into the most important and reliable supporters of the American occupying forces in Iraq, Turkish military and nationalist forces regard any broad influence by the Kurdish groups in neighbouring Iraq as a nightmare to be prevented at all costs.

The US government has made considerable efforts to quell the conflict with the Turkish military and nationalists, which they have relied upon up to now, in particular in the case of US differences with the elected Turkish government (AKP—Justice and Development Party) of Recep Tayip Erdogan. Nevertheless, conflicts continue to flare up. The precise background to the incident in which US soldiers took prisoner Turkish special forces at the beginning of July in the northern Iraqi city of Suleimanija remains unclear. A joint statement on the affair made by Ankara and Washington consisted mostly of hollow phrases, with both sides maintaining different versions of what took place.

The Turkish special unit consisting of three officers and eight junior officers was arrested July 4 and taken to the military prison in Baghdad, handcuffed and with sacks over their heads. After reports in the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, which is close to the army, a vigorous round of diplomatic wrangling took place by telephone. The prisoners were eventually freed three days later.

The arrests unleashed a storm of protest in Turkey, but Washington reacted coolly. Only after a few days had passed did a speaker for the Bush administration nonchalantly declare that the Turkish unit had been “involved in suspicious activities.” This was the accusation that stuck. At the same time, Washington emphasised its desire to maintain its relationship with Turkey.

--snip--

Nationalist campaign

While Turkish generals have been meeting with representatives of the American army behind closed doors, an hysterical nationalist campaign has been launched inside Turkey. At first sight the campaign appears to be aimed at the US, but in fact the real aim is to whip up chauvinist hostility against the Kurds and discredit the elected Turkish government of the AKP.

Army chief of staff Hilmi Özkök opened the campaign by proclaiming: “National pride and the honour of the armed forces are being threatened!” He received support from both right-wing and left-wing camps. The extent of his support ranged from the right-wing newspaper Hürriyet and the fascist MHP (National Movement Party), which has many supporters amongst army special units to the parliamentary opposition, to the left Kemalite CHP (Republican Peoples Party), the Stalinist organisations TKP (Turkish Communist Party) and IP (Worker’s Party) All accuse the government of not having done enough to defend the “national pride and honour of the army” against the US.

--snip--

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jul2003/kurd-j26.shtml

[IndianaGreen]

1. Part of the problem may be that the Turks can't tell us apart

I swear this is the headline in the Turkishpress:



Gul Meets With U.S. Secretary Of Defense Rumsfeld

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met on Friday with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. -more-

http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/

Once you go to the link, you will find that the US just back stabbed the Kurds:

Gul Meets With U.S. Secretary Of Defense Rumsfeld

Anadolu Agency: 7/25/2003

WASHINGTON - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met on Friday with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

<snip>

U.S. Deputy Secretaries of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers and other high-ranking officials also attended the meeting.

DISPATCH OF TROOPS TO IRAQ IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS

A U.S. officials said, ''if Turkey sends troops to Iraq, it creates a great opportunity for bilateral relations. Turkey decides on number of troops. We won't make bargaining. The government will decide on dispatch of troops.''

Following Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's meetings in Washington, U.S. officials told the A.A correspondent that the United States wanted Turkey's military contribution, but the decision on the issue would be taken by the Turkish government.

American sources said that dispatch of troops was an opportunity for Turkish-U.S. relations and Turkey's putting forward its influence over the future of Iraq.

http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=12068