Turkish troops massing on Iraq's border

[ck4829]

From south and north, Iraq's Kurdish region felt pressure from two sides, as saboteurs bombed a vital bridge link to Baghdad, and Turkish troops across the border massed for a possible strike.

"We won't allow it to be turned into a battleground," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday of the relatively peaceful Iraqi north, a haven for anti-Turkish Kurdish guerrillas.

Tensions have heightened in recent weeks in northern Iraq as Turkey has built up its military forces on Iraq's border, a move clearly meant to pressure Iraq to rein in the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, separatists who launch raids into southeast Turkey's Kurdish region from hideouts in Iraq.

Turkey's political and military leaders have been debating whether to try to root out those bases, and perhaps set up a buffer zone across the frontier as the Turkish army has done in the past. Turkey's military chief said Thursday the army was ready and only awaiting orders for a cross-border offensive.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1180527989853&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[MannyGoldstein]

1. That's Why The Turks Wouldn't Let Us Invade Iraq From Their Territory

They knew what would end up happening. A shitstorm, with the Kurds harassing them.

[leftchick]

2. never fear, our man Gates is on it!

:eyes:

Gates warns Turkey not to invade Iraq


<snip>

"We hope there would not be a unilateral military action across the border into Iraq," Gates told a news conference after meetings here with Asian government officials. Turkey and Iraq were not represented.

Gates said he sympathized with the Turks' concern about cross-border raids by Kurdish rebels.

"The Turks have a genuine concern with Kurdish terrorism that takes place on Turkish soil," he said. "So one can understand their frustration and unhappiness over this. Several hundred Turks lose their lives each year, and we have been working with the Turks to try to help them get control of this problem on Turkish soil."

Tensions have heightened in recent weeks in northern Iraq as Turkey has built up its military forces on Iraq's border, a move clearly meant to pressure Iraq to rein in the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, separatists who launch raids into southeast Turkey's Kurdish region from hideouts in Iraq.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070603/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/gates;_ylt=AmDitGK2oe0mJDEQByUF.JZvaA8F

[BlooInBloo]

3. Still there? Been there about a week now.

[msongs]

4. guess turkey is such a bad place to live their troops can't wait to leave LOL nt

[snappyturtle]

5. Time bomb. nt

[Wilms]

7. That's about right. n/t

[lonestarnot]

6. Oh joy, Mo Wo.

[Blackhatjack]

8. Does Turkey know something about operations against Iran by the US and Israel?

IF and when there is a direct confrontation and military assault on Iran, there are going to be numerous 'soft spots' created where the US will not have a military presence to maintain the status quo.

The conflict between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds has been ongoing for decades, and the fighting has been held with certain limits because of the US presence. However, if the US has to rely on Turkey in striking Iran there will be opportunity for Turkey to negotiate the opportunity to wipe out the Kurdish threat.

Turkey remains a strategic partner of the US. What does Turkey know about Iranian operations that would influence it to mass troops on the Iraqi border with the Kurds?

[amandabeech]

9. One of my roommates is Turkish.

Her hatred of the Kurds is similar to the feeling that some people here have for Saddam Hussein. It is fanatical, blind hatred.

IMHO, the Turks are madder than the usual hell right now because there have been some bombings in the majority ethnic Turkish parts of the country very recently.

Their current actions may relate more to their internal situation than to possible U.S. actions against Iran.

Also, roommate hates Jews because " is a Muslim, and Muslims hate Jews." I have read in a few places that the Israelis have been "helping" the Kurds with technology and scholars. Isreali interference in Iraqi Kurdistan would send my roommate into an absolute frenzy. Perhaps there are others in Turkey who feel the same.

I hope that there are no problems between the U.S. and Turkey. My living situation might be unpleasant if the U.S. and Turkey have some unpleasant diplomatic and non-diplomatic encounters.

[Divernan]

10. Isn't your living situation already unpleasant?

Having a roommate who hates both Kurds (many of whom are Muslim) AND Jews - sounds distinctly unpleasant already. Hatred is such a corrosive emotion - certainly must detract from your quality of life to be around her.

(I have spent a little time in Istanbul and would love to go back to see more of the city and the country - met some very kind people, and some rather scary, very angry people.)

[amandabeech]

13. As a matter of fact, yes.

She also doesn't like Arabs, African-Americans, and, I think, more traditional Americans.

Your comments about your visit to Turkey are very interesting, by the way.



Edited to add last sentence.

[wiggs]

11. "Awaiting orders..." from whom? Almost every move the US has

made from the beginning has helped create chaos...this sounds like another one.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Sounds like the Turks are thinking like the Fratboy-in-chief. a"preemptive strike".

They're gonna "Smoke 'em out" no doubt.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

14. And along bunnypants will come and kick this Hornet's Nest

Then slap some dumbass slogan on it.

:eyes: