| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Two Turkish soldiers killed in mine blast |
| 2007-04-27 |
| (KUNA) -- Two Turkish soldiers were killed in a landmine explosion in southeast Turkey on Thursday, Turkish security forces said here. The mine was planted by Kurdish rebels in Shirnak and Bitlis provinces, which are overwhelmed by Kurdish population majority, they added. The mine explosion took place when Turkish soldiers were patrolling southeastern areas on the border with Iraq, the Turkish Army Staff said in a release. Many Turkish forces are now carrying out a military operation at the area in a bid to hunt Kurdish rebels there, it added. The Turkish government accuses the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) of planting landmines in Shirnak and Bitlis provinces. The PKK is listed by the US, EU and Turkey as a terrorist organization. The PKK has been fighting against the Turkish government for a Kurdish independent state since 1978. The conflict has so far claimed the lives of over 37,000 people. Y'kinda gotta wonder where the PKK is buying their explosives. And where they get their dough. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 I'm beginning to believe it's an Iranian plot to discredit the Kurds, not only in Turkey, but in Iraq and Iran, too. Meh. The PKK is pretty small-time as 'rebels' go. I doubt they're getting much outside support. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-04-27 22:43 |
| #7 Tehran and Riyadh are overdue for a HUGE smackdown. That would not only reduce the problems in the MME, but would also cost two of our adversaries tons of money in lost "investment". Said the exact same thing myself a few days ago. Iran simply has got to go. They are the puppetmaster for so many terror groups and proxy wars that their elimination would uncloud a lot of our current problems. It is also crucial to make certain that this world understands how any form of Islamic Theocracy is totally unacceptable. In signal processing terms, decoupling Iran from the equation would remove a lot of spurious interference, lower the noise floor and clean up reception. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-27 17:00 |
| #6 I'm beginning to believe the Kurdish situation isn't as straightforward as it appears. I'm beginning to believe it's an Iranian plot to discredit the Kurds, not only in Turkey, but in Iraq and Iran, too. It would be to Iran's advantage if Turkey waged war against Iraqi Kurds, as well as hammering their home-grown variety. I'm beginning to believe that Iran is spending every cent it can get its hands on to destabilize everything from Turkey to Kenya, from Pakistan to Libya, Chad, and Sudan. They're probably getting significant help from Russia and China, not that either Russia or China are aware of the double-dealing. If they are, they're ignoring it. Tehran and Riyadh are overdue for a HUGE smackdown. That would not only reduce the problems in the MME, but would also cost two of our adversaries tons of money in lost "investment". |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-04-27 15:07 |
| #5 The Great Game is always being played and we need to not take our eye off the real threat. Rightwing, I trust that you are referring to China. Islam is a mere speed bump in comparison to China. They are the true enemy that must be confronted at some future date. Sadly, China has taken a page from the Saudis and bought every American politician with a price tag. And that is most of them. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-27 12:02 |
| #4 Glen, I always thought of the ULFA as a Pakistani Nexus terrorist group, where China seemed to work the Naxalite angle in Bihar and Chattisgargh. Any links on that theory. Methinks China is beginning to replace US dominance by quitely maneuvering. The Great Game is always being played and we need to not take our eye off the real threat. |
| Posted by: Rightwing 2007-04-27 11:33 |
| #3 Y'kinda gotta wonder where the PKK is buying their explosives. And where they get their dough. Offhand, I'd say they're getting the stuff in the Balkans, Belorussia, and (to a lesser extent) Europe. The money is likely from criminal activities and from donations from the same areas. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-04-27 10:09 |
| #2 "...where the PKK is buying their explosives?" My guess would be Russia for the explosives, and quite possibly at no charge. Or maybe China. Either one would have some interest in disrupting their competitors - of which Turkey is a nominal ally. Also, China might regard expanded Kurdish 'problems' as a lever to gain further influence in Iran. As an analog look to their role Nepal & Assam, India. While Iran also has interest in seeing turmoil in Turkey, I don't see them wanting to aid Kurds. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-04-27 08:03 |
| #1 37,000 people seems to me an awful lot to be killed by cooking gas and landmine explosions, even over three decades. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-04-27 07:11 |