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| Iraq |
| Kurds in northern Iraq warned on Friday that they will defend themselves against any Turkey |
| 2007-10-19 |
| BAGHDAD - Kurds in northern Iraq warned on Friday that they will defend themselves against any Turkish incursion, and Iraqi leaders called on Ankara to engage in dialogue instead of threats. Massoud Barzani, the president of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, urged Turkey to hold direct talks with his regional government but vowed to fight "any aggression." Turkish officials, who have long battled Kurdish separatist sentiment at home, have balked at such talks with the Kurdish regional government in Iraq. The strong comments from Iraq's senior Kurdish statesman came two days after the Turkish parliament voted to authorize a cross-border incursion to root out the rebels from their bases in the mountains on the frontier. There has been no sign of imminent military strikes, and the United States and the Iraqi government have urged restraint. "The experiences of the past years have shown that this issue cannot be solved through the course of war," Barzani said. "But at the same time we declare to all: if the region or the Kurdistan experiment faces any aggression under any pretext whatsoever, than we are fully prepared to defend our democratic experience and the dignity of our people and the sanctity of our homeland." He said Iraqi Kurds were not responsible for the fighting between Turkey and the rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, known by its Kurdish acronym PKK. "Kurdistan is not responsible for the war between Turkey and the PKK," he said. "And we have not supported the war or the violence and bloodletting or been dragged into this war." |
| Posted by:JohnQC |
| #10 OldSpook, the precedent is the Panjshir Valley. Remember those destroyed tanks lining mountain roads. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2007-10-19 23:28 |
| #9 For an example of a modern armored force getting hammered by well trainined locals, just look at the Russians and Chechnya. And consider the Turks are not as good as the Russians, and the Kurds are far better armed and trained an experienced than the Chechens. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-10-19 23:21 |
| #8 Problem is if they do come over the border in force, the Peshmerga will be on them like ugly on a monkey. And then the body bags go back to Ankara. The Turks need to concentrate on their side of the border, and realize the PKK is the price they are paying for not taking thier part up when asked. Sometimes you have to just suck it up and Go - and the Turks are only now realizing it. They toss us from Incirlik, they will NEVER get in the the EU, and the US will side with Greece in all those disputes, and that will only embolden Romania as well as the former Soviet states in the area. We can replace the bases here and there, not well, but effectively enough. They, on the other hand, will be unable to stop enthnic violence as those whom they have brutally repressed will not back donw once they get started. "Sucks to be you" would be my diplomatic response, along with pictures of US Army SF trainers with the Kurds near the border, directing AC-130 fire on practice targets. Unlike the picture some paint, this is not a good spot for the Turks *IF* Bush has the courage. WHat they are betting on is that he will be a wimp and sell out the Kurds. Time to see if George is what I suspect he is - a spineless frat boy who will sell out an ally instead of standing strong and forcing the issue from all sides. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-10-19 23:19 |
| #7 From what I've heard, the Turkish army is pretty tough and competant. Kurds have an advantage in small encounters in the mountains. A Turkish force over the border might be a different matter. |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-10-19 22:49 |
| #6 Uniformed, armed Turkeys on the march!!! |
| Posted by: Steven 2007-10-19 21:51 |
| #5 commie Kurds. It will be a plus for the Kurd nation if they let the Turks lance a PKK boil..trick is to push them to the Turk hammer/anvil |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-10-19 21:11 |
| #4 Hopefully Spook. However, the US and several administrations have a nasty habit of abandoning our allies at the pivotal moment. I can see us cutting the Kurds loose to keep the bases and to give for hopeful future favors. It will be the final nail in any peaceful future dealings with the Middle East and doom us to a future long and bloody war to the ultimate end. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-10-19 21:09 |
| #3 The Turks gave up ANY rights to do anything other than negotiate with the Kurds when they refused to allow us to open the Northern Front through their territoriy with the 4th ID. They had the opportunity to come in and "secure" those areas but were too busy figuratively flipping us the bird. So Tuks, too friggen bad. You made the mess, now deal with it- the Kurds are our friends and we will help them. You neter their sovereign terriroty and we will arm them to chase you out. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-10-19 20:53 |
| #2 ... and stark naked at that, moose. That would be hilarious, beside ... ehm, humiliayshun. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-10-19 19:44 |
| #1 I wonder what would happen if the Kurds captured a Turkish military unit, then marched them back across the border without their gear. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-10-19 19:26 |