Article

2005-02-21 Iraq-Jordan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Dan Darling 2005-02-21 12:11:43 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The Turks are working themselves into a lather over nothing. The reality is that a Kurdish state is far preferable to the incorporation of the Kurdish areas into Iraq. Then Turkey can deport Kurds into the ethnically-based country at will. It can do cross-border raids into Kurdistan without having to worry about stirring up trouble with a unitary Iraq. Strategically, Kurdistan would provide a landlocked buffer state between Turkey and Iraq. That is a good thing. Anytime your neighbors fragment into smaller pieces, your strategic position improves, since the threat from them decreases. I think all of this outrage is just a Turkish bid to steal Kirkuk and its oil reserves.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-02-21 3:20:23 AM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-02-21 3:20:23 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Turkey's wild-eyed tantrums and Tourette Syndrome fits rank right down there with Madeline Halfbright's opinions on the US-Syria situation. Digital birdcage liner. Or less. They forfeited 2 years ago. Run along, Tayyip.

Posted by .com 2005-02-21 3:29:19 AM|| 2005-02-21 3:29:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that "in case of fighting in Kirkuk, Turkey cannot remain a spectator." Kurdish leaders have warned Turkey that any intervention would lead to disaster

So they get a few Turkmen to stir up trouble and use it as an excuse to invade. More sabre rattling from a country aligning itself with Russia, Iran and Syria to make a united front.

Posted by 2b 2005-02-21 3:29:28 AM|| 2005-02-21 3:29:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 The problem that I have with Tapyip, is I think he's stupid and Napoleonic enough to think he could.

Posted by 2b 2005-02-21 3:31:10 AM|| 2005-02-21 3:31:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Turkey has maintained a few thousand troops inside northern Iraq for years.

So why haven't they fixed the PKK problem?

Posted by trailing wife 2005-02-21 3:35:11 AM|| 2005-02-21 3:35:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 If the Turds start any trouble, there'll be a butt-kicking they won't soon forget coming their way in a hurry. Useless bunch of sods.

Posted by mac 2005-02-21 4:58:42 AM|| 2005-02-21 4:58:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Turkey holds the option of unilateral intervention in northern Iraq if Kurds declare independence and claim the oil wealth of disputed Kirkuk, considered the main spoils in the uncertain Iraqi equation.

Conclussion: don't mix opium with arak.

Posted by gromgoru 2005-02-21 11:27:36 AM|| 2005-02-21 11:27:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 gromgoru - arak? explain please so cretins can enjoy.

Posted by 2b 2005-02-21 12:23:53 PM|| 2005-02-21 12:23:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Arak is a strong liquor drunk in Middle East. I think this is Arabic name. Turkish tell raki. Greeks name it Ouzo and is not a good idea to ask for a "raki" in Greece.

Posted by JFM 2005-02-21 2:45:18 PM|| 2005-02-21 2:45:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Part of the problem is the Turks are in shock that Turkmens only got 18% of the vote in Kirkuk. Their propanganda was Turkmen were equal to Kurds in the city. The story I heard is that in the past when Turks controlled distribution of UN aid they only gave it out to Turkmen, as a result many kurds registered as Turkmen. A case of believing your own BS.

Posted by phil_b 2005-02-21 2:59:41 PM|| 2005-02-21 2:59:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 I saw the headline and thought this was about Canuckistan...

Posted by anonymous2u 2005-02-21 3:15:44 PM|| 2005-02-21 3:15:44 PM|| Front Page Top

23:29 AzCat
23:17 Sobiesky
23:04 Sobiesky
23:03 crazyhorse
22:52 Beau
22:50 trailing wife
22:48 Frank G
22:46 trailing wife
22:36 trailing wife
22:36 trailing wife
22:30 Frank G
22:29 Brett
22:24 Aris Katsaris
22:23 Frank G
22:23 mhw
22:22 Frank G
22:19 Alaska Paul
22:13 Anonymoose
22:10 John in Tokyo
22:09 trailing wife
22:07 mom
21:54 Frank G
21:46 Aris Katsaris
21:44 3dc