| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| BBC Reports US and Turkey to Slap PKK Upside the Head |
| 2003-10-02 |
| Turkey and the US have agreed on an action-plan to eradicate the Kurdish paramilitary group, the PKK. The group is thought to have around 5,000 members living in northern Iraq. Ever since the US occupied Iraq, Turkey has been pressing Washington to crack down on the group which both countries designate as terrorist. Details of the plan are not clear, but a US official said any military action would be carried out by US troops. Any large scale Turkish military presence in northern Iraq would be opposed by the Kurdish groups which currently run the area. Bitter war This agreement is important for Turkey, as it marks a new stage in its long battle with the PKK. It is also a sign of improving relations with the US. The agreement will almost certainly help the Turkish Government in its efforts to persuade parliament to send Turkish troops to help out the US-led coalition. The parliament will probably consider a request for around 10,000 troops later this month. US kills 5,000 PKK and get 10,000 Turkish troops. Its a two-for. Turkey and the PKK fought a bitter war for more than a decade. More than 30,000 people were killed, and over a million displaced from their homes - largely in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern part of the country. The PKK have long sought refuge from Turkish troops in the mountains of northern Iraq. As the anti-Sadaam Khurds got refuge in Iran and the anit-Iranian khurds got refuge in Iraq. That worked well when the groups we’re fighting each other and splintering off, extorting locals and smuggling. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #2 I think you're exactly right, anon. The Turks' problems with the PKK are one thing, but do we really want to stab a group that's been friendly to *us* in order to please folks that seriously screwed with our troop deployments in the runup to invasion, simply because they ask us to? Why? What's in it for US? Better be a damn big payoff, and not just a measley 10,000 Turkish troops. They're tough, but they're a real big pain in the ass, too. Especially in N. Iraq. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-10-2 11:57:42 PM |
| #1 I just don't think that this is a very good idea. Eventually, I think it will only cause the U.S. more problems in a region of Iraq that has been relatively peaceful. I predict that we will regret this decision in the future. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-10-2 10:29:49 PM |